A solid door turns a carport into a garage
Councils use the R-Codes definitions. A carport must stay unenclosed, but it can have a see-through (visually permeable) door, like an open-mesh or slatted gate. Add a solid door and it's classed as a garage. Both the City of Joondalup and the City of Melville say this on their websites.
That matters because garages have stricter rules, especially on how far back from the street they must be.
Carport vs garage setbacks
Typical front setbacks before planning approval is needed:
| Carport | Garage | |
|---|---|---|
| Joondalup (R20) | 3 m from the street the house faces | 4.5 m, and 0.5 m behind the front of the house |
| Melville | 3 m from the primary street | 4.5 m from the primary street (3 m if the door is side-on and the street wall has windows) |
So a carport sitting 3 m from the street is fine as a carport. Put a solid roller door on it and it may no longer meet the garage setback. That usually means you need planning approval, and it may not be granted.
Councils also limit how much of the frontage a garage can take up, usually 50% for single-storey homes.
Building permit
Expect to need one. Joondalup says a building permit is required for building or converting a garage or carport. Adding walls and a door changes how the structure handles wind, so engineering may be needed too.
Turning it into a room
Converting a carport into a bedroom, office or living space is a bigger job. In Joondalup, planning approval is needed if:
- It's visible from the street and the materials don't match the house
- A window or door to the new room is less than 1.5 m from a side or rear boundary
- You'll no longer have the car parking the R-Codes need (usually two bays)
The building permit for a room has extra rules, including a 2.4 m minimum ceiling height, stopping moisture and termites coming through the old carport floor, hardwired smoke alarms for all bedrooms, and moving any meter box to an outside wall.
What to do
- Decide whether you want a see-through door (stays a carport) or a solid one (becomes a garage).
- Measure the setback from the street and compare it with your council's garage rule.
- If it doesn't meet the rule, talk to your council about planning approval before buying a door.
- Apply for the building permit.
Learn more in carport vs garage, check your setback with the front setback carport calculator, or see carport council approval.