Front setback carport calculator
Enter your lot and carport details. Nothing is sent anywhere.
The rules the calculator uses
A carport in front of the house is allowed into the street setback under the standard planning rules (the "deemed-to-comply" rules), as long as it meets all of these:
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Normal street setback | 6 m on an R20 lot; 4 m on an R30 or R40 lot |
| How far a carport can come forward | Up to half the setback: 3 m from the boundary on R20, 2 m on R30 or R40 |
| Width | No more than 60% of the lot frontage |
| Views | An unobstructed view between the house and the street (no solid door) |
| Materials | Compatible with the house |
| Eaves | Can project up to 0.75 m into the setback |
These numbers come from the City of Wanneroo's carport information sheet, which applies the R-Codes to most R20 and R30 lots. Other councils use the same R-Codes but can have local policies, and estates with a Local Development Plan can be different.
Worked example
A 15 m wide R20 lot. 60% of 15 m is 9 m, so a 6 m double carport is fine on width. The normal setback is 6 m, halved to 3 m. So the carport can come forward to 3 m from the front boundary, as long as it's open to the street and matches the house.
Other things to check
- Side boundary. At Wanneroo, carports need 1 m from the side boundary to the post (1.5 m if longer than 14 m). Posts on the boundary are allowed if the carport is no longer than 10 m and no higher than 2.7 m, with the roof 500 mm back, but only behind the street setback.
- Corner lots. 1.5 m from the secondary street.
- Heritage. Heritage-listed properties and heritage areas need planning approval regardless.
- Building permit. Every carport needs one, even when planning approval isn't needed.