The unpredictable South African weather can often leave you worrying about the safety of your car, and you may be seeking an affordable and quick solution, like a carport. But don’t you need plans to build a carport?
According to the Minor Building Works Schedule, a carport less than 40m2 with less than two enclosed sides does not need building plan approval. However, you need to submit an application, a detailed drawing and appoint a registered architectural professional to oversee the construction.
Before you get started, you need to make sure that your carport qualifies as a carport as defined by the building regulations. I would also like to touch on the other requirements, including the mandatory “minor building works” application and the appointment of a registered architectural professional. I will also address some frequently asked questions about carports.
What qualifies as a carport under “minor building works” in South Africa?
Structures that some people consider carports do not actually qualify as carports under minor building works. These structures require building plans and approval before construction may start. What qualifies as a carport under minor building works?
The “minor building works” schedule published by City Services defines a carport as “an open-sided structure not exceeding 40 square meters designed to shelter a vehicle, with less than two sides enclosed by existing walls. The roof covering must be easily removable.“
A 40 square meter carport is big enough for 3 vehicles and measures 5 meters deep and 8 meters wide. This is more than enough for most homeowners, and anything larger will require formal submission of building plans and approval.
A free-standing carport with any sides enclosed does not qualify as a carport under “minor building works”, and will require building plans. However, suppose a carport is built between two existing structures. In that case, a maximum of two sides may be enclosed by the existing walls, making provision for carports built against existing buildings.
What drawings do I need for a carport?
In most cases, any structure needs a complete set of building plans to be submitted to the municipality for approval before construction. This is not the case with structures that fall under “minor building works”. In some cases, no drawings are required; in others, just a simple sketch will do. But what about a carport?
According to the Minor Building Works Schedule, you only need a basic site plan indicating the position of the carport, along with a sketch of the carport, including four elevations and a floor plan. You will still have to appoint a registered architectural professional to oversee the work.
While the drawings should be basic, sufficient detail should be provided to show that the carport will comply with the building regulations and municipal bylaws. For example, the carport is no larger than 40m2, does not encroach over any building lines, etc. These drawings may be done by anyone, as long as they are drawn to standard.
Do I need an architect to build a carport?
There are a lot of rumors on the internet that a carport does not need any plans or an architect, draughtsperson, etc. But is this really true? Do you need an architect to build a carport?
You do not necessarily need to appoint an architect to build a carport. Still, you do need to appoint a professional registered with SACAP or ECSA to sign the “SANS 10400 Form 2”, taking responsibility for the compliance of the carport.
The registered professional you appoint can be an architect, an architectural technologist, or an architectural draughtsperson registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession. You can also appoint anyone who is registered with ECSA, the Engineering Council of South Africa.
Unless you have a friend or a family member who can do this for you as a favor, the appointed person will charge a fee for this. SACAP issues an annual guideline for recommended fees charged by architectural professionals.
Can I build a carport in front of my house?
Properties in South Africa are known for their extensive spacious gardens around the house. If space allows, placing a carport in front of your home makes sense for easy access. But how close to the front of your property can you actually build?
In South Africa, you can build a carport in front of your house as long as it is not built over the building line. The building line is usually 7.5 meters from the street-facing boundary line and 2 meters from your side boundary line.
If space allows, you can certainly build a carport in front of your house. However, carports can obstruct the view of your home’s façade or views from the interior of your house outwards. If possible, consider positioning the carport to the side of your property or home.
How close to the boundary wall can I build a carport?
You may want to build as close to your property boundary as possible so that the structure is out of the way and does not impose too much on your garden space. But with building lines in place, how close can you really build to your boundary wall?
Assuming your boundary wall is built precisely on your boundary line, carports and all other structures must be built at least 7.5 meters away from the wall on the street-facing side and 2 meters away from the wall on all other sides.
Make sure you find out where your boundary wall is built in relation to your boundary line. That will be the deciding factor of how close you can build a carport to a boundary wall.
What is a Building line and a boundary line?
There is quite a bit of reference to building lines and boundary lines in the points mentioned above. But what do these lines refer to, and how are they determined?
A boundary line determines the extent of the land you own. Building lines are set a certain distance from these boundary lines and demarcate land that you cannot build on.
Building lines may also demarcate servitudes. Servitudes are areas of land that you own, but someone else has a right to. For example, the municipality has the right to lay services under your property within a servitude, like municipal sewer systems.
Regarding a street-facing boundary line, the boundary is not necessarily the edge of the street. It is the edge of that land you own. There may be additional pavement space between the start of your land and the road that belongs to the municipality. The building line is described in a document called a zoning certificate which you can obtain from your local council.
Conclusion
A carport is a practical and quick structure to erect for sheltering cars, trailers, and similar items within your property. A carport is an open-sided structure, not exceeding 40m2, designed to shelter a vehicle, with no more than two sides enclosed by existing walls. The roof covering must also be easily removable.
To erect a carport, you will need a site plan and sketch of the proposed structure. Anyone can do this sketch, including yourself, as long as it complies with the drawing standards required. It is necessary that a registered architectural professional completes and signs the “SANS 10400-A Form 2”, which takes responsibility for the compliance of the new structure.
You can build a carport in front of your house if it is not built over the building line. The building line is usually 7.5m from the street-facing boundary line and 2m from your side boundary line. This also determines the distance you can build a carport from a boundary wall, assuming the wall is on the boundary line. These building lines are set a certain distance from these boundary lines and demarcate land that you cannot build on.