Aluminum Carports in Sarasota & Manatee County
Covered parking without the cost and footprint of a garage. We install attached and freestanding aluminum carports and pull the permit for you.
What homeowners use aluminum carports for
On the Gulf Coast, sun and summer storms are hard on anything parked outside. An aluminum carport gives you covered parking without building a garage. Common uses around Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch:
- covering one or two cars in a driveway with no garage, or the extra cars when the garage is full,
- golf-cart and side-yard parking,
- a shaded work or patio area next to the house.
Why aluminum near the coast
Aluminum doesn’t rot, isn’t eaten by termites and doesn’t rust the way bare steel can, which is why it’s a common choice in salt-air areas like Siesta Key, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach. Coastal exposure still wears on fasteners and finishes over time, so a rinse and a yearly look-over are worth it.
Florida wind and code
Florida’s building code requires permanent structures like carports to be designed for the wind loads at their location. Those loads depend on your county or city, exposure and site, and they can be stricter close to the water. In practice that means:
- plans that match the product and the site,
- anchoring and footings that match the design, whether that’s an existing slab or new footings,
- an inspection before the work is signed off.
We don’t quote a single wind rating for every job, because the requirement depends on your address and the structure. For more on how we think about storms, see our wind-resistant fencing guide.
Attached or freestanding
We install both. A freestanding carport stands on its own posts, anywhere the setbacks allow. An attached carport ties into the house, saving space and covering the walk to a door, though the connection can add permit requirements. Every carport is sized to the site: single-car, double-car or longer, depending on what you park and how much room the lot has.
Permits and HOA approval
Carports are generally permitted structures in Sarasota and Manatee County, and setbacks, lot coverage and placement are checked against local zoning. We pull the permit with the county or city office that covers your address and schedule the inspection. In a deed-restricted community your HOA will probably want to review the carport first; see HOA fences for how approval and permits fit together, and our permits guide for the basics.
Our carport process
- Site visit. We look at the location, the slab or soil, clearances and setbacks.
- Permit. We file the permit and get it approved, after your HOA signs off if you have one.
- Install and inspection. We build the carport and schedule the inspection.
Want a matching fence or gate around it? See aluminum fencing and automatic gates.
Cost
Carport pricing depends on size, attached or freestanding, the anchoring, and the permit requirements for your site. We don’t publish a fixed price. Request a free estimate and we’ll give you a written quote.
Where we build carports
Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, North Port, Palmetto, Parrish, Ellenton, Siesta Key, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach. See all service areas.
Aluminum Carport FAQ
Do I need a permit for an aluminum carport in Sarasota or Manatee County?
Generally yes. A carport is a permanent structure, so the county or city reviews the design, wind loads, anchoring and setbacks, and inspects the finished work. Costa Key Fence pulls the permit with the office that covers your address and schedules the inspection.
Will an aluminum carport hold up to Florida storms?
It has to be designed for the wind loads that apply at your address, which depend on location, exposure and how it’s anchored. The permit review checks that, and we build to the plans approved for your property. We don’t promise a one-size wind rating, because the requirement changes from property to property.
Can a carport go on my existing driveway slab?
Sometimes. It depends on the slab’s condition and on what the approved design requires for anchoring. Some installs use the existing concrete and others need new footings. We check during the free on-site estimate.
Does my HOA have to approve a carport?
In most deed-restricted communities, yes. HOAs usually review the location, size and color before you build, and the county permit comes after that. See HOA fences for how the approval-then-permit order works.
Attached or freestanding: which is better?
We install both. Freestanding carports stand on their own posts and keep loads off the house. Attached carports save space and give covered access to a door, but the connection to the house can bring extra permit requirements. The right choice depends on your lot and roofline, and we go over both on site.
Free carport estimate. Costa Key Fence · 1508 S Shade Ave, Sarasota, FL 34239 · (941) 962-4898 · office@costakey.com
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Address
1508 S Shade Ave, Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone
Service Area
Sarasota & Manatee Counties, Florida
Founded
Serving Sarasota & Manatee Counties since 2019