I recently researched this topic before ordering a steel carport for my driveway, and honestly the rules surprised me because every state and county handles things differently. Some places only require a permit for permanent anchored structures, while others want approval regardless of size. During my search I found https://www.uspatriotsteel.com/blog/carport-permits-state-by-state-overview/ very useful because it explains the general requirements across different regions and highlights common restrictions homeowners usually forget about. It also helped me understand setbacks, height limitations, and inspection procedures before starting construction. After reading through those details, I contacted my local office with much more confidence and avoided delays that could have easily slowed the project down for weeks.