Construction Requirements for Patio Covers

Codes

• Construction requirements for patio covers once were a hodgepodge of conflicting guidelines that varied according to municipality and region. In 1994, the International Code Council was established to consolidate these duplicate and conflicting regulations into the International Residential Code (IRC). The IRC is now used by all local and state and some federal building authorities, either as specified or with minor variations. It enables contractors and homeowners who learn the basics of code-specific patio construction in one location to use that same knowledge in any other part of the U.S.

General

• A patio cover can connect to or be detached from a residential unit. It can only cover outdoor living or recreational spaces but not habitable rooms, carports, garages or storage spaces. Walls are optional and may be of any design. But if the patio is enclosed, 65 percent of the total wall space must be below 6 feet, 8 inches as measured from the floor. This percentage must include the longest wall plus one other wall. Walls can be made of insect screening, translucent or transparent plastic less than 0.125 inches thick, safety glass or any combination of those materials.

Openings

• Homes that require exterior openings for light and ventilation may open those spaces under a patio cover. But those covers may not have walls if the patios act as emergency exits or rescue openings from sleeping rooms. If patios otherwise serve as exits from a residential unit and are enclosed, they require exit doors. Patio covers may only enclose one-story areas no taller than 12 feet.

Structure

• Patio covers must be able to sustain all dead loads applicable to house roofs, as well as a minimum vertical live load of 10 pounds per square foot. Where heavy snow exists, patio covers must sustain minimum snow loads. They must also able to withstand wind speeds applicable to house roofs. In mild climates where the frost-line depth is zero, patio cover supports can rest on a concrete slab without footings. The slab must be at least 3.5 inches thick, and the columns must not support loads greater than 750 pounds per column.