Board legalizes decades-old carport and shed at Pines Village home

The Pembroke Pines Board of Adjustment approved two variances on Thursday to legalize an attached carport and a detached shed at a Pines Village property.

The board approved ZVR2025-0027 to allow a 5-foot side setback for an existing 17-by-13-foot open-sided roof structure attached to the west side of the home where the code requires a 7.5-foot side setback. The board also approved ZVR2025-0028 to permit a 3-foot-10-inch side setback for a 10-by-9-foot-8-inch shed where the code requires a 5-foot side setback.

Owner George Gonzalez told the board he bought the house in February 2005 and that both structures were present at purchase. He said he hired contractors and applied for replacement permits after receiving a code violation in June 2025 and that moving structural posts to meet the 7.5-foot setback would make the carport unusable for vehicles because the posts would sit inside the gate opening. "I just want to get everything the way it's supposed to be, with permits," Gonzalez said.

Staff reported the city found no record of permits for the detached structures in the archives but noted aerial imagery from the Broward County property appraiser indicated the carport and shed existed as early as 1998 and 2007, respectively. The owner offered to remove excess paving to meet setback requirements for paving and to leave the shed in its current location if the variance were approved.

No members of the public objected during the hearing. The motions for both variances passed on recorded roll calls. For ZVR2025-0027 (carport) the roll call recorded Member Pitts Yes, Vice Chair Burrito Yes, Chairman Crowell Yes and Member O’Meara Yes. For ZVR2025-0028 (shed) the roll call recorded Member Pitts Yes, Vice Chair Kroll Yes, Chairman Kroll Yes and Member O’Meara Yes; both motions passed.

Staff reminded the owner that approval by the board does not remove the requirement to obtain any outstanding development approvals or building permits; Gonzalez said he would coordinate with staff to complete required permits and that he had already replaced a fence with a permit and would correct other items as instructed.

The owner told the board the carport is needed to accommodate six vehicles and that neighbors had indicated no objections to the existing setbacks.

The board approved both variances and directed the owner to see staff for next steps.