Frequently asked questions

A commercial canopy counts as a structure. The county or city will want to approve the site plan, issue a permit once its plans examiner has checked the sealed canopy drawings against the Florida Building Code, and route the layout to the fire marshal, who looks at access lanes and hydrants under the Florida Fire Prevention Code. Ask the local building department what it wants submitted.

It is designed to the wind speed and exposure the Florida code sets for the site, and an open roof is checked for uplift as well as sideways load. The columns, the connections and the foundations under them all have to carry those forces. Ask the engineer what the design assumes before you add walls, signage or solar panels.

Canopy rows cost the least per space and go up quickly, and they suit owners who mainly want shade and a roof over the rig. Enclosed units cost more to build and rent for more, and they draw owners who want security and protection from blowing rain and dust. Many facilities start with canopies and add enclosed buildings as demand shows.

Clearance is set by the tallest coach roof gear or boat tower you want to accept, plus a margin, and stall depth by the longest rig including its tow vehicle or trailer tongue. Building a few oversized stalls for the biggest class-A coaches and fifth wheels keeps those renters from going elsewhere.

Wide enough for a long motorhome or a truck towing a fifth wheel to swing into a stall in one pass. Aisle width depends on stall angle and length, and it often uses more land than the buildings do. A turning-path drawing for the largest rig is the reliable way to set it.

Yes. Wind pushes and lifts an open roof differently than it loads a closed box, and a canopy with only some walls falls in yet another category. The engineer designs the columns, bracing and foundations for the version you are actually building, so adding walls later should go back through the engineer.

Not always. Some facilities use compacted gravel or base rock for aisles and stalls, which costs less up front, while others pave for a cleaner surface and less upkeep. Local code and the stormwater permit may decide how much hard surface you can add and how it drains.