Variance · Planning application
Setback variance approved for existing backyard apartment and carport
The City Council approved a variance on Sept. 21 for an existing accessory dwelling unit, garage and carport that sit close to the side and rear property lines. The owners say it lets them resubmit for permits to make the structures legal.
From the filing
The application's description as it appears in City of Nampa's record. See the official record
We purchased home with and ADU, garage and carport. While trying to get a VA loan, the appraiser noted there were no permits for the ADU. The garage and ADU (listed as a workshop) were permitted in 1997 but the permit was never finalized. When Mr. Nichols came out to view the property, we also discovered the carport from 2020 was not permitted. We are seeking a variance to setbacks to make the property legal so that we can resubmit for permits.
Project name on file: Variance to 10-8-5.A side and rear setback for an existing ADU and carport
Timeline
Sept. 22, 2026
City Council Decision/Action Letter
Sept. 21, 2026
Decision: Approved
Nampa City Council: Approved.
Sept. 21, 2026
Public hearing: Nampa City Council
Sept. 8, 2026
Notice to Area Property Owners
Aug. 25, 2026
Notice to Agencies/Departments
Aug. 13, 2026
Assess Fees (Variance)
Aug. 13, 2026
Plan Intake Passed
Aug. 13, 2026
Accepted for review
Aug. 12, 2026
14 documents added
Aug. 12, 2026
Application filed
Documents
Project narrative
- Download Setback variance narrative for garage and carport
Owners request a setback variance for an existing ADU attached to a detached garage and an attached carport, citing appraisal deficiencies, permit history, and survey measurements.
Aug. 12, 2026 · 2 pages · 68 KB · Narrative
- Download Pre-application notes for garage setback variance
City planning staff notes from a pre-application inquiry on a proposed garage and ADU, covering the setback variance request and applicable code references.
Aug. 12, 2026 · 1 page · 296 KB · Pre App Notes
Application
- Download Master application for variance
City of Nampa master application for a variance to reduce setbacks for an existing accessory structure (garage), filed for City Council review.
Aug. 12, 2026 · 2 pages · 481 KB · Application
Photos
- Download Photos of setback measurements for garage and ADU
Photographs documenting measured distances from the ADU, garage and carport to property lines, fences and the alley for the variance request.
Aug. 12, 2026 · 8 pages · 16.6 MB · Pictures of Measurements
Other documents
- Affidavit regarding garage setback
Aug. 12, 2026 · Affidavit
- Download Aerial image of garage setback area
Aug. 12, 2026 · 1 page · 422 KB · Arial Image
- Download County assessor dates of construction for the property
Assessor property record listing improvement years built (dwelling 1937, attached carport 2020, attached garage 1997) and the valuation history for the parcel.
Aug. 12, 2026 · 3 pages · 375 KB · Assessor Dates of Construction
- Garage setback variance checklist
Aug. 12, 2026 · Checklist
- Download Earnest money receipt from title company, June 2022
A 2022 wire receipt from Alliance Title & Escrow for a $5,500 earnest money deposit tied to the property's sale.
Aug. 12, 2026 · 1 page · 10 KB · Earnest Money Agreement
- Download Ingress, egress, landscaping and maintenance easement agreement
Recorded 2015 easement letting neighboring owners use part of an adjacent parcel for their driveway, yard and landscaping, with ingress, egress and maintenance rights.
Aug. 12, 2026 · 9 pages · 1.3 MB · Easement Agreement
- Legal description for garage setback variance
Aug. 12, 2026 · Legal Description
- Legal description for garage setback variance
Aug. 12, 2026 · Legal Description WORD
- Download Record of survey showing Lot 6, Block 38 boundary and garage setback
Record of survey for a Waterhouse's Addition lot retracing the warranty deed boundary, with boundary distances, monuments, easements and notes on ownership transfer and physical features.
Aug. 12, 2026 · 1 page · 435 KB · Record of Survey
- Warranty deed
Aug. 12, 2026 · Warranty Deed
