Covington board denies variance for backyard cover at 804 West 12th

The Covington Board of Adjustments denied a variance request from homeowner Tammy Perry at its April 20 meeting, rejecting a request to keep a small open‑air covered structure at 804 West 12th Avenue.

Perry told the board the structure she installed is under 200 square feet and replaced a larger, dilapidated building that had been on the property. She said she has a medical history of melanoma and uses the covered area regularly for shade; she said she brought medical records to support that claim. Several neighbors spoke in support, saying the structure is unobtrusive and that the owners maintain the property carefully.

The case invoked questions about permits and timing. Commissioners and staff probed when the previous structure was removed and whether the pool permit process overlapped with the replacement structure’s installation. The applicant acknowledged a misunderstanding about whether the prior permit covered the new cover.

Board members discussed prior enforcement actions involving other properties where nonconforming structures were removed. Several commissioners said the board had recently ordered removals in similar circumstances and expressed concern about setting a precedent that would undercut those earlier decisions. The applicant offered mitigation options, including planting or installing a taller fence to limit visibility, but commissioners noted limitations such as adjacent city right-of-way and nearby power lines.

After procedural confusion over a motion and second, the board voted on a motion to deny the variance. The roll call vote recorded three votes in favor of denial and one opposed.

The board moved on to the next docket item after the vote; no permit condition or alternate remedy was adopted in the meeting minutes.