Alaska

Alaska Permit Guide for Metal Carports, Garages and Barns

Whether you need an Alaska carport permit depends on where the land sits, because Alaska has no statewide residential building code and the state's own plan review skips most private homes. The State Fire Marshal reviews commercial and public buildings and residential buildings with four or more units, but a three-plex or smaller is exempt. A private carport, garage or storage building used only by the owner is also exempt from the state building permit under the state's amended building code. Inside cities with their own building departments, like Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, local rules apply instead, and each of those three exempts only small sheds or temporary structures up to 200 square feet. In places with no local building code, such as Homer, there may be no building permit at all, but borough land use rules and setbacks can still apply.

Building code in effect

Alaska's statewide code is the fire and life safety code in 13 AAC 50, enforced by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire and Life Safety. The state adopted and amended the 2021 International Building Code, along with the 2021 International Existing Building, Fire, Fuel Gas and Mechanical Codes, and the division says the new code took effect on October 28, 2022 (DPS regulations page). The building code adoption is in 13 AAC 50.020. Under AS 18.70.080, the state's standards reach commercial, industrial and public buildings and residential buildings with four or more dwelling units. Single-family homes and duplexes are not covered by a statewide residential code, so cities and boroughs that want one adopt their own. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation applies its IRC and energy standards only when a home uses AHFC financing.

Who issues permits

For buildings the state regulates, the State Fire Marshal's Plan Review Bureau reviews plans and issues the permit after review, with plans and fees sent through the Fire Marshal's Community Portal and a posted processing time of about two to four weeks after payment (Plan Review Bureau). The state hands plan review to several local jurisdictions, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Palmer, Seward, Sitka, Soldotna and the Central Mat-Su fire service area. For a home project inside a city with a building department, that city issues the building permit, for example Anchorage Development Services, the City of Fairbanks Building Department or the City and Borough of Juneau Community Development Department. Outside those places, a homeowner's garage or carport often has no local building permit, though a borough land use permit or setback rule may still apply. The Plan Review Bureau can be reached at (907) 269-2004.

County permit guides

County guides are coming soon.

Don't see your county? Call 919-725-8176 and we'll help you find the right office.

When you need a permit

Private garages, carports and sheds (state level): The state amended IBC Section 105.2 so that Group U buildings used only by the owner or the owner's employees, with no public access and no large amounts of hazardous materials, are exempt from the state permit. That covers most backyard carports and garages.
Homes three-plex or smaller: The State Fire Marshal says residential housing that is three-plex or smaller is exempt from state plan review. State review starts at four or more dwelling units under AS 18.70.080.
Commercial and business use: A building used for a business, rented to others or open to the public needs State Fire Marshal plan review before work begins, unless a deferred local jurisdiction handles it. Starting without approval adds a special fee equal to the plan review fee.
Anchorage and Fairbanks: Both cities exempt one-story detached tool and storage sheds and similar buildings only up to 200 square feet. Larger garages and enclosed buildings go through the local building permit process, and electrical, plumbing or mechanical work still needs its own permit.
Juneau: The City and Borough of Juneau says a temporary structure over 200 square feet must be permitted, and any structure connecting to electrical, water or sewer needs a permit regardless of size.

Farm buildings

Alaska writes its farm rule into the state building code itself. In 13 AAC 50.020, the state adds an item to IBC Section 105.2 that exempts Group U buildings that are not offered for use by anyone other than the owner or the owner's employees, are not open to the public and do not hold hazardous materials beyond the code's tables, and it names farm, dairy and greenhouse operations as examples. Oil and gas buildings under the state's Appendix LL are left out of that exemption. So a barn, hay cover or equipment building on your own farm is generally outside the state permit. Because there is no statewide residential building permit, the local rules decide everything else, and a city like Anchorage or Fairbanks can still require its own permit or zoning approval inside city limits. In Anchorage and Fairbanks, wiring, plumbing or mechanical work in an exempt building still needs its own permit, so check with the local office before you hook up power.

Wind and snow

Snow is the big structural concern in Alaska, and design loads change a lot from one area to the next. The Municipality of Anchorage says buildings there must be designed and built for a minimum 40 pounds per square foot snow load, which is above a standard 35 PSF building, and required loads elsewhere in the state can be different (Anchorage handout AG.30). Alaska is also one of the most seismically active states, so anchoring and foundation details matter even where no inspector visits. Where there is no local building department, nobody checks your design loads for you, so it pays to order a building rated for your site. Our partnered manufacturers offer certified buildings rated for 140 MPH wind and 35 PSF snow load, and higher ratings can be quoted where required.

Before you order

Find out whether your lot is inside a city or borough with a building department, since that decides whether any local building permit applies.
Ask the local office or a local engineer what ground snow load to design for, and order a building rated for it instead of the minimum.
If the building will be used for a business, rented out or open to the public, plan for State Fire Marshal plan review before any work starts.
Check borough land use and setback rules even where no building permit is needed, and line up separate permits for any wiring or plumbing.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Alaska?
At the state level, a private carport used only by you is a Group U building that the state exempts from its permit. Inside cities with their own building departments, such as Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, local rules apply, and they generally exempt only small structures up to 200 square feet. Call the local building office for anything larger.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage in Alaska?
It depends on location. A private garage at a home that is three-plex or smaller is outside State Fire Marshal plan review, but Anchorage and Fairbanks only exempt one-story storage buildings up to 200 square feet, so a full garage there goes through a local building permit. In towns with no adopted building code, such as Homer, there may be no building permit, though utility hookups and borough rules still apply.

Are farm buildings exempt in Alaska?
Under 13 AAC 50.020, Group U buildings used only by the owner or the owner's employees, with no public access, are exempt from the state permit, and the rule names farm, dairy and greenhouse operations. Local building departments can still set their own rules inside city limits.

Does the State Fire Marshal review my building?
Only if it is a regulated building, such as a commercial or public building or residential housing with four or more units. Plans go through the Fire Marshal's Community Portal, and review usually takes two to four weeks after full payment.

Sources

Permit rules change. Always confirm with your local permit office before you build.

Looking at buildings? See our metal carports, metal garages and metal buildings.

Ready to design your building?

Design it yourself in 3D with the button below, or call 919-725-8176 and we'll help you figure out what your county needs.

Design Your Building in 3D