Amherst County

Amherst County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

In unincorporated Amherst County, a metal carport or garage starts with an approved Zoning Permit, because the county lists one as a prerequisite to the building permit. Anyone pricing an Amherst County carport permit should know the fee schedule has its own line for residential carports, at $.15 per square foot. Inside the Town of Amherst, zoning goes through the Town Zoning Department at 434-946-7885 instead.

Permit office: Amherst County Building Safety & Inspections
Address: 153 Washington Street, Amherst, VA 24521
Phone: 434-946-9302
Official county page

When a permit is required

Zoning Permit from Planning & Zoning (434-946-9303), or from the Town if you are inside town limits.
Building permit, filed online through the county's iWorQ portal.
VDOT entrance permit for a new building on a VDOT road or a road VDOT will take over.
Land disturbance permit if you disturb over 10,000 square feet or sit in a small lot subdivision.

Zoning and setbacks

The county's Zoning Permit Application requires a plot plan for accessory structures such as garages. It has to show easements, water courses and the distance from each building to every property line. The form also asks whether the lot is in the Route 130 overlay, a watershed, a flood district or a dam inundation zone. Setback numbers aren't posted on the pages we read, so get them from Planning & Zoning for your district.

What to bring

Approved Zoning Permit with your plot plan
Owner Builder Statement if you act as owner builder without a DPOR-licensed contractor
Septic, well, VDOT or land disturbance approvals, if they apply

Farm buildings

Farm buildings and structures are exempt from the building code under Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3. Amherst does not post a farm exemption form on the pages we read, and its zoning application lists agricultural buildings among the projects that use a plot plan. Ask Planning & Zoning what it wants.

Good to know

Complete residential submittals typically take 48 hours, or up to two weeks if plan review is needed. To get an inspection, call Building Inspections by 5 pm the day before. The fee schedule sets a $30 minimum and adds a 2% state levy to every permit.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Amherst County?
Plan on it. Carports are not on the state's exemption list, and the Amherst County carport permit fee is $.15 per square foot on residential work, with a $30 minimum and a 2% state levy. You also need the Zoning Permit first.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Amherst County?
A detached garage is charged at $.15 per square foot as unfinished area, and it needs a plot plan with the zoning application. A one-story detached shed of 256 square feet or less is exempt from the building permit under state rules, but the county doesn't say whether zoning still applies, so call 434-946-9303.

Sources

Rules and fees change. Call the office to confirm before you order.

See the full Virginia permit guide for statewide rules, farm exemptions and wind and snow ratings.

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

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