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Belknap County

Belknap County, NH Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

New Hampshire

Expect to need a permit for a carport in Belknap County, and you get it from your city or town, since the county doesn't issue building permits. How small a building can go without one depends on where you live. Laconia lists sheds of 150 square feet and larger under its Minor Building Permit, Gilford says any construction needs a building permit, and Meredith's zoning ordinance requires one for new structures. None of those three pages uses the word carport, so call and describe your building before you order.


Permit office: Belknap County issues no building permits, so here are three local offices to start with, and every other town in the county has its own.


When a permit is required

  • Laconia: garages and sheds of 150 square feet or more fall under a Minor Building Permit. The city's page doesn't cover smaller sheds, so ask the office.
  • Gilford: any construction requires a building permit, and the town names sheds in that list without giving a size cutoff.
  • Meredith: the zoning ordinance requires a building permit for new structures and for all construction in a flood prone area. It also says temporary or portable shelters need a permit regardless of cost or construction, and limits that use to 180 days.
  • Statewide, the 2021 IRC exempts a one-story detached accessory building up to 200 square feet from a building permit, but a town can be stricter and zoning still applies.


Zoning and setbacks

Setbacks in Meredith change by district. In the zoning ordinance, a waterfront lot in the Shoreline District has a 65 foot setback from the shoreline, 20 feet on the side and 30 feet at the rear. A non-waterfront Residential lot on on-site utilities has 30 feet in front, 20 on the side and 40 at the rear. Unoccupied storage sheds of 120 square feet or less and no more than 10 feet tall get half the side and rear setback on lots of 3 acres or less. In Laconia, zoning questions go to the Zoning Department at 603-527-1264.


What to bring

  • Gilford asks for construction plans plus a plot plan or site plan showing property lines, site features, existing structures and the new work.
  • Meredith's application calls for a scaled site plan with distances to property lines, and scaled building plans with elevations, foundation plan and snow load calculations.
  • NHDES shoreland approval goes in with the Meredith application if your project needs one.
  • The application fee. Gilford collects it when you submit.


Farm buildings

Belknap towns get no blanket farm exemption from the state code, though New Hampshire adopted IBC Appendix C for Group U agricultural buildings. Where zoning is silent, RSA 674:32-a treats agriculture as allowed, and under RSA 674:32-c the local board can waive setbacks and dimensional rules that are unreasonable for the farm use.


Good to know

Don't start early in Meredith. Its ordinance sets a $100 penalty for a first offense of beginning work without the required permit, $250 for a second, and up to $275 a day after that. Meredith's application lists a $40 minimum on all permits and $0.15 per square foot for a new accessory or garage structure. Laconia's fee sheet shows a $50 application review fee plus $0.15 per square foot for garages and accessory structures, with sheds under 150 square feet exempt from those fees. That sheet is dated 2007, so confirm the amounts. Gilford's inspector needs at least 24 hours' notice to book an inspection.


Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Belknap County?
Most likely, and it comes from the city or town rather than the county. Gilford requires a building permit for any construction, and Meredith requires one for new structures. Laconia's list doesn't name carports, so call Code Enforcement at 603-527-1293 and describe the building.


Does a metal garage or shed need a building permit in Laconia, Gilford or Meredith?
A garage does in Laconia, and so does a shed of 150 square feet or more. Gilford names sheds in its permit requirement with no size limit. Meredith's application has a fee line for a new accessory or garage structure at $0.15 per square foot.


What if my lot is on the water in Meredith?
Expect a 65 foot setback from the shoreline on waterfront lots in the Shoreline District. Meredith's application also warns that new construction may need NHDES Shoreland approval, and that approval has to come in with your building application.


Sources


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


See the full New Hampshire 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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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.

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