Bertie County

Bertie County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

To find out if a metal carport or garage needs a permit in Bertie County, call Bertie County Planning & Inspections in Windsor, which handles building permits for the county. If your property is inside a town or its extraterritorial jurisdiction, you need the town to sign a Zoning Allowance Form before the county will issue your building permit. Towns include Windsor, Aulander, Colerain, Lewiston Woodville, Askewville, Kelford, Powellsville and Roxobel.

Permit office: Bertie County Planning & Inspections
Address: 106 Dundee St., Windsor, NC 27983
Phone: 252-794-5336
Official county page

When a permit is required

Call Planning & Inspections before you order and ask whether your building needs a building permit or only a zoning sign-off.
Many NC counties skip the building permit for a small accessory building with no side or height over 12 feet. Ask Bertie County if it follows that rule.
In town limits or a town's ETJ, a Zoning Allowance Form is required before the building permit, and the town signs a Zoning Compliance Form at the end.
A garage or enclosed building is built to the 2018 NC Residential Code. Footing and final inspections are part of new construction, and the 911 address has to be posted before the final.

Zoning and setbacks

In town limits or a town's extraterritorial jurisdiction, the town handles zoning through its Zoning Allowance Form. The county posts its own building setback requirements, so ask the office what distances apply to your lot. Bertie County also has a Watershed Protection Ordinance and a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, and it uses a Floodplain Development Permit Application for sites in a flood area. Keep the building clear of your septic system and well.

What to bring

A building permit application from Planning & Inspections.
A Zoning Allowance Form signed by the town if you are inside town limits or its ETJ.
A site plan showing the building, its size and distances to property lines and other structures.
Building plans. For a certified metal building, bring the engineered drawings for your size and rating.
A Floodplain Development Permit Application if the site is in a flood area.

Farm buildings

A building used only for a bona fide farm may be exempt from a building permit in county jurisdiction under N.C. G.S. 160D-903. Ask Bertie County Planning & Inspections what proof of farm use they want. Electrical work still needs a permit.

Good to know

Office hours are 8:30am-5:00pm, closed holidays and in bad weather. The main line, 252-794-5336, has menu options for General Info and the Building Inspector. This is low, flat country near the Roanoke and Chowan rivers, so check flood maps before you pick a building site.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Bertie County?
Call Bertie County Planning & Inspections at 252-794-5336 before you order. The county doesn't post a size cutoff, so ask whether you need a building permit or only a zoning sign-off. Inside a town or its ETJ, the town has to sign a Zoning Allowance Form first.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Bertie County?
A garage or enclosed building is built to the 2018 NC Residential Code, with footing and final inspections. Your 911 address has to be posted before the final.

Do I need a flood permit for a metal building in Bertie County?
If the site is in a flood area, the county uses a Floodplain Development Permit Application. This is low, flat land near the Roanoke and Chowan rivers, so check flood maps before you pick a spot.

Sources

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

See the full North Carolina 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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