Capitol Planning Region

Plan on needing a permit for a carport here, and it will come from your town, because the Capitol Planning Region and its council of governments, CRCOG, do not issue building permits. Connecticut dissolved county government in 1960, so the region is only a map label for permit purposes. West Hartford, for example, requires a permit for any type or size of shed, and Hartford sends garages and sheds through a Planning and Zoning application first. Start with your town building official and your town zoning office.

Permit office: The region and CRCOG issue no permits. Here are some of the region's town offices. Every other town has its own.

• Hartford Development Services, Licenses and Inspections
  Address: 260 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103
  Phone: 860-757-9200
  Official City of Hartford permit page
• West Hartford Building Inspection Division
  Address: 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107
  Phone: 860-561-7530
  Official Town of West Hartford page
• Manchester Building Department
  Address: Lincoln Center, 494 Main Street, Room 202, Manchester, CT
  Phone: 860-647-3052
  Official Town of Manchester page
• Newington Building Department
  Address: 200 Garfield Street, Newington, CT 06111
  Phone: 860-665-8580
  Official Town of Newington page
• New Britain Building Department
  Official City of New Britain page

When a permit is required

• The state code exempts one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses up to 200 square feet from a building permit. That is a building permit exemption only, and zoning can still apply.
• Hartford: its property owner guide repeats the 200 square foot exemption, and a garage or shed outside it needs a Planning and Zoning application before the building permit.
• West Hartford: 200 square feet or under takes a zoning permit, filed in the portal under Accessory Structures 200 sf or Under. Over 200 square feet takes a building permit, and zoning rules still apply.
• Manchester: its Building Department says a shed smaller than 200 square feet still takes a separate zoning permit.
• Carports: none of these town pages lists carports by name, so ask your building official before assuming a small one counts as a similar use.

Zoning and setbacks

Each town sets its own setbacks, and they depend on your zoning district. Manchester puts location rules for sheds and garages in residential zones in Section 7.4 of its Zoning Regulations, with district setbacks in Section 8.1, and its Zoning Enforcement Officer answers at 860-647-3057. West Hartford questions go to Planning and Zoning at 860-561-7555. In Hartford, check whether a Planning and Zoning application applies before you file for a building permit, and check the city's planning viewer for historic districts. The other towns in the region each have their own building and zoning offices.

What to bring

• West Hartford: a surveyed plot plan showing the shed location, dimensions and measurements to property lines. Staff may have one on file.
• Hartford garage or shed: a site plan, a detailed project description and 3 sets of construction drawings with footing, framing and elevation details.
• Hartford prefabricated structures: stamped engineered drawings, so ask your metal building supplier for them early.
• Manchester: an account on the town's online permitting system, which also handles status checks and inspection requests.

Farm buildings

Connecticut has no general farm building exemption. Appendix C of the state code applies to agricultural buildings, and only shade cloth structures are exempt. Conn. Gen. Stat. 12-91 is a property tax exemption and does not excuse a permit. Tell your town building official about farm use before you order.

Good to know

Fees are local. Manchester charges $15 per $1,000 of value over $1,000, with a $30 residential minimum for work up to $1,000, on its permit fee schedule. Newington lists $15 per $1,000 for values over $3,000, effective July 1, 2025. West Hartford takes all submissions through its CityView portal, Newington uses its Online Permit Center, and New Britain links to Licenses & Permits. The state's 2026 code date of July 1, 2026 has been delayed, so the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code is still the one to plan around unless your official says otherwise.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in the Capitol Planning Region?
Most likely yes, from your town, since the region and CRCOG do not issue permits. Town pages here do not list carports by name, so your building official decides how the 200 square foot exemption applies and your zoning office checks placement.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Hartford or West Hartford?
West Hartford requires a permit for any size of shed: a zoning permit at 200 square feet or under, a building permit above that. Hartford starts a garage or shed with a Planning and Zoning application and wants stamped engineered drawings for prefabricated structures.

Can my farm skip the permit?
No general exemption exists. Appendix C applies to agricultural buildings, only shade cloth structures are exempt, and Conn. Gen. Stat. 12-91 only concerns property tax.

Sources

• OPM municipalities by planning region and COG
• DAS code adoption process (2026 code delayed)
• Hartford property owner's guide to permitting
• West Hartford Planning and Zoning FAQs
• West Hartford Building FAQs
• Manchester Building FAQs
• Manchester permit fee schedule
• Newington permit fees

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

See the full Connecticut 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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