Cheshire County

You probably do need a permit for a carport in Cheshire County, and you'd apply to the city or town where the land sits because the county handles none of this. Keene's building regulations only exempt small one-story residential tool and storage sheds up to 125 square feet. Swanzey's list of work needing a building permit includes construction of any detached structure. In Jaffrey, shed and garage are both boxes on the residential permit form.

Permit office: Cheshire County doesn't issue permits, so these three offices are a starting point, and each remaining town handles its own.

• City of Keene Community Development Department
  Address: City Hall, 4th Floor, 3 Washington St., Keene, NH 03431
  Phone: 603-352-5440
  Keene Community Development
• Town of Swanzey Code Enforcement Officer
  Address: P.O. Box 10009, Swanzey, NH 03446
  Phone: 603-352-7411 ext. 105
  Swanzey building permit information
• Town of Jaffrey Building Inspector
  Address: 28 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452
  Phone: 603-532-7445 ext. 108
  Jaffrey Building Inspector

When a permit is required

• Keene: Chapter 18 requires permits before you erect a building or structure. It exempts one-story detached residential accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds up to 125 square feet of floor area.
• Swanzey: the town's list of work needing a building permit includes construction of any detached structure.
• Jaffrey: the land use code says a permit is needed before construction, alteration or repairs other than ordinary repairs, and it counts sheds and garages as buildings.
• The 200 square foot exemption in the 2021 IRC is only the state baseline. Keene's 125 square foot limit is lower, so check your own town's number.

Zoning and setbacks

Jaffrey's land use code caps accessory building coverage at 25 percent of the lot area, leaving out the area under the principal building. Rural district lots have a 60 foot front setback, with side and rear setbacks of 40 feet without town water and 30 feet with it. Residential lots of 1 acre have 30 feet all around, or 15 feet on a 20,000 square foot lot with town water and sewer. Keene's rules are in its Land Development Code, which also has a floodplain article. Jaffrey's code has floodplain and shoreland overlay districts too, so check those if your lot is near water.

What to bring

• Jaffrey's residential permit form has you fill in a description of work and a site or plot plan, and list proposed front, rear and side setbacks.
• Keene's FAQ says two sets of plans for residential permits that require detailed plans.
• Swanzey's page points you to separate residential and non-residential sections on the application form, so know which one fits your building.

Farm buildings

Agricultural buildings in Cheshire County aren't blanket exempt from the state code, and Group U farm structures come under the IBC Appendix C the state adopted. If local zoning is silent on agriculture, RSA 674:32-a treats it as allowed. A board can also waive unreasonable setbacks or dimensional limits for the farm use under RSA 674:32-c.

Good to know

Swanzey leaves some small work off the permit list, such as fences 7 feet or under, retaining walls under 4 feet and playground equipment, though that equipment must still meet setbacks. Keene's Community Development office is open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and its FAQ leaves it to the applicant to schedule each inspection. Jaffrey's form says an application expires if work doesn't start within 180 days of being accepted as complete, and the Building Inspector keeps hours of 7:30 am to 3:30 pm or by appointment.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Cheshire County?
Very likely. Swanzey's list covers any detached structure, and Keene and Jaffrey both require permits before you build. Keene's shed exemption is written for tool and storage sheds, so ask Community Development how they treat an open carport.

Can I skip the permit on a small metal shed in Keene?
Only if it fits Keene's exemption: one story, detached, residential, used for tools or storage, and 125 square feet of floor area or less. A metal garage won't meet that wording, so plan on a building permit.

Sources

• Keene Community Development
• Keene Chapter 18 Building Regulations
• Keene Community Development FAQ
• Keene Land Development Code
• Swanzey building permit information
• Jaffrey Building Inspector
• Jaffrey residential building permit form
• Jaffrey Land Use Code
• NH DHHS county and town list
• RSA 155-A
• RSA 674:32-c

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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