Chowan County

Chowan County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

In Chowan County and Edenton, plan on permits for a metal carport or garage, since the shared inspections office's checklist lists both building and zoning permits. Chowan County and the Town of Edenton share one building office, the Edenton-Chowan Building Inspections office on West Freemason Street in Edenton. The same office handles building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, CAMA permits and floodplain rules. Its permit checklist lists a zoning permit along with the building permit, and lots within 75 feet of the water need CAMA paperwork.

Permit office: Chowan County Building Inspection and Planning Division (Edenton-Chowan Building Inspections)
Address: 305 West Freemason Street, Edenton, NC 27932
Phone: 252-482-5618
Official county page

When a permit is required

Permits on the checklist: The county's 2026 checklist lists building, temporary pole, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, insulation and zoning permits. Your project may not need all of them, so ask which apply to a carport or garage.
Site plan: Every permit needs a site plan showing how far the building sits from the front, rear and side property lines. A hand-drawn sketch is fine.
Near the water: If the property is within 75 feet of the waterfront, you need CAMA paperwork. The same office issues CAMA permits and exemptions.
Flood zones: If the lot is in a flood zone, the county asks for an elevation certificate. The chief building inspector is also the county's floodplain administrator.
Fees: The county fee schedule lists residential accessory buildings at $0.15 per square foot, with a flat $50.00 fee for buildings under 400 square feet.

Zoning and setbacks

Zoning in the unincorporated county is handled by the Chowan County Planning Office in the same building, at 252-482-5618. Setback rules are in the county's development codes (zoning ordinance), and the planning page does not list accessory building setback numbers, so ask the Planning Office for your district. Inside Edenton, zoning goes through the Town of Edenton planning department. Bring a septic permit if the project needs one, and check the county GIS for flood zones before you pick a spot.

What to bring

A building permit application (forms are on the county Permit Applications page)
A site plan showing distances from the building to the front, rear and side property lines
A septic tank permit, if applicable
Contractor license number if the job is $40,000 or more, or a notarized owner exemption (general contractor waiver) form from the office if you are the homeowner doing the work
Proof of workers' compensation insurance if you use a licensed contractor
Lien agent appointment from liensnc.com if the job costs $40,000 or more (not needed for work on your existing home)
An elevation certificate if the lot is in a flood zone, and CAMA paperwork if it is within 75 feet of the water
A Permit Authorization Statement if someone other than the owner applies, and the voluntary agricultural district form if your parcel is in one

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 the office what proof of farm use it needs. Electrical work still needs a permit.

Good to know

Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, but lunch times vary, so call ahead. Starting January 1, 2027, the county must also collect a state fee of $25 on permits under the NC Residential Code and $10 on other code permits, sent to the NC Department of Labor. You can check flood zones and parcel lines on Chowan County GIS.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Chowan County?
Plan on it, but ask which ones. The 2026 checklist says a project may not need every permit on it, so call 252-482-5618 about your carport.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Chowan County?
Ask the same office. Every permit needs a site plan showing distances from the front, rear and side property lines, and a hand-drawn sketch is fine.

What if my Chowan County lot is near the water?
Within 75 feet of the waterfront you need CAMA paperwork, and the same office issues CAMA permits and exemptions. A lot in a flood zone also needs an elevation certificate.

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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