Clarke County

In Clarke County, a metal carport or garage starts with a Zoning Permit from the Planning Department, and most projects also need a building permit. The county's small project guide names carports, sheds and garages as outbuildings and tells you to ask the Building Department whether your project needs a building permit. A Clarke County carport permit can't be issued out of order, since zoning has to approve the project before the building permit comes through.

Permit office: Clarke County Building Department
Address: 101 Chalmers Court, first floor, Berryville, VA
Phone: 540-955-5112
Official county page

When a permit is required

• Zoning Permit for an outbuilding such as a carport, shed or garage, from the Planning Department
• Building permit in most cases, from the Building Department, which also reviews work in the Towns of Berryville and Boyce
• Land Disturbance Permit in some cases, for grading, excavating or similar work
• Virginia Department of Health review if the project uses or affects a well or septic system

Zoning and setbacks

Your site sketch has to show the distance from the new building to the closest point of each lot line, road, private access easement, well, septic system, reserve area, sinkhole, spring and stream. It doesn't have to be drawn to scale, but planning staff can't draw it for you. Minimum setbacks vary by zoning district and are listed in Section 4 of the county Zoning Ordinance. Berryville property owners may also need to talk with the Town Planner before building.

What to bring

• Completed new residential construction zoning permit application, signed by the property owner
• Property location, plus the building's dimensions, floor area and use
• Site sketch with distances to property lines and the other features the county lists
• Well and septic permits or information, if they apply

Farm buildings

Farm buildings and structures are exempt from the building code under Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3. Clarke County wants written confirmation of the exemption from the Building Department included with your zoning application, so a farm building still goes through Planning.

Good to know

The Building Department is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closes from noon to 1 p.m. Allow 20 to 30 business days for plan review and permit processing, and give 3 to 5 business days' notice for inspections. Zoning questions go to the Planning Department on the second floor of the same building, 540-955-5132. In karst areas, the county may ask for a resistivity test.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Clarke County?
Yes, plan on a Zoning Permit at minimum, because the county lists carports among the outbuildings that need one. Whether the Clarke County carport permit also includes a building permit is a question for the Building Department, which the county says to contact first.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Clarke County?
Garages and sheds follow the same steps as carports: zoning approval, plus a building permit in most cases. Statewide, the building code exempts one-story detached storage sheds of 256 square feet or less, but the county's guide still lists sheds under the Zoning Permit.

How long does Clarke County take to review a permit?
The Building Department says to allow 20 to 30 business days for plan review and permit processing after you submit.

Sources

• Clarke County: Building Department
• Clarke County: Small Residential Construction Projects guide
• Clarke County: Permit Applications Generally guide

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

See the full Virginia 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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