Cumberland County

Cumberland County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

In unincorporated Cumberland County, a metal carport or garage goes through two county reviews, one for zoning and one for the building code, and the county publishes a separate Residential Accessory Building checklist for each. Both are handled by the county's Planning & Inspections Department, and most applications are filed online through its Permits & Inspections Self-Service Portal. Fayetteville, Hope Mills and the other towns may have their own rules, so confirm who covers your address first.

Permit office: Cumberland County Planning & Inspections, Building Inspections & Permitting
Address: Historic Courthouse, 130 Gillespie Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301
Phone: 910-678-7600
Official county page

When a permit is required

Two reviews: The county has a Residential Accessory Building checklist for zoning and a separate one for building, so expect both a zoning review and a building permit review for a detached garage or carport.
Online filing: Applications, plans and inspection requests go through the county's Permits & Inspections Self-Service Portal (EnerGov).
Trade permits: Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work are handled as single trade permits, separate from the building permit.

Zoning and setbacks

Setbacks for an accessory building depend on your zoning district, so ask Cumberland County Planning & Inspections before you choose a spot. As one example, a 2023 Board of Adjustment case on Wade-Stedman Road involved a required 15-foot minimum setback for an accessory structure, but that number is not the rule everywhere. The zoning checklist for residential accessory buildings is the place to start.

What to bring

An account on the county's Permits & Inspections Self-Service Portal
The items on the county's Residential Accessory Building checklists (zoning and building)
A site plan showing the building and distances to property lines
Building drawings showing the wind rating for the building
A lien agent appointment if the job costs $40,000 or more (NC requirement)

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

Planning & Inspections works out of the Historic Courthouse at 130 Gillespie Street in Fayetteville. The county's Board of Adjustment also meets there, and it is the board that hears setback variance requests.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Cumberland County?
Plan on it in unincorporated Cumberland County. A detached accessory building gets a zoning review and a building review, and the county has a checklist for each. Call Planning & Inspections at 910-678-7600 to confirm for your size.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Cumberland County?
Expect both reviews, filed through the Permits & Inspections Self-Service Portal. Wiring, plumbing or mechanical work gets its own trade permit.

What if my building can't meet the setback in Cumberland County?
Setback variances go to the county Board of Adjustment, which meets at the Historic Courthouse on Gillespie Street.

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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