Falls Church City

Falls Church City, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

The City of Falls Church doesn't post carport rules, so call Zoning at 703-248-5040 before you order and ask how a Falls Church carport permit would be handled. Its posted rules do cover detached garages and sheds. A storage shed under 256 square feet skips the building permit, but the city still wants a Building Permit Waiver for Fences and Sheds approved before installation.

Permit office: City of Falls Church Department of Code Administration
Address: 300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA 22046
Phone: 703-248-5080
Official city page

When a permit is required

Carports: not addressed on the city's pages, so ask Zoning.
Sheds over 256 square feet, or with finished space or occupancy, need a building permit reviewed by Zoning and Building Safety.
Sheds under 256 square feet used for storage need the free waiver instead of a permit.
Utilities beyond a simple light and switch, or any floodplain location, require a full building permit.

Zoning and setbacks

A detached garage must be in the side or rear of the property. Inside the rear yard setback it must be at least 10 feet from the house and 3 feet from the property line, with a maximum of 12 feet to the midpoint of the roof ridge and one and a half stories. The waiver form sets sheds at 3 feet from property lines and 10 feet from other buildings, requires fire-rated walls within 5 feet of a line, and recommends staying 5 feet off. Standard interior lots in R-1A have 30, 15 and 40 foot front, side and rear setbacks, and R-1B has 25, 10 and 30.

What to bring

Building Permit Waiver for Fences and Sheds, emailed as a PDF to permits@fallschurchva.gov (small sheds)
Plat showing distances to property lines and buildings
Shed description with type, size and height, plus any spec sheets
Scaled, dimensioned plans in PDF for a full building permit

Farm buildings

Farm buildings and structures are exempt from the building code under Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3. The city's permit pages show no farm building form, so ask Code Administration what to file and check placement with Zoning.

Good to know

The permits counter is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday but closes to the public on the last Wednesday of each month. The shed waiver carries no fee. The city's fee overview estimates $713.30 for a typical 300 square foot residential garage starting 7/1/26, not counting trade permits, and the counter gives the exact amount. Extra requirements may apply in a Resource Protection Area or floodplain, or if the location encroaches on an easement.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Falls Church?
The city's pages don't say, so there is no posted cutoff to rely on. Ask Zoning about a Falls Church carport permit at 703-248-5040 before you buy.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Falls Church?
Plan on a building permit for a garage or a shed over 256 square feet. A storage shed under that size uses the free waiver, and the city must approve it before installation.

Can I get a small shed without paying a fee?
Yes, the waiver form says no permit or fee, but the shed must be one story and no more than 12 feet to the roof midline.

Sources

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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