Franklin City

In the City of Franklin, you should expect a building permit and a Zoning Clearance for a metal carport or garage, since the city's fee schedule prices carports and garages as accessory structures, but no size cutoff is posted, so call 757-562-8580 to confirm yours. A Franklin carport permit runs through Community Development at 207 W 2nd Avenue, and the Zoning Clearance application asks for a site plan. That plan must show distances in feet from all property lines to any detached garage, shed or other accessory structure.

Permit office: Building Safety Bureau of Inspections, Community Development Department
Address: 207 W 2nd Avenue, Franklin, VA 23851
Phone: 757-562-8580
Official city page

When a permit is required

• Construction or enlargement of buildings: generally a building permit, per the Citizen's Guide
• Accessory structures such as sheds, garages, decks and carports: listed on the building permit fee schedule
• Garages and storage sheds: use, location and size are regulated by the Zoning Ordinance
• Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work: each takes a separate permit
• Statewide, the USBC exempts one-story detached tool and storage sheds of 256 square feet or less. The city's pages do not state a local cutoff

Zoning and setbacks

The Zoning Clearance costs $25 and requires a site plan with the location and size of all existing and proposed buildings and accessory structures. The application also asks whether the property sits in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Setback numbers are in the zoning ordinance, so ask the office for yours.

What to bring

• Building Permit Application
• Zoning Clearance Application and Zoning Clearance Affidavit
• Site plan with lot dimensions, adjacent street names and distances to all property lines, with a scaled plat preferred
• Whether the lot is in the Special Flood Hazard Area
• Drawings and specifications for plan review

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 has no farm form posted, so ask Community Development what to file and whether a Zoning Clearance still applies.

Good to know

Email your application through the permits link on the city's page, then call 757-562-8580 to confirm it arrived. On the FY 2025-2026 schedule, building permits for accessory structures start at $8 per 100 square feet with a $50 minimum, plus a $50 administrative fee on all permits. Plan review for accessory buildings of 1,999 square feet or less is $75. The city participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which regulates development in the floodplain, so check flood status early. Office hours are not posted.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Franklin, Virginia?
Plan on it. Carports appear on the city's accessory structure fee list, and a Franklin carport permit should be confirmed by phone since no size cutoff is posted.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Franklin, Virginia?
A garage should be expected to need one. The Zoning Ordinance also regulates location and size of garages and storage sheds, so call before setting either.

What does a Zoning Clearance cost in Franklin?
$25, on the FY 2025-2026 schedule, and the application requires a site plan.

Sources

• City of Franklin: Building and Zoning Permits
• City of Franklin: Zoning Clearance and Checklist
• City of Franklin: FY 2025-2026 Fee Schedule Changes
• City of Franklin: Citizen's 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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