Gloucester County

Gloucester County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Yes. Gloucester County lists carports and sheds as new construction that needs a permit, its handout gives no size cutoff for them, and its FAQ adds that portable buildings need permits too. A Gloucester County carport permit also comes with a Zoning Permit, which has a $35 review fee and needs a plot plan drawn to scale.

Permit office: Gloucester County Building Inspection
Address: 6489 Main St., Suite 247, Gloucester, VA 23061
Phone: 804-693-2744
Official county page

When a permit is required

Carports and sheds, named in the county's What Requires a Permit handout
Portable and temporary buildings, per the Building Inspection FAQ
Any new structure, addition, alteration or change of use
Zoning Permit before a building or structure goes up or is added to

Zoning and setbacks

The Zoning Division reviews the plot plan and regulates setbacks for principal and accessory structures. A survey is not required for the Zoning Permit. Staff have 30 days to act on a complete application and usually take under 10 working days, and work must begin within 1 year or the permit expires. Call Planning at 804-693-1224 for the setback that applies to your district.

What to bring

Building, Zoning and Demo Permit Application
Plot plan to scale with parcel shape, existing buildings and the new structure
Front, rear and side setback lines on the plan
Tax map number and RPC number
Contractor license details, or the Property Owners Affidavit if you are doing the work
Signed flood statement and elevation certificates if the lot is in a flood zone

Farm buildings

Farm buildings and structures are exempt from the building code under Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3. Gloucester posts no farm building form, so ask Building Inspection what to file, and note that agricultural and forestry buildings in the RC-1 and RC-2 districts skip the Zoning Permit but must still meet setbacks.

Good to know

The office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can file in person, by mail, or by email when the plans are small enough, and the page does not mention an online portal. The fee schedule, dated July 1, 2008, charges $0.10 per square foot for accessory structures such as sheds, garages and pole barns, with a $35 minimum. Carports are not named on it, so ask how yours is figured. Lots in a flood zone have added forms, including a Floodplain Development Permitting Form, and certain projects of 2,500 square feet or more may need a Land Disturbance Permit from Environmental Programs.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Gloucester County?
Yes. Carports are named on the county's list of new construction needing a permit, and a Gloucester County carport permit also goes through zoning review.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Gloucester County?
Plan on it. Sheds are named on the same list with no size given, and the fee schedule covers garages. The statewide USBC exempts one-story detached sheds of 256 square feet or less, so ask Building Inspection at 804-693-2744 how it treats a small one.

Do I need a survey for the Zoning Permit?
No. The Zoning Division asks for a plot plan drawn to scale and says a survey is not required.

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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