Grafton County

A Grafton County carport permit is really a permit from your city or town, since the county does not issue them, and the size of the structure decides which permit you need. In Lebanon, a residential shed or storage building of 200 sq ft or less needs a zoning permit, and anything larger needs a building permit, per the city's shed and storage building page. Most two-car carports and metal garages are well over 200 sq ft, so plan on a building permit. Hanover and Plymouth handle permits through their own planning and building offices.

Permit office: Grafton County does not issue building permits. Start with the local office for the town or city where the carport or garage will go.

• City of Lebanon Planning and Development
  Address: 51 N. Park St., 5th Floor, Lebanon, NH 03766
  Phone: 603-448-1524
  Lebanon Building Permits page
• Town of Hanover Planning, Zoning & Codes Department
  Address: Hanover Town Hall, PO Box 483, Hanover, NH 03755
  Phone: 603-643-0742
  Hanover Building Code Ordinance #15 (PDF)
• Town of Plymouth Planning & Development (Building Inspector)
  Address: 42 Highland Street (Plymouth Fire Department building), Plymouth, NH
  Phone: 603-536-1253
  Plymouth Planning & Development page

When a permit is required

• Lebanon: the city says most projects require a building permit. A residential shed or storage building of 200 sq ft or less needs a zoning permit, and a larger one needs a building permit (source).
• Lebanon: for commercial projects the zoning permit limit is 120 sq ft. Larger commercial structures need a building permit.
• Hanover: the town's Building Code Adopting Ordinance #15 requires a building permit before work starts, with exemptions following IRC R105.2 or IBC 105.2.
• Plymouth: residential and commercial Building Permit Applications are available from the Planning & Development page, and building permits go through the Building Inspector.
• Under the NH State Building Code (RSA 155-A, 2021 IRC and IBC with state amendments), a one-story detached accessory building up to 200 sq ft can skip the building permit, but towns can be stricter and zoning still applies.

Zoning and setbacks

Lebanon allows sheds of 130 sq ft or less on one- or two-family lots to sit within 5 feet of the side and rear property lines, but they still have to meet the district's front yard setback. Anything over 130 sq ft, which includes nearly every carport or garage, must meet all of the district's required setbacks. Lebanon's first inspection checks that the setbacks match your approved site plan. In Hanover, setbacks come from the Zoning Ordinance and zoning maps, and the zoning ordinance governs if it conflicts with the building code.

What to bring

• A site plan showing where the carport or garage will sit in relation to the property lines (Lebanon requires one).
• The completed Building Permit Application, filed online in Lebanon through the OpenGov portal.
• Structure size and building details from your dealer, such as frame, anchoring and any engineering drawings.
• In Plymouth, the NH Residential Energy Code Application (EC-1) is listed among the forms if the building will be heated or conditioned.

Farm buildings

There is no blanket farm building exemption from New Hampshire's building code, so a metal barn or hay cover in Grafton County still goes through the town's permit process. New Hampshire adopted IBC Appendix C for Group U agricultural buildings. RSA 674:32-a allows agriculture where a town's zoning is silent, and RSA 674:32-c lets a local board waive setbacks or dimensional rules that are unreasonable for a farm use. Talk to the town early if you need that relief.

Good to know

Lebanon takes permit applications through the OpenGov Permitting and Licensing portal, and its Planning and Development office is open Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Fridays. Lebanon's zoning permit fee for residential one- or two-family projects is $31. In Hanover, building permits are valid for two years with a possible 6-month extension, and the ordinance sets civil penalties of up to $275 per day after written notice. Hanover's office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plymouth's Building Inspector works out of the Fire Department building at 42 Highland Street, and the town warns it does not invoice for Planning and Zoning Board application fees.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Grafton County?
Yes in most cases, and you get it from your town or city, not the county. In Lebanon, anything over 200 sq ft on a residential lot needs a building permit, and smaller sheds still need a zoning permit.

Does a metal garage or shed need a building permit in Lebanon?
A residential shed or storage building of 200 sq ft or less needs a zoning permit, which costs $31 for one- or two-family properties. Larger buildings need a building permit. You apply online through the city's OpenGov portal with a site plan.

How close to the property line can I put a carport in Lebanon?
Only sheds of 130 sq ft or less can sit within 5 feet of side and rear lines on one- or two-family lots. A larger carport or garage must meet all of the district's setbacks, and the first inspection checks them.

Sources

• City of Lebanon, Sheds and Storage Buildings
• City of Lebanon, Building Permits
• Town of Hanover, Building Code Adopting Ordinance #15 (PDF)
• Town of Plymouth, Planning & Development
• NH RSA 155-A, State Building Code
• NH RSA 674:32-c, Agricultural uses

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

See the full New Hampshire 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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