Hertford County

Hertford County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

A Hertford County carport permit comes from Inspections in Winton, and since December 2025 the county ordinance says any work needing a building or electrical permit must get zoning compliance approval first (bona fide farms aside). The residential application covers metal buildings and asks you to list accessory structure square footage. If you live in Ahoskie, Murfreesboro or another town, the application asks for that town's zoning approval instead of the county's.

Permit office: Hertford County Inspections Department
Address: 307 W Tryon Street, Winton, NC 27986
Phone: 252-358-7813
Official county page

When a permit is required

Zoning compliance approval is required before any building or electrical permit, under the county Unified Development Ordinance (Section 4.1.1, amended December 1, 2025).
The building permit application must include a zoning permit from the county or your town.
Projects over $40,000 must be done by an NC licensed contractor, and rental property work is contractor only.
Call Inspections to ask whether a small building is exempt. The county pages do not post a size cutoff.

Zoning and setbacks

Zoning permits come from the Planning and Zoning office at 115 Justice Drive, Suite 3, in Winton (252-358-7813). Setbacks for accessory buildings are set in the county Unified Development Ordinance, so get the numbers for your lot from zoning before you place the building. In flood zones A, AO, AE and A1-30, accessory structures under 150 square feet are exempt from elevation and floodproofing certificates but still have to meet the flood rules. The Inspections page also has a floodplain permit application and checklist.

What to bring

Residential Building Application
Zoning permit (county or town)
Proof of ownership, or a notarized permission letter if you do not own the land
Approved plans and a copy of the contract or scope of work
Health department permit and 911 address application, if needed

Farm buildings

Hertford County's ordinance ties bona fide farm purposes to N.C. G.S. 160D-903 and exempts bona fide farms from zoning compliance approval, and it treats pole barns and hay sheds as farm accessory structures. Farms inside an overlay district still have to follow that overlay's rules. Ask Inspections what proof of farm status they need. Electrical work still needs a permit.

Good to know

You can apply through the county's building permit portal or the separate planning permits portal. The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and permits are issued from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Fees are paid by cash or check to Hertford County Inspections and are not refundable.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Hertford County?
The county doesn't post a size cutoff, so call Inspections at 252-358-7813 about a small one. Anything that needs a building or electrical permit must get zoning compliance approval first.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Hertford County?
The residential application covers metal buildings and asks for accessory structure square footage. Bring a zoning permit from the county or your town.

Are pole barns treated differently?
The ordinance treats pole barns and hay sheds as farm accessory structures, and bona fide farms are exempt from zoning compliance approval.

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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