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Jones County
Jones County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages
Expect a building permit for a metal carport or garage in Jones County, because the Inspections Department in Trenton lists metal buildings and carports on its General Building Construction Permit Application. The county also has its own Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and a separate floodplain application for building in a flood hazard area. Pollocksville has its own flood ordinance, so check which rules cover your lot.
Permit office: Jones County Inspections Department
Address: 418 NC Hwy 58 N, Unit A, Trenton, NC 28585
Phone: 252-448-1221
Official county page
When a permit is required
- Jones County lists metal buildings and carports under its General Building Construction Permit Application, so expect a building permit for a metal carport, garage or barn.
- If the site is in a flood hazard area, you also file the county's Floodplain Development Application.
- Wiring a building needs a separate electrical permit, and the county has its own power pole specifications.
Zoning and setbacks
The county's website does not post setback numbers for accessory buildings, so call the Inspections Department at 252-448-1221 to confirm where a building can go on your lot. If any part of the property is in a flood hazard area, the county's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (updated in 2023) applies, and you may need an elevation certificate or a floodproofing certificate. Septic permits go through the Jones County Health Department, so keep any new building clear of your septic system and repair area.
What to bring
- The Jones County General Building Construction Permit Application
- Engineered drawings for the metal building
- A Floodplain Development Application and elevation certificate if the site is in a flood hazard area
- The Owner Exemption Affidavit if you are building it yourself, or contractor information and a workers' compensation affidavit if you are hiring it out
- A signed authorization form if someone else will pick up the permit for you
Farm buildings
Under N.C. G.S. 160D-903, bona fide farm buildings are exempt from county zoning, and state law exempts farm buildings from the building code. Jones County does not post a farm exemption form online, so call the Inspections Department at 252-448-1221 and ask what proof they need. An electrical permit is still required if you wire the building, and flood rules can still apply in a flood hazard area.
Good to know
You can apply online through the county's iWorQ permit portal. The Inspections office in Trenton is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, so plan Friday visits early. The county posts a fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 on its Inspections page.
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a carport in Jones County?
Expect one. A Jones County carport permit goes on the General Building Construction Permit Application, online through iWorQ or at the Trenton office.
Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Jones County?
The county lists metal buildings on that same application, so plan on a permit for a garage. The county's website gives no size rule for small sheds, so call 252-448-1221.
What if my lot in Jones County is in a flood hazard area?
File the county's Floodplain Development Application too. You may need an elevation certificate or a floodproofing certificate.
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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