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Kent County

Kent County, DE Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Delaware

Yes, a carport of 301 square feet or larger needs a Kent County building permit, and so does a detached garage or pole building. The county's own pages don't match on smaller carports, so call Inspections & Enforcement at 302-744-2451 before you order one. If your land sits in a flood plain, the county wants a permit for any work at all. Nine towns, Dover and Smyrna among them, run their own permits, so check your address first.


Permit office: Kent County Levy Court, Department of Planning Services, Inspections & Enforcement Division
Address: 555 Bay Rd., Dover, DE 19901
Phone: 302-744-2451
Official county page


When a permit is required

  • Carports of 301 sq ft or larger (call about anything smaller)
  • Detached garages and pole buildings
  • Sheds, playhouses and pergolas of 301 sq ft or larger
  • Any shed, whatever the size, in a flood plain
  • Any work of any kind in a flood plain
  • Agricultural buildings, including chicken houses and manure sheds


Zoning and setbacks

Kent County lists these common minimums for accessory structures: 5 feet from side and rear property lines, 5 feet from the house and 10 feet from septic equipment such as the tank or drain field. Generally the building can't sit in front of the house's front wall unless it is at least 100 feet back from the front property line. It also can't be larger than the house, and its average roof height, measured midway between peak and eave, can't top 20 feet. Outside town limits, Planning Services confirms setbacks at 302-744-2471. Inside town limits, the town's zoning official sets them.


What to bring

  • Plot plan
  • Complete manufacturer drawing set with a Delaware-licensed engineer's seal (the county's requirement for carports and metal kit structures)
  • Manufacturer design certification for each engineered part, such as roof trusses
  • Lines and grade survey if the lot is under half an acre (required since December 1, 2025, see the county page for how it applies)
  • Town permit or letter of approval if the town requires one
  • Plans as clear, scalable PDFs, since the county doesn't accept photos, Word files or CAD files


Farm buildings

Chapter 105 of the Kent County Code exempts a farm building from the building code when it is used only for farming on a parcel of at least five acres with expected farm income of at least $2,500 a year. That doesn't mean skipping the office. You still file a plot plan and get an agricultural building use permit from Inspections & Enforcement, and the county's permit list names agricultural buildings without any size cutoff. A barn that also houses people or doesn't meet those tests should be treated as a regular permit job, so ask before you order.


Good to know

Applications go through MGO Connect, the county's online permit system, and the office answers calls Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Camden, Cheswold, Clayton, Dover, Frederica, Harrington, Milford, Smyrna and Wyoming issue their own permits. Other towns need their sign-off before the county will issue yours, and the municipal list shows which is which. Kent County inspections and plan review for those towns stay with the county. The county has adopted the 2018 IBC and IRC with local amendments, effective October 5, 2020. Electrical permits come from the State of Delaware, and the county says to call 811 before digging. Flood plain rules are in Chapter 188 of the county code.


Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Kent County?
At 301 square feet or larger, yes. Below that, call 302-744-2451, because the county's accessory structure sheet and its permit list don't say the same thing. In a flood plain, any work needs a permit.


Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Kent County?
A detached garage needs one. A shed for storage needs one at 301 square feet or larger, or at any size in a flood plain. Metal kit buildings need a manufacturer drawing set sealed by a Delaware-licensed engineer.


I live in Dover. Does the county handle my permit?
No. Dover is one of nine towns that issue their own permits, and the county's list says no Kent County permit is required there. Call the city before you order.


Sources


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


See the full Delaware permit guide for statewide rules, farm exemptions and wind and snow ratings.


Looking at buildings? See our metal carports, metal garages and metal buildings.


Ready to design your building?

Design it yourself in 3D with the button below, or call 919-725-8176 and we'll help you figure out what your county needs.

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