Lee County

Lee County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Yes, you need a permit for a carport or garage in Lee County: the county's residential building fee names both. A Lee County carport permit is figured at $0.10 per sq ft with a $35 minimum, plus a 2% state surcharge. You also need a Zoning Permit, which costs $20, and the county says the building permit can be obtained with it.

Permit office: Lee County Department of Building Safety/Inspection
Address: Lee County Courthouse, 2nd Floor, Room 206, Jonesville, VA 24263
Phone: 276-346-7715
Official county page

When a permit is required

Zoning Permit ($20) for new construction, additions, major renovations and structural alterations
Building permit: $0.10 per sq ft, $35 minimum, for garages and carports
Building permit: $0.03 per sq ft, $35 minimum, for storage buildings
Electrical permit ($50), plus an electrical service fee, if you run power to the building
Flood plain development permit ($2 per acre, $50 minimum, $100 maximum) when the site is in the floodplain
Land disturbing permit ($30 plus a $1,000 per acre bond) when your project calls for one

Zoning and setbacks

The county ordinance, Section 3-8, says no accessory building can go on a lot until a building permit has been obtained, and it sends yard and height rules to the district regulations. In the R-1 district nothing may be taller than 35 feet. The Lee County Zoning Department works out of the same courthouse room as the inspector, and its permit form has you write in front, rear and side setbacks, so ask for the numbers for your district before you pick a spot. Zoning Permits expire after 1 year.

What to bring

Zoning Permit application
Existing zone, deed book and page or document number, acreage and current land use
Owner's name, address and phone if the owner is not the applicant
A map showing the site, lot line dimensions, proposed structures and their distances to lot lines
Land uses to the north, south, east and west of the property

Farm buildings

Farm buildings and structures are exempt from the building code under Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3. Lee County posts no farm building form or written procedure on its building or zoning pages, so call 276-346-7715 and ask whether your barn or equipment shed still needs the $20 Zoning Permit.

Good to know

The building office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, and the zoning side closes from noon to 1:00 p.m. Both offices offer online permitting, through a building portal and a zoning portal. Reinspections cost $50, so have the site ready when you call. Work valued at $150,000 or more also owes a contractor's license tax before permits issue.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Lee County?
Yes. The fee schedule lists carports under residential building, so a Lee County carport permit runs $0.10 per sq ft with a $35 minimum, plus the $20 Zoning Permit.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Lee County?
A garage pays the same $0.10 per sq ft rate as a carport. Storage buildings pay $0.03 per sq ft. A one-story storage shed of 256 sq ft or less skips the building permit under state rules, but the county posts no zoning cutoff for small sheds, so call about the Zoning Permit.

What if my lot is in the floodplain?
Lee County's FP Flood Plain District follows FEMA mapping, and a flood plain development permit runs $50 to $100. Ask the office before you set the site.

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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