Lynchburg City

Yes for a detached garage, which the city lists under building permits with no size cutoff. Carports are not named on that list, so plan on a Lynchburg carport permit and confirm it with Inspections at 434-455-3910. Storage buildings need a permit once they are over 256 square feet. Applications go through the city's eTRAKiT portal, and accessory projects need a plot plan approved by the Zoning Division.

Permit office: City of Lynchburg Inspections Division, Permitting Center
Address: 900 Church Street, 1st Floor Permitting Center, Lynchburg, VA 24504
Phone: 434-455-3910
Official city page

When a permit is required

• Detached garages: building permit
• Storage buildings over 256 square feet: building permit
• Accessories and additions: plot plan approved by the Zoning Division
• Land disturbance: listed by the city among items needing a permit
• Work in a floodplain: check with Community Development at 434-455-3900 first, since a Permit for Floodplain Development may apply

Zoning and setbacks

Before the building permit, the Zoning Division has to approve a plot plan showing your lot size and every existing structure, with setbacks and distances from property lines. The city says setbacks for accessory structures differ from other building setbacks but does not post the distances on its FAQ page, so call Zoning & Natural Resources at 434-455-3900 on the second floor of City Hall. Contractors not based in Lynchburg file a separate Zoning Approval form. The rules are in Chapter 35.2 of the city code.

What to bring

• Completed permit application through eTRAKiT
• Plot plan drawn to scale or fully dimensioned, with proposed construction, existing structures, setbacks and distances from property lines
• Zoning Division approval of the plot plan
• One complete digital copy of final plans (plans marked Preliminary or Not for Construction are rejected)
• Soil test result or signed release affidavit

Farm buildings

Farm buildings and structures are exempt from the building code under Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3. The City of Lynchburg posts no farm building form or procedure, so ask the Zoning Administrator's office at 434-455-3900 whether your use and property qualify.

Good to know

The posted fee schedule, effective May 1, 2018, prices new building work by value: $40 up to $1,000, then $5 per additional $1,000 up to $50,000, plus a 10% plan checking fee over $1,000 and the 2% state levy. It has no separate line for garages or carports, so ask how yours is valued. Residential plan review takes about ten working days. Residential plans usually do not need a registered design professional, though the Building Official can require one in unusual circumstances, and no permit is issued for a building that crosses a property line.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Lynchburg?
Plan on it. The city's building permit list does not name carports, which is why a Lynchburg carport permit question should go to Inspections at 434-455-3910 before you order. Zoning also looks at accessory projects through the plot plan.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Lynchburg?
A detached garage is on the city's list with no size limit shown. A storage building needs a permit when it is over 256 square feet. The Zoning Division reviews a plot plan for accessory work either way the building permit goes, so ask them about a smaller shed's placement.

What if my lot is in a Lynchburg floodplain?
The city asks you to check with Community Development at 434-455-3900 before building on or altering floodplain property. Its flood page points to a Permit for Floodplain Development and Sec. 35.2-59 of the zoning ordinance.

Sources

• Lynchburg City: Obtain a Building Permit
• Lynchburg City: What Requires a Building Permit
• Lynchburg City: Building Plans Submittal Procedure
• Lynchburg City: Permit Fees
• Lynchburg City: Zoning & Natural Resources
• Lynchburg City: Neighborhood FAQs & Concerns
• Lynchburg City: Build Responsibly
• Lynchburg City: Helpful Information

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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