Montgomery County

Montgomery County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Yes, and it starts with zoning: Montgomery County's guide says Zoning Permits are required regardless of whether a building permit is needed. For a Montgomery County carport permit, you go to Planning & GIS Services first, then to Building Inspections at the Government Center in Christiansburg. The county's fee list puts carports at $0.22 per square foot with a $45 minimum, and the zoning review usually takes 1 to 2 business days.

Permit office: Montgomery County Building Inspections
Address: 755 Roanoke St., Christiansburg, VA 24073
Phone: 540-382-5750
Official county page

When a permit is required

Zoning Permit: required for accessory structures whether or not a building permit is needed.
Carport: the county defines it as open on at least two sides and used generally to cover vehicles, on a concrete, gravel or asphalt floor. If it is not open on at least two sides, the county treats it as a garage.
Shed up to 256 sq ft: no building permit, if it is one story, no more than 10 feet tall, no more than 18 inches off the ground and anchored at each corner. Any electrical work needs a permit.
Structures of 256 to 600 sq ft and over 600 sq ft: a building permit is required, with footings at least 12 inches below finished grade for the first group and 24 inches for the second.
Electrical or mechanical work: a building permit is required.

Zoning and setbacks

Send your zoning papers to Planning & GIS Services, Suite 2A at the Government Center, 540-394-2148, or mcplan@montgomerycountyva.gov. The office says approvals are generally done within 1 to 2 business days. A bigger building can raise a separate issue. In 2025 the Board of Zoning Appeals took up a Special Use Permit request under Code Section 10-41(1)(a) for an A-1 accessory structure of about 6,000 sq ft, larger than the home on the lot. We did not find setback numbers on the county's permit pages, so get them from Planning before you pick a spot.

What to bring

Request for Zoning Review (submitted through the OpenGov portal)
Zoning Permit Application/Checklist, with site plan, floor plan and elevation plan
Verification of service from Montgomery County Utilities or the Town of Blacksburg or Christiansburg, if the parcel has public water and sewer
Plans specific to the building's design for a prefabricated unit. Pre-engineered buildings must be stamped by a Registered Design Professional.
Floodplain engineering if the site is in a special flood hazard area

Farm buildings

Virginia exempts farm buildings and structures from the building code through Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3, as long as they are not restaurants; flood plain and mudslide rules still hold. The county's accessory guide does not set out a local farm procedure. Call Planning at 540-394-2148 to ask how a farm building is handled on the zoning side before you order.

Good to know

The county's Structural Design Criteria list 30 psf ground snow load, 110 mph wind (3 second gust) and 24 inch minimum frost depth, which are worth checking against your building's engineering. Carports designed by a Registered Design Professional are anchored per that design and, when allowed, can go in without continuous footings. Zoning costs $30, and the 2% state levy and a 2% technology fee ($10 minimum) get added to building fees. Offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and inspections are best requested 36 hours ahead.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Montgomery County?
Yes, you need the Zoning Permit at minimum. The county's fee list also names carports under residential building fees, and its 256 sq ft allowance is written for sheds, so plan on a building permit too.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Montgomery County?
A garage over 256 sq ft needs a building permit, and its floor must be an approved noncombustible material. A shed of 256 sq ft or less skips the building permit if it meets the county's height and anchoring limits, but it still needs zoning.

What phone number do I call for permits in Montgomery County?
Building Inspections is 540-382-5750. Planning & GIS Services, which handles zoning, is 540-394-2148.

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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