Northumberland County

Northumberland County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Yes, start with a Zoning Permit, because county code says no building or structure can be started until the Zoning Administrator has issued one. A Northumberland County carport permit request goes through Building & Zoning in Heathsville, and since carports are not on the state's small shed exemption list, expect a building permit as well. Waterfront lots deserve an early call, since a 100-foot Chesapeake Bay buffer can decide whether the spot you picked is even usable.

Permit office: Northumberland County Building & Zoning
Address: 72 Monument Place, Heathsville, VA 22473 (mail: P.O. Box 129)
Phone: 804-580-8910
Official county page

When a permit is required

Zoning Permit: county code requires one from the Zoning Administrator before a building or structure is started, enlarged or altered.
Building permit: carports are not listed in the USBC 108 exemption, so plan on one regardless of size.
Sheds: a one-story detached tool or storage shed of 256 sq ft or less can skip the building permit under USBC 108, but the zoning code language above still applies to structures.
Land Disturbing Permit: the county offers a separate application, and bay rules send development with more than 2,500 sq ft of land disturbance through a site plan process.

Zoning and setbacks

In the A-1 Agricultural, R-1 Residential General and R-2 Residential Waterfront districts, the code sets a minimum accessory structure side yard of 4 feet and rear yard of 8 feet. An accessory building within 10 feet of any lot line can only be one story. In A-1 and R-1, structures sit 35 feet or more from a street right-of-way 50 feet or wider; on a narrower right-of-way, that distance is measured as 60 feet from the street centerline. On a corner lot in those two districts, the side facing the side street needs 35 feet for main and accessory buildings alike. The Resource Protection Area includes a 100-foot vegetated buffer, and development there is allowed only if it is water dependent or counts as redevelopment. All other unincorporated land falls in the Resource Management Area, so the Chesapeake Bay rules reach all unincorporated land.

What to bring

Completed Zoning Permit Application with the 911 address, tax map number, acreage, zoning and flood plain status.
Site plan drawn to scale showing the parcel's size and shape, the proposed use and the building's location relative to property lines and street rights-of-way.
Your planned side, front and rear yard measurements, plus the amount of land disturbance.
Proof of approval from other agencies with a say in the project, which the code lists as including the Highway Department, Health Department and Wetlands Commission.
Any plans or studies the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance calls for, including an erosion and sediment control plan.
Completed Building Permit Application.

Farm buildings

Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3 exempt farm buildings and structures from the building code, except for restaurant use, and flood plain and mudslide rules still apply. We did not find a posted Northumberland County farm exemption form, so ask Building & Zoning what it wants on file, and whether the Zoning Permit and bay rules still apply to your building.

Good to know

The office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the Building Official, Zoning Administrator and County Planner can all be reached on the same phone line. Applications are posted on the county Forms & Permits page. The bay map shows general locations only, with exact boundaries set site by site, so looking at the map alone will not settle whether your lot is affected.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Northumberland County?
Yes. You need a Zoning Permit from the Zoning Administrator before starting, and carports are not in the state's shed exemption, so count on a building permit too. Call 804-580-8910 to start.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Northumberland County?
A metal garage needs both a Zoning Permit and a building permit. A one-story detached storage shed of 256 sq ft or less is exempt from the building permit under USBC 108, but county zoning language covers structures generally, so confirm the zoning side with the office.

Can I put a carport near the water in Northumberland County?
Possibly not inside the 100-foot Resource Protection Area buffer, since the code allows development there only if it is water dependent or redevelopment. The office determines exact boundaries site by site, so ask before ordering.

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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