Pasquotank County

Pasquotank County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Outside Elizabeth City, a metal carport or garage needs a building permit from the Pasquotank County Planning & Inspections Department on the ground floor of the county courthouse. The county lets storage sheds 12 x 12 feet or smaller go without a permit, but garages, carports and other accessory buildings need one, and metal buildings need stamped engineered plans. Inside Elizabeth City, the city runs its own Building Inspections office, so city residents apply there.

Permit office: Pasquotank County Planning & Inspections Department
Address: 206 E Main St, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 (Pasquotank County Courthouse, ground floor; mail to PO Box 39, Elizabeth City, NC 27909)
Phone: 252-338-1144
Official county page

When a permit is required

Garages, carports, sheds, porches, decks and similar accessory structures need a building permit.
Storage sheds 12 x 12 feet (144 square feet) or smaller do not need a permit.
Metal or structural steel accessory buildings need stamped engineered plans from a North Carolina engineer.
Building over the water or within 75 feet of it needs a CAMA permit as well.

Zoning and setbacks

Your site plan has to be to scale (it does not need to be a survey) and show property line setbacks, existing features, the driveway and the new building. The county pages do not post setback numbers for accessory buildings, so confirm them with Planning & Inspections before you order. If you are in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, the county asks you to call before starting any project. In an AE flood zone an elevation certificate is required for every new structure unless it is an open-air structure, which can matter when choosing between an open carport and an enclosed garage.

What to bring

A completed permit application (the county has an Accessory Buildings application in its online portal)
A county GIS-assigned address
A site plan to scale showing setbacks, existing features, driveway and the proposed building
Building plans, including stamped engineered plans from a NC engineer for a metal building
Appendix H (existing wastewater system affidavit) for a garage, carport or shed that does not affect the septic system, and an elevation certificate if you are in an AE flood zone

Farm buildings

North Carolina exempts bona fide farm buildings from county zoning under N.C. G.S. 160D-903, and farm buildings can qualify for building code exemptions under state law. Pasquotank County's inspections page does not post its own farm exemption form, so call Planning & Inspections to ask what proof they accept (usually a farm sales tax certificate, present-use value listing, or Schedule F). Electrical work still needs a permit.

Good to know

Pasquotank County takes accessory building applications and inspection requests through its iWorQ permit portal. Residential fees are in the county's residential fee schedule. For CAMA questions, the state's office is at 401 S. Griffin St., Suite 300 (252-264-3901). If your lot is inside Elizabeth City, call the city's Building Inspections office at 302 E. Colonial Ave. (252-337-6672) instead.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Pasquotank County?
Yes, outside Elizabeth City. Carports are listed among the accessory structures that need a building permit, and metal ones need stamped engineered plans.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Pasquotank County?
A storage shed 12 x 12 feet or smaller needs no permit. A metal garage needs a building permit and stamped engineered plans from a North Carolina engineer.

Sources

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

See the full North Carolina 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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