Patrick County

Patrick County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Yes, plan on a Patrick County carport permit, because the state's small shed exemption does not list carports. The application goes through the Building Inspections Office in Stuart at 276-694-4143, and you can email it in. The county form has checkboxes for a garage and a storage building but none that names a carport, so mark Other or ask the office which box it wants.

Permit office: Patrick County Building Inspections Office
Address: 106 Rucker Street, Stuart, VA 24171 (mail: P.O. Box 466, Suite 218, Stuart, VA 24171)
Phone: 276-694-4143
Official county page

When a permit is required

Carports: plan on a building permit. They are not listed in the USBC 108 exemption.
Garages and storage buildings: both are permit types on the county application, and the storage building line asks for the size.
One-story detached tool or storage sheds of 256 sq ft or less are exempt under USBC 108 (not Group F-1 or H). The county fee ordinance says work the USBC exempts does not need a permit.
Land disturbance over 10,000 sq ft needs a separate permit from the county's erosion and stormwater office.
Inside Stuart town limits, the Town Land Use Administrator has to approve the project before the county processes it.

Zoning and setbacks

The county application asks how far the proposed structure will sit from the closest property line and from any other structure on the property, but it does not state a minimum distance. You also confirm the project stays out of utility easements and rights of way. We did not find posted setback numbers on the county site, so ask the office before you pick a spot. In Stuart, get the town's sign-off first.

What to bring

Completed building permit application, with the owner's legal name as shown on the deed
Tax map and parcel information, plus directions to the site from Stuart
Estimated project cost and a description of the work
Distances to the nearest property line and other structures
Plans with enough detail to process (a seal may be required depending on the use group, and manufacturer instructions override the county's general guidelines)
Contractor license details and contractor register, or the owner-builder affidavit
Flood elevation certificate if the site is in or within 200 feet of a flood plain
VDOT driveway permit approval if you are adding a new driveway

Farm buildings

Farm buildings and structures are exempt under Code of Virginia § 36-99 and USBC Section 102.3, except restaurant use, and flood plain and mudslide rules still apply. Patrick County's fee ordinance covers one local step for electrical work: for legitimate farm use services, the Building Inspection Department verifies the farm use and signs the forms you complete before the utility is notified. Ask the office what it wants on file for the building itself.

Good to know

Office hours are 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays, and the Building Official is in the office from 8 to 10 am. That is also the window for calling in inspections, since inspectors are in the field from 10 am to 4 pm and do not give appointment times. Under the county fee ordinance, new residential work and additions run $0.15 per sq ft with a $70 minimum, plus a $10 issuance fee and a 2% state surcharge. Carports and sheds are not listed by name, so the Building Official assesses them under the closest category. Cards carry a 3% convenience fee.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Patrick County?
Plan on it. Carports are not in the USBC exemption, and no local page we found says otherwise. Call 276-694-4143 to confirm the paperwork for your site.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Patrick County?
A garage needs one and has its own checkbox on the application. A one-story detached storage shed of 256 sq ft or less is exempt from the permit under the USBC. Anything larger goes in as a storage building with the size listed.

How much does a permit cost in Patrick County?
It depends on how the Building Official classifies the structure, because carports and sheds are not named in the fee schedule. The schedule's general minimum is $70, and a $10 issuance fee and 2% state surcharge also apply.

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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