Pitt County

Pitt County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

In unincorporated Pitt County, a metal garage, carport or other accessory building needs a building permit, and the county says placing a prefabricated or pre-constructed building requires one too. Every Pitt County building permit also needs zoning approval, and a lot with any mapped floodplain needs a Flood Development Permit. Plan on applying through the county's online portal. Greenville, Winterville and Farmville issue their own building permits inside their limits.

Permit office: Pitt County Permitting & Inspections
Address: 1717 W. 5th Street, Greenville, NC 27834
Phone: 252-902-3150
Official county page

When a permit is required

New construction, including accessory buildings like a detached garage or storage building, requires permits and inspections.
Placing a prefabricated or pre-constructed building requires a building permit.
Zoning approval is required for all building permits, and a Flood Development Permit is required if any part of the property is in a mapped floodplain.
The county enforces the North Carolina State Building Code (currently the 2018 edition).

Zoning and setbacks

Pitt County reviews every building permit for zoning, building code and floodplain compliance before it's issued. Questions about setbacks go to the Planning Department at 252-902-3250. If your lot is inside a town or its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), you'll need a Municipal Zoning Compliance Permit from that town as well. If the property is or will be on septic, Environmental Health (252-902-3200) issues an Improvement Permit and Authorization to Construct, which comes before the building permit.

What to bring

Completed application through the county's online Permit Portal
Two sets of plans
Environmental Health paperwork if the lot is on septic
Municipal Zoning Compliance Permit if you're inside a town's limits or ETJ
Owner affidavit if you're doing the work yourself, since permits otherwise go to the contractor doing the work

Farm buildings

Under N.C. G.S. 160D-903, county zoning can't regulate property used for bona fide farm purposes in the county's jurisdiction. Pitt County's Permitting Center says non-residential farm buildings owned by a working farmer typically don't need a permit. Any electrical work in a farm building still needs an electrical permit, so check with the Permitting Center first.

Good to know

The Permitting Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apply through the Pitt County Permit Portal and request inspections through your EPL Public Portal account; inspections must be ready at the start of business on the requested day. The county's residential fee manual lists $300 for an accessory structure of 400 square feet or less and $500 for one over 400 square feet. Work started without a permit can be charged a double permit fee. The Fire Marshal is at 252-902-3160.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Pitt County?
In unincorporated Pitt County, yes, plan on it. Accessory buildings and placed prefab buildings need a building permit, and every permit needs zoning approval. Inside Greenville, Winterville or Farmville, the town issues the permit.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Pitt County?
Yes. The county requires permits for accessory buildings like a detached garage or storage building. The residential fee is $300 up to 400 square feet and $500 over that.

What if my lot is in a flood zone?
If any part of the property is in a mapped floodplain, Pitt County requires a Flood Development Permit, and plans are checked for floodplain compliance.

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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