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Prince George County

Prince George County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Virginia

A metal carport in Prince George County should be treated as a building permit job, with a $25 Zoning Permit Review Fee as part of the application. The county's FAQ doesn't mention carports by name, but the state's small shed exemption doesn't cover them. If you're researching a Prince George County carport permit, Building Inspections and Planning and Zoning sit on the same first floor at 6602 Courts Drive. Planning staff will talk through a proposed structure before you apply, if you give them the property, the location on the lot and the use.


Permit office: Prince George County Community Development, Building Inspections Division
Address: 6602 Courts Drive, First Floor, Prince George, VA 23875
Phone: 804-722-8659
Official county page


When a permit is required

  • Plan on a building permit for a carport or metal garage, since neither is on the state's exempt list.
  • Buildings under 256 sq ft still need zoning approval, handled through an Exempt Structure Permit at Building Inspections.
  • A shipping container used as a storage building also needs an Exempt Structure Permit.
  • Agricultural structures go through a Farm Structure Permit from Building Inspections.
  • Building in a FEMA flood zone takes a Floodplain Development Permit, and structures generally must sit above Base Flood Elevation.


Zoning and setbacks

The county's Setbacks Summary Sheet (revised September 2026) says front and corner-side setbacks for accessory structures match the main building's in each district. Side and rear setbacks change with height. A structure taller than the main building isn't allowed in most districts, while R-A and A-1 allow it at 100 feet from the rear or side lot line and 150 feet from the main building. Get your exact side and rear numbers from Planning and Zoning at 804-722-8678, and note that the Zoning Ordinance has the final word.


What to bring

  • The General Building Permit Application.
  • Plot plans to scale showing lot lines, the structure's distance to front, side and rear lines, existing structures and easements.
  • Your well and drain field on the plot plan, if the property has them.
  • Scaled structural plans, including the footing and foundation plan. Roof plans or truss packages need an engineer's seal on each sheet.
  • The Zoning Permit Application form, if staff ask for it with an Exempt Structure Application.
  • Ask staff about payment. The checklist says they calculate the fee and send a payment link.


Farm buildings

Virginia law takes farm buildings out of the building code, with exceptions for restaurant use and for flood plain and mudslide rules. In Prince George County you still go to Building Inspections, which handles agricultural structures through a Farm Structure Permit. Ask them what proof of farm use they want to see.


Good to know

Check your parcel's zoning on the county's online Zoning and Parcel Map, which also has a measuring tool for setbacks. Covenants, easements, wetlands, floodplains and Resource Protection Areas can limit placement even when setbacks work, and the Environmental Division at 804-722-8673 handles Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act review. Planning and Zoning opens at 8:30 a.m., Building Inspections at 8, and both close at 5. The county's Planning and Zoning FAQs cover exempt structures and flood zones.


Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Prince George County?
Expect to need one. The county's FAQ doesn't address carports directly, so call Planning and Zoning at 804-722-8678 with your lot and location, but carports aren't part of the state's shed exemption.


Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Prince George County?
A metal garage needs a building permit. For a storage building under 256 sq ft, the county asks for an Exempt Structure Permit so zoning can sign off, even though no building permit is needed.


When is zoning officially decided?
When a building permit is approved or denied. A zoning official can preview your project, but the county says the official determination comes with the permit, and other departments review it too.


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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Design it yourself in 3D with the button below, or call 919-725-8176 and we'll help you figure out what your county needs.

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