Rowan County

Rowan County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

In unincorporated Rowan County, every carport, garage or storage building needs a zoning permit from Planning and Development, no matter how small it is, and Building Inspections handles the building permit after that. The county lists a residential carport as a detached structure with at least two sides open, so if you are shopping for a Rowan County carport permit, that is the category you will be filed under. A residential storage building goes on the building permit list once it is over 12 feet on any side. Both offices sit in the same building on North Main Street in Salisbury, so most people can handle the zoning step and the building step in one trip. If your land is inside a town or its extraterritorial jurisdiction, that town issues the zoning permit instead.

Permit office: Rowan County Building Inspections
Address: 402 N Main Street, Room 207, Salisbury, NC 28144
Phone: 704-216-8619
Official county page

When a permit is required

Carports: Rowan County Building Inspections lists a residential carport as a new detached structure that is not closed in on all sides, with at least two sides open. A carport attached to an existing house is permitted as an addition instead.
Detached garages: A detached garage built for parking vehicles is its own residential permit type in the county's Permit Types list. Expect a zoning permit first, then the building permit.
Sheds and storage buildings: A residential storage building is listed as a building permit type when it is over 12 feet on any side. Smaller sheds still need the zoning permit, since the county requires one for all accessory structures regardless of size.
Attached garages and carports: Adding a garage or carport onto an existing home is permitted under the Addition permit type rather than as an accessory building.
Floodplain lots: If any part of the parcel is in a floodplain, the county requires a floodplain development permit to go along with the zoning permit.

Zoning and setbacks

Rowan County's Planning and Development office issues the zoning permit, and the county's Accessory Structures handout says one is required for every accessory structure, whether or not a building permit is also needed. Per that handout, an accessory building can't sit in the required front setback of the house, and total accessory building area is capped at 10 percent of the lot. Side and rear setbacks grow with building size: 10 feet for buildings up to 4,000 square feet, 40 feet for 4,001 to 8,000 square feet, and 80 feet above that. Accessory buildings are not allowed on a vacant lot unless approved as a residential storage facility under section 21-56(11) of the county zoning ordinance. The county's FAQ asks you to call Planning staff at 704-216-8588 first to confirm the building is allowed on your parcel.

What to bring

Parcel or map number for the property (the county's permit steps send you to the Tax Department for it)
All the specifications of the proposed building (size, use and location) for the zoning permit
The approved zoning permit when you apply at Building Inspections
Building drawings or manufacturer plans showing the size and construction of the carport or garage
A floodplain development permit if the parcel has mapped floodplain

Farm buildings

A building used only for a bona fide farm may be exempt from a building permit in county jurisdiction under N.C. G.S. 160D-903. Rowan County's Accessory Structures handout says a pole building is not treated as an accessory structure when it is used with a bona fide farm enrolled in the present use value program with the Tax Assessor's office. If your farm is not in present use value, talk with Planning and Development before you order. Any wiring you add to a farm building still needs its own electrical permit.

Good to know

Rowan County Building Inspections is in Room 207 at 402 N Main Street in Salisbury, and Planning and Development is down the hall in Room 204. Both are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Building Inspections only issues permits and takes plan reviews from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The county's Planning and Development fee schedule, effective July 1, 2025, lists a residential zoning permit at $25. Permits can be applied for and tracked through the county's Citizen Self Service portal. A zoning permit carries a one-year vested period, so you have time to get the building delivered and set.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Rowan County?
Yes. In unincorporated Rowan County, every accessory structure needs a zoning permit from Planning and Development, and the county lists a residential carport (at least two sides open) as its own building permit type. Call Planning at 704-216-8588 to confirm the carport is allowed on your lot before you order.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Rowan County?
A detached garage needs a zoning permit and a building permit. A storage building needs a building permit once any side is over 12 feet, and it still needs a zoning permit even if it is smaller, because the county requires one for all accessory structures.

How far from the property line does an accessory building have to be in Rowan County?
The county's Accessory Structures handout lists 10 feet from the side and rear lines for buildings up to 4,000 square feet, with larger setbacks for bigger buildings. It can't go in the front setback of the house.

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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