Scott County

A metal carport in Scott County should be treated as a building permit job, and the county's zoning ordinance holds accessory structures to 5 feet from side and rear lines in most districts. The Scott County carport permit goes through the Building Permits office, where the Building & Zoning Official handles both sides of the question. Height may be the bigger catch, because the ordinance caps accessory structures at 15 feet. Call between 7:00 and 10:00 in the morning, since those are the posted permit hours.

Permit office: Scott County Building Permits (Building & Zoning Official)
Address: 190 Beech Street, Suite 201, Gate City, VA 24251
Phone: 276-386-5505
Official county page

When a permit is required

• Carports are not on the state's list of permit-free sheds, so plan on a building permit.
• A one-story detached tool or storage shed of 256 square feet or less can skip the building permit under the state code, as long as it is not Group F-1 or H.
• The county ordinance has its own Zoning Permits section (Sec. 500-104), so ask whether your project needs that too.
• Building in the floodplain takes a Special Use Permit under Sec. 200-700.9 of the zoning ordinance.
• Qualifying farm buildings fall outside the state building code; see the farm section below.

Zoning and setbacks

Accessory structures get 5 feet on the side and 5 feet on the rear in the AF, AR, R-1, C-1 and I-1 districts. AF, AR, C-1 and I-1 set no front requirement for them, while R-1 requires them to sit behind the front building line of the house. The accessory height limit is 15 feet in each of those districts, against 35 or 45 feet for a principal building. Ask how the county measures that height before you settle on a tall garage or barn.

What to bring

• The county's page posts a Building Permit form but no checklist, so call 276-386-5505 and ask what to bring for your structure.

Farm buildings

State law leaves farm buildings out of the building code, unless the building houses a restaurant, and flood plain and mudslide rules still reach them. We did not find a written Scott County farm procedure, so ask the Building & Zoning Official what the office wants to see from you.

Good to know

The Building Permits page lists permit hours of 7:00 am to 10:00 am and inspection hours of 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, so an afternoon visit may miss the people you need. The zoning ordinance was last amended October 7, 2026, so check that any older printed copy still matches.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Scott County?
Plan on it. Carports are not on the state code's list of exempt sheds, and the Building Permits office takes applications from 7:00 to 10:00 am. It must also meet the county's 5 foot side and rear setbacks and 15 foot accessory height limit in the districts listed above.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Scott County?
A garage needs one, and the 15 foot height limit applies to it as well. A detached one-story shed of 256 square feet or less can go without a building permit under the state code, though it is still an accessory structure, so ask the office about zoning.

What if my Scott County lot is in the floodplain?
The zoning ordinance requires a Special Use Permit for floodplain development under Sec. 200-700.9. Raise that with the office before you order a building.

Sources

• Scott County: Building Permits
• Scott County: Building Permits staff directory
• Scott County: Zoning Ordinance

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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