Smyth County

Smyth County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Expect both a building permit and a $50 zoning permit for a metal carport in Smyth County, and the county handles them on one Building and Zoning Permit form. The office wants a copy of the zoning permit before it sells you a building permit. That makes zoning the first stop for any Smyth County carport permit. Agricultural zoning carries no fee on the county's schedule, so say so up front if the building is for the farm. The department is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Permit office: Smyth County Building & Zoning Department
Phone: 276-783-3298
Official county page

When a permit is required

A copy of the zoning permit is required to buy a building permit.
Carports are not among the sheds the state code exempts, so plan on the building permit.
The state exemption covers a one-story detached tool or storage shed of 256 square feet or less, not Group F-1 or H. Ask the office about zoning on a shed that small.
If you are disturbing 10,000 square feet or more, an erosion control plan is required. Single-family dwellings are the stated exception.
In a floodplain, an elevation certificate may be needed and the floor must sit one foot above flood elevation.

Zoning and setbacks

The department runs the county's zoning, subdivision and flood ordinances, and we could not confirm the accessory setback numbers from its pages. Get them from the Zoning Administrator at 276-706-8316 before you pick a spot. Tell the office if the lot has no house on it. An October 2026 Planning Commission notice lists a special use request titled Accessory Building Above 150 square feet Without A Main Building.

What to bring

Building and Zoning Permit form from the county's forms page.
Building plans. Check whether state code requires an architect or engineer; review takes about two weeks, or you can use an approved certified plan reviewer.
Copy of your zoning permit.
Highway entrance permit from VDOT, if the site needs one.
Flood elevation certificate, if the site is in a floodplain and the office asks for one.
Erosion control plan, if you hit the 10,000 square foot threshold.

Farm buildings

Farm buildings sit outside the Virginia building code, restaurants excepted, but flood plain and mudslide rules still count. Smyth County's fee schedule lists agricultural zoning at no fee. The department's pages describe no other farm steps, so ask the Zoning Administrator what you need to show.

Good to know

Zoning fees on the county schedule took effect October 1, 2024, and a variance or special use permit costs $500. A 2 percent state levy is added to building permits. A permit left inactive for 12 months takes the minimum fee to renew, and after 36 months of inactivity it cannot be renewed. The permit technician's line is 276-706-8317.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Smyth County?
Yes, plan on a building permit and a zoning permit, since the office requires a copy of the zoning permit before selling the building permit. The zoning permit is $50, or no fee if it is agricultural. Building permit amounts are in a separate fee PDF, so ask the office.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Smyth County?
A metal garage follows the same path as a carport. A one-story shed of 256 square feet or less can avoid the building permit under state code, but call about zoning first, because lot and size questions can change the answer.

Does it matter if there is no house on my Smyth County lot?
It can. A recent county notice lists a special use request for an accessory building above 150 square feet without a main building, and a special use permit carries a $500 fee. Check with the Zoning Administrator before you buy.

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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