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Southampton County

Southampton County, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Virginia

Southampton County's residential permit application has a Carport box to check, so a metal carport needs a building permit plus a $40 Zoning Clearance. A site plan is required for any new structure, showing existing buildings and distances to your lot lines. Ask how a Southampton County carport permit is priced, because the square footage tiers on the fee schedule, starting at $80 for up to 500 square feet, name garages and sheds, and every permit adds a $40 administrative fee. Community Development takes the application Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.


Permit office: Southampton County Department of Community Development
Phone: 757-742-6777
Official county page


When a permit is required

  • The county's residential application lists Garage, Shed over 256 sq ft, Carport and Accessory Structure as work types.
  • A Zoning Clearance application goes with the building permit.
  • Sheds over 256 square feet have their own line on the county's submittal checklist; smaller one-story sheds are exempt from the building permit under state code if they are not Group F-1 or H.
  • A floodplain development permit is required for projects in the 100-year flood zone.
  • Clearing over 10,000 square feet needs a Land Disturbance Permit from Environmental Services. Below that, ask whether the Agreement In-Lieu applies.


Zoning and setbacks

Your setbacks depend on which of the county's districts you are in, from A-1 and A-2 agricultural through the R and B districts. The county's forms don't print the numbers, so get them from Community Development's Planning and Zoning Division through the main line, 757-742-6777. The Zoning Clearance form will ask for your district and current use, and the Zoning Administrator signs off on it.


What to bring

  • Residential Permit Application with the work type checked, description and total cost.
  • Zoning Clearance application and $40 fee.
  • Plat or site plan showing existing structures, distances to lot lines, and any well and septic.
  • Building plans from the seller or builder, as the checklist lists for detached sheds. Ask if carports follow the same list.
  • Health Department approval. The checklist lists it for sheds over 256 square feet, and the building official may ask for a review of garages too.
  • Virginia contractor's license and county business license, or the signed exemption form if you are the owner.


Farm buildings

The state building code does not cover farm buildings, apart from any used as a restaurant, and flood plain and mudslide rules stay in force. Southampton County's permit forms describe no farm procedure, so ask Community Development how to document a farm building, and whether a Zoning Clearance is still needed.


Good to know

If the property has no 911 address yet, the county's checklist says to stake the driveway and the four corners of the building before requesting one, and the application can't be fully processed without it. Inspections can be requested or cancelled online through InspectNet. A project in an incorporated town needs a copy of the zoning permit in the application. Check the county's floodplain page if you are near the Blackwater, Meherrin or Nottoway.


Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Southampton County?
Yes. Carport is a listed work type on the county's residential application, and you will also file a $40 Zoning Clearance. Plan review for accessory structures is listed at $40 on the 2022 fee schedule.


Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Southampton County?
A garage does, and it is priced by gross square footage: $135 from 500 to 1,000 square feet and $175 from 1,001 to 1,500. Sheds over 256 square feet need a site plan, zoning clearance, application, Health Department approval and building plans. Smaller sheds can skip the building permit under state code, but ask about zoning.


What if my land has no address yet?
Stake the driveway and the four building corners, then request a 911 address. The county says it can't fully process an application without a physical address.


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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