Stanly County

Stanly County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

In Stanly County, a metal garage or a carport with any side over 12 feet will need a building permit from Central Permitting, and every building permit starts with Zoning Compliance. The county says its inspection jurisdiction is all of Stanly County, so building permits go through one office in Albemarle. Who signs off on zoning depends on where the land sits, since some towns issue their own. A Stanly County carport permit is usually a short trip once the zoning piece is in hand.

Permit office: Stanly County Central Permitting (Building Codes Enforcement / Inspections)
Address: 1000 N. 1st Street, Albemarle, NC 28001
Phone: 704-986-3667
Official county page

When a permit is required

Garages and enclosed metal buildings: Needs a building permit from Central Permitting, with Zoning Compliance first. Buildings over 3,000 square feet or projects over $200,000 need plans sealed by a design professional.
Carports: N.C. G.S. 160D-1110 can exempt an accessory structure with no dimension over 12 feet from the building permit. A typical one or two car carport is bigger than that, so plan on a permit. Zoning setbacks apply either way.
Zoning Compliance: Required for all building permits. The Stanly County Zoning Department issues it for most rural land. Within a mile of Locust, Stanfield, Oakboro or Richfield, that town's hall issues it.
Inside Albemarle city limits: Get the City Coordination approval at Albemarle City Hall, 144 N. 2nd Street, then take it to Central Permitting to start the permit.
Septic and well sites: If the property has or will have a septic system, you need a clearance form from Stanly County Environmental Health, which is in the same Central Permitting building.

Zoning and setbacks

The Stanly County Zoning Ordinance calls its zoning sign-off a Certificate of Zoning Compliance. In the RA and RR districts (Sections 601.1 and 602.1), accessory buildings are allowed only in a side or rear yard and must be at least 10 feet from any property line. On a corner lot they need 25 feet from the side street right-of-way. If the house sits more than 50 feet behind the front setback, an accessory building can go as close as the normal front setback for the house. In RA, a parcel over 3 acres can have one barn or shed of up to 2,500 square feet as the main structure if it meets principal building setbacks.

What to bring

Zoning Compliance from the county or the correct town
Environmental Health clearance if the lot has or will have a septic system
Total estimated project cost and the square footage of the building
Engineered drawings for the metal building and a site plan showing setbacks
Workers' comp affidavit if a contractor is doing work of $30,000 or more

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. Section 302 of the Stanly County Zoning Ordinance says the ordinance does not regulate or restrict any bona fide farm. The county doesn't post a farm exemption form online, so call Central Permitting to ask what proof they accept and whether wiring in the building still needs an electrical permit.

Good to know

Central Permitting is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the inspection department is paperless, with results sent by email. Contractors sign up through BuildingDepartment.com. The county doesn't post fee amounts online, so call 704-986-3667 for the fee on your building. Planning and Zoning also runs the watershed protection and floodplain ordinances, which matter for lots near the lakes and rivers. Docks and piers on Duke Energy property need their own permit too.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Stanly County?
Yes if any side is over 12 feet, which covers most carports. Start with Zoning Compliance, then apply for the building permit at Central Permitting in Albemarle.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Stanly County?
A garage needs a building permit, and so does a shed with a side over 12 feet. In the RA and RR districts it must sit in a side or rear yard at least 10 feet from property lines.

Who issues Zoning Compliance near a town in Stanly County?
Within a mile of Locust, Stanfield, Oakboro or Richfield, the town hall issues it. Farther out, the Stanly County Zoning Department does. Inside Albemarle, you need City Coordination approval from City Hall first.

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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