Sussex County

Yes, Sussex County lists carports among the accessory structures that need a Sussex County building permit. That holds inside town limits too, and your town may want its own permit on top of the county's. Size changes the inspections but not the permit: the county code excludes carports under 400 square feet from inspections.

Permit office: Sussex County Building Permit Office
Address: 2 The Circle, P.O. Box 589, Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: 302-855-7720
Official county page

When a permit is required

• Carports
• Detached garages and pole buildings
• Sheds, pre-built or site-built
• Agricultural (farm) buildings
• Greenhouses, gazebos and pergolas
• Accessory structures inside town limits, along with anything the town itself requires

Zoning and setbacks

Sussex County Planning and Zoning's reference guide says an accessory building under 600 square feet must be 5 feet from side and rear property lines. At 600 square feet or more it has to meet the same setbacks as the house, and the guide doesn't give those numbers. Planning and Zoning reviews site plans and setbacks and can be reached at 302-855-7878. If you are in a flood zone, a flood review has to be finished before the permit is issued, and special construction may be required. The county doesn't enforce deed restrictions or covenants, so checking those falls to you.

What to bring

• Your application, in person at the Georgetown office in most cases (call 302-855-7720 to ask whether yours can go by mail)
• 2 sets of plans if the Building Code office asks for them
• Town approval first, if the property is inside town limits
• Residential Standard Plan if the project disturbs 5,000 sq ft or more (Sussex Conservation District, 302-856-2105)
• County bills paid up, since all financial obligations to the county must be settled before a permit is issued

Farm buildings

Section 52-1B of the Sussex County Code exempts farm buildings used in a farming operation, such as barns, sheds and poultry houses, from the construction rules of the building code. The same section keeps building permits in place for assessment purposes, and the county's permit list still names farm buildings, so you still go to the permit counter. The inspections page lists farm buildings among the jobs where Final Zoning is the only inspection.

Good to know

Walk-in service at the Georgetown office runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and you check in with security in the lobby first. The permit fee is based on the size of the building and its materials, and the county publishes a fee guide. For Sussex County inspections, use the inspection request form or call 302-858-5500 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with at least 48 hours' notice. Pole buildings can carry a header inspection, and the inspections page lists what else may apply. Plan questions go to the Building Code Office at 302-855-7860, and the county has adopted the 2021 IBC and IRC in Chapter 52. Flood rules are in the county's zoning code.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Sussex County?
Yes. Carports are on the county's permit list, and the requirement also reaches inside town limits. A carport under 400 square feet is excluded from inspections under the county code, but that doesn't remove the permit.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Sussex County?
Yes for both. The county lists sheds, pre-built or site-built, along with detached garages and pole buildings. Sheds under 400 square feet get only a Final Zoning inspection, while a garage or pole building can have more, such as a header inspection on a pole building.

How close to the property line can I build?
Under 600 square feet, 5 feet from side and rear lines. At 600 square feet or more the house setbacks apply, so ask Planning and Zoning at 302-855-7878 for the number on your lot.

Sources

• Building Permits and Licenses
• County Permitting Requirements (PDF)
• Permitting Requirements within Municipalities (PDF)
• Information Required to Obtain Building Permits (PDF)
• Planning and Zoning Reference Guide (PDF)
• Inspections and Scheduling
• Sussex County Code, Chapter 52
• Building Permit Fee Guide (PDF)

Rules and fees change. Call the office to confirm before you order.

See the full Delaware 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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