Transylvania County

Transylvania County, NC Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Outside the City of Brevard and Town of Rosman, a carport or metal garage in Transylvania County is permitted through the county's Building Permitting and Enforcement office, and the county's fee schedule lists carports and garages as residential accessory structures with their own fees. North Carolina law can exempt an accessory building with no side over 12 feet from a building permit, but most carports and garages are bigger than that. A Transylvania County carport permit is applied for online through the county's Permit System, and the office warns that incomplete applications will be rejected. There is no countywide zoning here, though Pisgah Forest has community zoning and high ridges fall under a Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance.

Permit office: Transylvania County Building Permitting and Enforcement
Address: 106 E. Morgan Street, Suite 208, Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-3209
Official county page

When a permit is required

Carports: The county fee schedule lists carports and porches as residential accessory structures at a flat $150.00.
Garages, workshops and storage buildings: These are $150.00 plus $0.15 per square foot over 400 square feet, so a larger metal garage costs a bit more.
Small buildings: State law (N.C. G.S. 160D-1110) can exempt an accessory building with no dimension over 12 feet from a building permit. Zoning, ridge and floodplain rules can still apply, so confirm with the office.
Electrical, plumbing and gas: Adding power, plumbing, mechanical or gas to a structure is charged at $75.00 per trade.
Floodplain lots: If the property is in the 100-year floodplain, the county requires a Floodplain Development Permit Application and an Elevation Certificate.

Zoning and setbacks

The county's planning page states there is no county-wide zoning in Transylvania County, and its land use ordinances apply outside the Brevard and Rosman jurisdictions. The exception is the Pisgah Forest Community Zoning Ordinance, which the County Planning Department administers for that community. Inside the City of Brevard or its ETJ, the county's residential requirements call for City zoning approval and a footing and setback inspection by the City of Brevard Planning Department. The Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance regulates tall structures on ridges at least 500 feet above the adjacent valley floor and at least 3,000 feet in elevation, and a Watershed Protection Ordinance covers the Cathey's Creek watershed. No countywide accessory setback numbers are posted, so check your parcel on the county GIS or call before you order.

What to bring

A GIS tax map or survey showing where the new building will sit
Building size and square footage for the fee calculation
Erosion control plan if you disturb 4,000 square feet or more
Floodplain Development Permit Application and Elevation Certificate if the lot is in the 100-year floodplain

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. Transylvania County does not post a separate farm exemption form online, so call Building Permitting and Enforcement to ask what proof of farm use they want. Electrical, plumbing or gas work added to a farm building is a separate trade permit question to raise at the same time.

Good to know

Applications go through the county's Permit System, and inspection requests are made by calling 884-3209, Ext. 2, by 4:00 PM the business day before. The office issues permits 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and code enforcement officials keep office hours of 7:30 to 8:30 AM and 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Owners may act as their own general contractor by filing a general contractor exemption application, but the state requires the owner to be on site for building inspections. Land disturbance of 4,000 square feet or more needs erosion control, and more than one acre needs a state erosion control plan.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Transylvania County?
Usually yes if any side is over 12 feet. The county fee schedule lists carports as residential accessory structures at $150.00, and in Brevard's jurisdiction you also need City zoning approval.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Transylvania County?
A garage, workshop or storage building is $150.00 plus $0.15 per square foot over 400 square feet. Very small sheds with no side over 12 feet can be exempt under state law, but floodplain and ridge rules can still apply.

Does Transylvania County have zoning?
Not countywide. Pisgah Forest has community zoning run by the County Planning Department, and Brevard and Rosman handle their own jurisdictions.

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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