Williamsburg City

Williamsburg City, VA Permits for Metal Carports and Garages

Most buyers should plan on a Williamsburg City carport permit, because the City requires a building permit before most construction starts. First confirm the lot is actually in the City, since a Williamsburg mailing address can also belong to James City County or York County. A one-story detached carport of 256 square feet or less can fall under the state building permit exemption, but ask whether zoning review still applies. Inside the City, the zoning administrator looks at plans first and the building official looks at them second.

Permit office: City of Williamsburg Codes Compliance Division, Planning and Codes Compliance
Address: Municipal Building, 401 Lafayette Street, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Phone: 757-220-6136
Official county page

When a permit is required

A building permit from Codes Compliance before work begins, unless the structure qualifies for an exemption
Zoning approval, which is a separate line on the City's building permit application
Architectural Review Board approval for any new building or structure in the Architectural Preservation or Corridor Protection district
Land Disturbance and Right-of-Way permit applications when they apply to the job
A final inspection, then a certificate of use and occupancy, before the structure is used

Zoning and setbacks

The City's Planning office, 757-220-6130, handles zoning and Architectural Review Board questions. Two districts deserve a call before you order: the Architectural Preservation District and the Corridor Protection District. The board's approval rule there covers any building or structure, and it meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays, with applications due by noon on the posted due date. Ask Planning about setbacks for your lot before picking a location on the property.

What to bring

Property address and owner information
Contractor name plus state and local license details, or be ready to sign the licensure affidavit if you are the owner and no contractor is pulling the permit
Mechanics' lien agent information
Two sets of structural plans, each showing the preparer's name, address and phone
An approved site plan that complies with the City's zoning ordinance
A soil report on shrink-swell potential, if the City asks for one

Farm buildings

Virginia exempts true farm buildings from the building code under Code of Virginia 36-99 and USBC 102.3, though a building run as a restaurant is not exempt and flood plain and mudslide rules still apply. We did not find a farm building procedure on the City's Codes Compliance pages, so ask the office what it wants to see before you rely on that exemption.

Good to know

Codes Compliance is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. The fee schedule effective July 1, 2020 lists accessory and detached garages at $0.01 per square foot with a $15 minimum and $35 maximum, plus a $55 administration fee, a $75 minimum for any permit, and a state levy, so ask for the current total. Plan review comments usually take three to five business days once everything is submitted. A permit goes void if no work happens during any six-month stretch. Inspection requests go in by 7:30 am on the recorded line, 757-220-6136 option 1, and routine work must be ready by 8:30 am.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Williamsburg City?
Usually yes. A carport over 256 square feet needs a building permit from Codes Compliance, and one in the Architectural Preservation or Corridor Protection district also needs board approval. Call about smaller carports, since the City's pages do not address them by name.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Williamsburg City?
A detached garage has its own line on the City's fee schedule, so expect a permit for one. A one-story shed of 256 square feet or less can be exempt under state code, but only as long as it is not Group F-1 or H. Ask Planning whether zoning or board review still applies at your address.

How do I know if my Williamsburg address is really in the City?
Look up the parcel in the City's Property Information System or ask a City department. A Williamsburg mailing address alone does not settle it, and a lot in James City County or York County would go through that county's permit office.

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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