Ohio

Ohio Permit Guide for Metal Carports, Garages and Barns

An Ohio carport permit depends on your address, because the one statewide residential code is only enforced where a local building department is certified by the Ohio Board of Building Standards to handle residential work. If your home sits in a city, village, township or county with a certified residential department, a metal garage or carport over 200 square feet will need plans and inspections. If no certified residential department covers your address, the state rules say you don't have to submit plans or get inspections for a residential building, though zoning still applies. Farm buildings can be exempt from the state building code, and the county or township zoning inspector is usually the one who confirms that.

Building code in effect

Homes and the accessory buildings that go with them fall under the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO), Ohio Administrative Code 4101:8-1-01. The current rule took effect July 1, 2019 and is based on the 2018 International Residential Code with Ohio changes. Under RCO Section 101.2 the code covers one-, two- and three-family dwellings plus any accessory structure incidental to the house, so a detached garage or carport on a home lot is covered. Commercial and other non-residential buildings fall under the Ohio Building Code, OAC 4101:1-1-01. The version in effect since October 15, 2025 is based on the 2021 International Building Code. Both codes are adopted by the Ohio Board of Building Standards under ORC Chapter 3781.

Who issues permits

Building permits come from local building departments that the Ohio Board of Building Standards has certified. That can be a city, a village, a township or a county, and a department can be certified for residential work, commercial work or both. Ohio has about 800 certified departments, and the Board runs an online jurisdiction map where you type in an address to see which department covers it. Under RCO Section 101.5, if no municipal, township or county department is certified for residential buildings where you live, you are not required to submit plans, get approvals or call for inspections on a residential project. Zoning is a separate permit. It is handled by the city, village, township or county zoning office, and many places want a zoning permit even for small sheds.

County permit guides

County guides are coming soon.

Don't see your county? Call 919-725-8176 and we'll help you find the right office.

When you need a permit

200 square foot exemption (homes): RCO Section 102.10 exempts one-story detached accessory structures like sheds and playhouses from plan approval when the floor area is 200 square feet or less. A typical carport or garage is bigger than that, so expect a permit where a certified residential department has jurisdiction.
Local example: The Portage County Building Department says residential post-frame accessory buildings must meet Section 328 of the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio, and that accessory structures 200 square feet and smaller are exempt from the RCO but still need zoning approval.
Carports and garages: On a home lot, both count as accessory structures under the RCO, so the same size rule applies to each. If you plan to enclose a carport later, ask your building department first, since added walls change the plans they review.
No certified department: Where no certified residential department covers your address, the RCO does not require plans or inspections for a residential garage. Zoning rules and setbacks still apply.
Commercial property: A building on a business property falls under the Ohio Building Code instead. Its small-shed exemption is only 120 square feet, so most commercial carports and garages need plan approval.

Farm buildings

Ohio Revised Code 3781.06(B)(1) says the state building standards do not apply to buildings or structures incident to the agricultural use of the land, as long as they are not used in the business of retail trade. A farm building is not treated as retail if at least half of its gross income from sales comes from products grown or raised on farms the seller owns or operates. Under ORC 3781.061, when a county or township zoning inspector issues a zoning certificate stating that a building will be used in agriculture, that building is not subject to ORC 3781.06 to 3781.20, 3781.40 or 3791.04. Board of Building Standards staff guidance notes that a house is not covered by the farm exemption. Ask your zoning office about the farm-use certificate before you build, and keep in mind the exemption follows how the building is used.

Wind and snow

Northeast Ohio along Lake Erie sits in a lake-effect snow belt, and the heaviest snow loads in the state show up there. The rest of Ohio sees spring thunderstorms and strong straight-line winds that can catch an open carport. Your local building department sets the wind speed and snow load your building has to meet, so ask for those numbers when you call. Our partnered manufacturers offer certified buildings rated for 140 MPH wind and 35 PSF snow load, and higher ratings can be quoted where required.

Before you order

Use the Ohio Board of Building Standards jurisdiction map to find which building department covers your address, then call them about residential accessory buildings.
Call your city, village, township or county zoning office separately. Zoning permits and setbacks apply even where there is no certified residential building department.
If the building is for farm use, ask the county or township zoning inspector for the agricultural-use zoning certificate before you order.
Check HOA rules and deed restrictions, and have a level, cleared pad ready before delivery.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Ohio?
It depends on where you live. If a certified residential building department covers your address, a carport over 200 square feet needs a permit under the Residential Code of Ohio. If no certified residential department covers your area, the state code does not require plans or inspections, but you will likely still need a zoning permit.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage in Ohio?
Usually yes where a certified residential department has jurisdiction, since detached garages count as accessory structures under the RCO and most are over the 200 square foot exemption. On commercial property the Ohio Building Code applies and the exemption is only 120 square feet. Zoning approval is separate.

Are farm buildings exempt?
Yes, if the building is used for agriculture and not for retail trade. Under ORC 3781.061 a zoning certificate from the county or township zoning inspector declaring agricultural use exempts the building from the state building standards. Houses do not qualify.

Sources

Permit rules change. Always confirm with your local permit office before you build.

Looking at buildings? See our metal carports, metal garages and metal buildings.

Ready to design your building?

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.

Design Your Building in 3D