Metal carports can be a great way to protect your car from the environment and are a practical alternative if you do not have a garage. 

However, in some locations, you may not be able to install one without a building permit. Whether you need a building permit to install a metal carport depends on your local building codes. 

Do I need a building permit for a metal carport in my area? Here’s how you can find out.

The Purpose of Building Permits

Building permits are letters of approval from your local government permitting you to begin construction on a new or existing building.

Building permits are issued if the construction project submitted to the government complies with building regulations in your area. While getting approved may be frustrating, building codes are in place to safeguard the well-being of citizens, protecting them from unsafe construction or an unscrupulous contractor.

Requirements Vary From State to County to City: Here’s What To Do

Is a building permit required for a carport? To find out, contact your local building authorities to determine building requirements in your city, county, and state.

Certain types of construction are exempt from permits in particular areas, such as small detached buildings, some types of fences, driveways, window replacements, painting, floor coverings, roofing repairs, and the construction of a retaining wall.

If your metal carport doesn’t fit into any exempted categories and a permit is needed, you can begin the permit application process. 

Contact Your Local Government Office

You can call the number for your local building authority, or if you can’t find it, your local city, county, or state government and ask them to forward you to the correct person.

The local building authority can then share what the local building codes say about metal carports.

If you need a permit for your metal carport, you can ask the building authority what the exact steps for obtaining a building permit are in your area.

Generally, the application form requires you to declare the scope of the project and its size in square feet, as well as a list of materials, an estimated budget, a timeline, and, if you have any, a list of subcontractors.

You may also be required to submit drawings or blueprints of the project. Many building departments may have a website that describes the permit application process and lists local permit processing fees.

In most areas, the permit process for residential work is the same, whether filed by a contractor or the homeowner.

Inspectors are generally more lenient with homeowners since building codes protect unsuspecting citizens from contractors cutting corners.

Adhere to Building Codes

While building codes may seem like a frustrating obstacle, they are, and always have been, very important for maintaining public health and safety.

They protect citizens from unsafe building practices and prevent inexperienced builders from creating buildings that could hurt themselves and others.

The first building codes in the U.S. date back to the 1600s, when in 1625, Boston outlawed wooden chimneys and thatched roof coverings to prevent the spread of fires.

Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson favored building regulations, which they said would help provide minimum standards for the health and safety of building occupants. 

It may be surprising, but building codes have been part of this country from the beginning.

Work With a Supplier That Helps You Stay Compliant

The best way to install a metal carport in compliance with local building codes is to work with a supplier that helps you stay compliant.

The right supplier can help you design your project from the ground up to comply with local building codes and avoid legal issues, then fabricate and deliver your design as easy-to-assemble numbered metal carport kits.

Don’t Risk Getting Caught

The consequences for violating building codes and building without a permit can be severe, ranging from steep fines to possible jail time.

Local building authorities keep a close eye on construction projects in their area, and there is a good possibility that they will notice the delivery of the components necessary to build a metal carport.

If they do and realize that you are building without a permit, you may have legal trouble.

There can also be other consequences for violating building regulations. For example, if your insurance company finds out that there was construction on your property without a building permit, they may use that as a reason to drop coverage or deny claims.

In addition, you may have trouble if you try to sell the property, as potential buyers will be able to check the property’s history and quickly realize that your metal carport installation was not permitted.

Even if not caught during construction, authorities can accept a report about the unpermitted activity after the fact.

Save yourself the potential trouble, and find a supplier who can create a project for you that fits your needs while still complying with local building codes. 

Spry Steel Considers Your Building Permit Requirements

Spry Steel is a company prioritizing efficiency, code compliance, speed, and durability.

Our buildings are designed with you every step of the way, so we can provide you with a structure that perfectly meets your needs. 

With Spry Steel, you can create a custom metal carport that’s ideal for you, no matter how big or small. We ensure your metal carport will meet your local permit requirements and deliver it to you in an easy-to-assemble bolt-together metal carport kit.

We create climate-proof structures using tube frame steel, bolt-together cold-formed I-Beams, or red iron seamless I-Beams, that last without maintenance.

We manufacture and dispatch faster than competing companies, within a four to seven-week window. 

We also create custom steel garages that can fit multiple cars and equipment without support columns, ready to be erected in just a few hours.

To learn more about Spry Steel and what we can do for you, let us know what you need, and get a quote today.