The one call that saves you weeks
Call your county building office and ask three questions: Do I need a permit for an accessory structure of this size? Do you require engineer-certified drawings? What is the design wind speed and ground snow load for my address?
Write the answers down. Those three answers determine your entire spec. Everything else is preference.
Certification requirements by state
| State | Certification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | Statewide | The benchmark standard most plants build to |
| South Carolina | Statewide | Coastal counties add hurricane wind ratings |
| Georgia | Statewide | Enforced consistently |
| Virginia | Statewide | USBC applies everywhere |
| Louisiana | Most parishes | Coastal parishes strict on wind |
| Tennessee | Cities | Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga |
| Kentucky | Cities | Louisville and Lexington |
| Alabama | Cities and coast | Baldwin and Mobile counties |
| Mississippi | Coast and Jackson | Many inland counties exempt |
| Oklahoma | Cities | Rural counties often exempt |
| Arkansas | Cities | Many counties have no requirement |
| New Mexico | Cities | Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties |
What a permit actually costs
Permit fees vary widely by jurisdiction and valuation. Some counties charge a flat fee, others charge a percentage of project value, so check with your permit office.
The permit fee is not the expensive part. The expensive part is discovering you need certification after you ordered an uncertified building. That is a change order, not a fee.
Setbacks and easements
Nearly every jurisdiction has a minimum distance from your property line, usually 5 to 15 feet for an accessory structure. Utility easements can be wider and are not negotiable.
If you are in an HOA, get written approval before ordering. HOA rules are private contract law and the county will not help you.
How we handle it
When your jurisdiction requires certification, we order stamped drawings for your specific building at your specific address, rated to your county wind and snow load. Those drawings go to you as a PDF for your permit application.
We do not file the permit for you. You or your general contractor submits it. We supply everything the office asks for.