Steel Carports

If you’ve decided to go with an American-made steel VersaTube Carport, you might be thinking something like, “If slip-fit connections go together much like a LEGO™ set and building my carport will only a day or two, do I still need a building permit?” The short answer is...maybe.

While we’d love to tell you definitively “yes” or “no”, permit requirements vary widely throughout the country. Whether you need a permit or not is a decision made at the local level and the truth is two people can purchase the exact same carport model, assemble it on a very similar site, but live in different locations, and one of them might need a permit while the other does not.

The only way to know for certain is to check with your local municipality. If you don’t already know who to contact, try doing an internet search with your zip code “+ building department phone number”.

Many municipalities require permits when:

• Your structure is over 200 square feet

• You’re building on a permanent foundation

• You’re in an area where severe weather is common

• You’re running electric to your carport

• You need to clear or grade the site, or add drainage

Again, if your Carport ticks any of those boxes, it is not 100%that you’ll need a permit, but they do make it more likely.

If you do need a permit, you can expect to pay a fee (although in most locations the fee is pretty small). You’ll also need to provide the plans for approval. Most of the time, a simple drawing will do, but if your municipality requires more, you can purchase certified, stamped drawings and calculations as an option at checkout.

If you do need to apply for a permit, they’ll advise you at what points, if any, you may need an official to inspect. States frequently change their building codes, so even if you didn’t need a permit for a build in the past, check the current codes before you start.

Do you plan to hire a contractor instead of building your VersaTube Carport yourself? If so, he should be a big help in making sure you get any permits you need, as well as take care of scheduling any inspections that are required. Would you like to hire a contractor, but don’t know who to go with? We can help! We have a nationwide network of certified installers who assemble VersaTube buildings! Fill out this form and we’ll put you in touch with your nearest VersaTube installer.