Reviewed by the Benton Metal Depot team · Updated
If you're building a horse barn in Dry Branch, don't plan around stalls alone. You'll also need to think about airflow, water access, feed, tack and where the horses will enter and leave. Benton Metal Depot supplies metal building materials throughout Aiken, with 7 exterior colors available for applicable packages.
Key Points
- ◦Current lead time for horse barn materials to Dry Branch is 1 to 2 weeks.
- ◦Aisle width should allow horses and handlers to move comfortably and safely.
- ◦Ventilation, drainage and access to fresh water should be considered during barn planning.
- ◦In Dry Branch, a permit from Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division) is required once the barn exceeds 200 square feet.
- ◦Horse barn exterior materials are available in 7 colors.
At a Glance
| Permit threshold |
200
As of 2026 · Source |
|---|---|
| Setback (side/rear) |
Per Aiken County Code of Ordinances Ch. 24, Art. VIII: on parcels under 2 acres, total accessory-building floor area may not exceed 50% of the principal structure's gross floor area; accessory buildings in a required setback area are capped at 12 ft in height (20 ft if outside the setback area). Exact side/rear setback distances for freestanding detached accessory buildings by individual zoning district were not fully extracted — verify against the primary ordinance before publishing a specific district-by-district number.
As of 2026 · Source |
| Wind load zone |
Inland South Carolina (Aiken borders Augusta, GA, well away from the coast) — roughly 105-120 mph (ASCE 7, Exposure C). NOT a verified figure; exact design wind speed depends on the ASCE 7/IBC edition Aiken County has adopted and must be confirmed with an SC-licensed engineer or the county building official.
As of 2026 · Source |
| Panel type/gauge |
29-gauge and 26-gauge Rib panels
As of 2026 · Source |
| Drive time from Statesboro |
136
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Aiken County
Just because a property can fit a barn doesn't necessarily mean you can put it anywhere. For a horse barn in Dry Branch, a permit from Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division) is required once the building exceeds 200 square feet, and the current setback is Per Aiken County Code of Ordinances Ch. 24, Art. VIII: on parcels under 2 acres, total accessory-building floor area may not exceed 50% of the principal structure's gross floor area; accessory buildings in a required setback area are capped at 12 ft in height (20 ft if outside the setback area). Exact side/rear setback distances for freestanding detached accessory buildings by individual zoning district were not fully extracted — verify against the primary ordinance before publishing a specific district-by-district number.. Check with that office before choosing the final location, especially if the barn will be near a property boundary, neighboring home or another building.
Delivery to Dry Branch
Don't wait until the barn materials are ready to start thinking about the site. Customers in Dry Branch are currently looking at 1 to 2 weeks from Statesboro. Benton Metal Depot is about 103 miles away. Use that time to coordinate contractors and prepare the area where materials will be received.
Representative product photo — a Aiken County-specific project photo is pending (rotates in from Trey's weekly upload per the freshness cadence).
FAQ
How long does it take to get horse barn materials delivered?
Current delivery to Dry Branch is estimated at 1 to 2 weeks. Use that window to work through permits, contractor schedules and site preparation. Confirm the estimate for your specific order when placing it and planning the overall construction schedule.
Can I add a tack room and wash area to my horse barn?
Yes, those spaces can be included in the overall barn plan when the layout and building dimensions allow. A tack room needs practical storage, while a wash area needs suitable drainage and water access. Decide where both belong before choosing the final building size, since they can take up space you might otherwise assign to stalls or aisles.
Is a metal horse barn too hot for Georgia summers?
A metal roof or wall system doesn't determine barn comfort by itself. Ventilation, insulation where appropriate, shade and the overall building design all affect interior conditions. In Dry Branch, plan for the region's warm, humid weather. Horses need adequate airflow and access to fresh water, so those requirements should be part of the design from the beginning.
How wide should the aisle in a horse barn be?
The aisle needs enough room for horses and handlers to move without crowding doors, corners or stored equipment. Think about how horses will enter and leave stalls, whether you'll move wheelbarrows through the barn and how daily cleaning will work. Have the layout reviewed for safe horse handling rather than choosing an aisle width based only on available space.
Can I store hay and feed inside my horse barn?
You can plan storage areas for feed and supplies, but hay storage deserves special attention because of fire risk, moisture and dust. Many barn designs separate bulk hay from horse housing. Think about how feed will be delivered, kept dry and accessed every day. Review the storage arrangement with a qualified equine facility professional before construction.
How big should a horse barn be?
Start with the number and size of your horses, then add the space needed for safe handling and daily care. Stalls are only one part of the layout. You'll also need room for aisles, doors, feed, tack and possibly a wash area. If you expect to add horses later, think about that before choosing the building dimensions.
What kind of metal panels does Benton use for horse barns?
The applicable horse barn package uses 29-gauge and 26-gauge Rib panels panels. Metal roofing and siding help enclose the building and protect it from the weather, but panel selection is only part of planning a barn. Ventilation, condensation control and the safety of surfaces horses can reach should also be addressed in the finished design.
How close can I build a horse barn to my property line?
The current setback in Dry Branch is Per Aiken County Code of Ordinances Ch. 24, Art. VIII: on parcels under 2 acres, total accessory-building floor area may not exceed 50% of the principal structure's gross floor area; accessory buildings in a required setback area are capped at 12 ft in height (20 ft if outside the setback area). Exact side/rear setback distances for freestanding detached accessory buildings by individual zoning district were not fully extracted — verify against the primary ordinance before publishing a specific district-by-district number., subject to the requirements of Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division) and your property. There may also be separate rules affecting livestock buildings or where animals can be kept. Check those requirements before marking the barn location, particularly if neighboring homes or property boundaries are nearby.
Definitions
- ◦ Tack Room
- A dedicated area for storing saddles, bridles, grooming supplies and other horse equipment.
- ◦ Stall Partition
- A wall or divider separating one horse stall from another or from an adjacent area.
- ◦ Setback
- The required distance between a barn and a property boundary, road or another feature covered by local building or zoning rules.
- ◦ Roof Pitch
- The slope of the barn roof, usually described by how much it rises over a set horizontal distance.
- ◦ Panel Gauge
- A measurement related to sheet-metal thickness.
- ◦ Lead Time
- The period needed to process and prepare the building materials after the relevant order stage.
- ◦ Post-Frame Construction
- A building method that uses regularly spaced structural posts or columns to support the roof and walls. It's commonly used for agricultural buildings.
- ◦ Feed Room
- A space used to store and organize feed and feeding supplies, with appropriate protection from moisture and pests.
- ◦ Eave Height
- The height of the barn's exterior wall where it meets the lower edge of the roof.
- ◦ Condensation
- Moisture that forms when humid air contacts a sufficiently cool surface. Poorly managed condensation can cause damp conditions inside a barn.
Dry Branch, Aiken County — At a Glance
- Permit Authority Name
- Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division)
- Permit Authority Url
- https://www.aikencountysc.gov/forms/pnd_buildingpermit.pdf
- Permit Threshold Sqft
- 200
- Setback Feet Side Rear
- Per Aiken County Code of Ordinances Ch. 24, Art. VIII: on parcels under 2 acres, total accessory-building floor area may not exceed 50% of the principal structure's gross floor area; accessory buildings in a required setback area are capped at 12 ft in height (20 ft if outside the setback area). Exact side/rear setback distances for freestanding detached accessory buildings by individual zoning district were not fully extracted — verify against the primary ordinance before publishing a specific district-by-district number.
- Wind Load Zone
- Inland South Carolina (Aiken borders Augusta, GA, well away from the coast) — roughly 105-120 mph (ASCE 7, Exposure C). NOT a verified figure; exact design wind speed depends on the ASCE 7/IBC edition Aiken County has adopted and must be confirmed with an SC-licensed engineer or the county building official.
- Coastal
- Drive Miles
- 103
- Drive Minutes
- 136
- Nearby Towns
- Bonniview Estates, Montmorenci, Elmwood Park, Johnson Crossroads
- Delivery Weeks In Stock
- 1
- Delivery Weeks Custom
- 2
- Panel Type Gauge
- 29-gauge and 26-gauge Rib panels
- Color Count
- 7
Why Benton Metal Depot
Benton Metal Depot has manufactured metal building products in Statesboro since 2004 and supplies materials for agricultural projects throughout the region. For someone planning a horse barn in Dry Branch, that means working with a regional supplier familiar with metal roofing, siding and the materials used on farm buildings. The barn's design and animal-housing requirements should be worked out alongside the material specifications.
Ready to talk through your horse barns project in Dry Branch?
Sources
- Internal: category-data.php (pole-barns / agricultural-pole-barns copy) (2026)
- color-collection.php Weather XL Rib/PBR color chart: Polar White, Pebble Gray, Granite, Onyx, Vanilla, Sand, Chocolate (29ga; 5 of the 7 also available in 26ga). Real Benton color count for this panel line -- not confirmed as the specific palette Jim/Trey intend to offer for horse barns specifically. (2026)
- https://www.aikencountysc.gov/forms/pnd_buildingpermit.pdf (2026)
- Aiken County Planning & Development FAQ ("If the structure is over 200 square feet, then a building permit is required. If the structure is under 200 square feet, no permit is required.") — https://www.aikencountysc.gov/Faq.aspx?TID=24 — consistent with SC Residential Code § R105.2 statewide default (2026)
- https://library.municode.com/sc/aiken_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH24LAMARE_ARTVIIIGEANRE (2026)
- General ASCE 7 inland-SC range (aggregated secondary sources) — no county-specific or primary map source found (2026)
- Aiken County is deep inland (western SC, on the GA border near Augusta) and is not among the coastal counties named in the client spec (2026)
- Computed 2026-09-16: GeoNames zip centroid -> OSRM public routing engine (real driving route from Statesboro, Bulloch County, GA). Deterministic and reproducible, but a free public demo routing server, not Google Maps -- spot-check a sample before confirming. (2026)
- Computed 2026-09-16: same OSRM routing result as drive_miles, converted from seconds. (2026)
- Computed 2026-09-16: 4 nearest cities in benton_service_area_cities.php by straight-line (haversine) distance from zip centroid. (2026)
- Bulk-set via dev-fact-review.php (2026)
Other Cities We Serve in Aiken County
See the Aiken County hub for horse barns
