Reviewed by the Benton Metal Depot team · Updated
Are you running out of room in the driveway, shed or workshop? A metal garage can put vehicles, tools and equipment under one roof. Benton Metal Depot supplies garage packages to customers in Mitchell Forks and across Bulloch, with different building sizes depending on the amount of space the property owner needs.
Key Points
- ◦Plan for door clearance and walking room when deciding how wide your garage needs to be.
- ◦Check the permit and setback rules before deciding exactly where the garage will go.
- ◦The current local setback for a metal garage is 10 ft from property line in AG-5/R80/R40/R25/R15/R8 districts (5 ft in R2/R3/PUD/HC/GC/NC/LI/HI); detached accessory building must also sit at least 12 ft from the principal building.
- ◦Benton serves Truckers, Arcola, Leefield and Ivanhoe and other communities around Mitchell Forks.
- ◦In Mitchell Forks, a building permit is required once the garage exceeds 200 square feet.
At a Glance
| Permit threshold |
200
As of 2026 · Source |
|---|---|
| Setback (side/rear) |
10 ft from property line in AG-5/R80/R40/R25/R15/R8 districts (5 ft in R2/R3/PUD/HC/GC/NC/LI/HI); detached accessory building must also sit at least 12 ft from the principal building
As of 2026 · Source |
| Wind load zone |
Inland Georgia — roughly 115-120 mph (ASCE 7, Exposure C). NOT a verified figure; the exact design wind speed depends on which ASCE 7 edition Bulloch County has adopted and must be confirmed with a GA-licensed engineer or the county building official before publishing.
As of 2026 · Source |
| Panel type/gauge |
29-gauge and 26-gauge Rib panels -- Benton's existing standard gauge/profile for pole-barn, carport, and agricultural structures.
As of 2026 · Source |
| Drive time from Statesboro |
31
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Bulloch County
Bulloch treats a metal garage like any other accessory structure: under 200 square feet, Bulloch County Building Permit/Inspection Department typically doesn't require a full permit, but the 10 ft from property line in AG-5/R80/R40/R25/R15/R8 districts (5 ft in R2/R3/PUD/HC/GC/NC/LI/HI); detached accessory building must also sit at least 12 ft from the principal building setback rule still governs where it can sit on the lot.
Delivery to Mitchell Forks
The current estimate for getting a metal garage to Mitchell Forks is 1 to 2 weeks. The area is about 18.4 miles (31 minutes) from Benton Metal Depot in Statesboro. That gives you a general timeline for scheduling contractors, preparing the property and handling local permits before the building is due to arrive.
Representative product photo — a Bulloch County-specific project photo is pending (rotates in from Trey's weekly upload per the freshness cadence).
FAQ
How much extra room should I allow around my vehicles?
Don't measure a car and make the garage barely wider than the vehicle. You need enough room to open the doors, get in and out, walk around it and reach anything stored nearby. With two vehicles, remember the space between them too. Adding a little breathing room during planning can make a big difference once you use the garage every day.
Can I put a metal garage beside my house?
You may be able to, but don't assume every open spot on the property is buildable. Bulloch County Building Permit/Inspection Department has requirements that can affect garage placement, including a current setback of 10 ft from property line in AG-5/R80/R40/R25/R15/R8 districts (5 ft in R2/R3/PUD/HC/GC/NC/LI/HI); detached accessory building must also sit at least 12 ft from the principal building. Check the rules for your address before choosing the location, particularly if you're working with limited room between the house and property line.
Can I use my metal garage as a workshop too?
Definitely! Just plan for the workshop before deciding on the garage size. A workbench, toolboxes, shelving and equipment can eat up a lot of floor space, especially when you're also parking a vehicle inside. Make sure to give yourself enough room to work comfortably instead of trying to fit a workshop into whatever space happens to be left over.
Can I use a metal garage just for storage?
Yes. Cars don't have to be part of the equation at all. A metal garage can give you enclosed space for tools, lawn equipment, recreational gear and other belongings. If storage is the main purpose, think about shelving and aisle space while planning the building so everything remains accessible once the garage starts filling up.
Do I need a permit for a metal garage in Mitchell Forks?
That depends on the garage and the requirements of Bulloch County Building Permit/Inspection Department. The current rule requires a permit once the garage exceeds 200 square feet. Check before doing any permanent site work. There may be other requirements tied to your property as well, so getting an answer early can save you from having to change plans later.
What can I keep in a metal garage?
Cars and trucks are obvious, but metal garages can also hold lawn equipment, tools, recreational gear and general storage. Larger buildings can leave room for work areas, too. Make a list of what you intend to keep inside before choosing the building size. It's easy to underestimate how quickly floor space disappears.
Can my metal garage have windows and different doors?
The available configuration depends on the garage package, but doors and windows should be considered while you're planning the layout. Think about where vehicles will enter, where you want a regular walk door and whether natural light is needed inside. Making those decisions early helps you choose a layout that works instead of adding features wherever they'll fit.
What do I need to do to my property before the garage arrives?
First, decide exactly where the garage will go and check the permit and setback requirements with Bulloch County Building Permit/Inspection Department. Then follow the site requirements for the garage you've selected. Any grading, concrete or other preparation should be based on the final building specifications. Don't prepare the site using rough dimensions if the building hasn't been finalized.
Definitions
- ◦ Wall Panel
- Formed metal sheet used to enclose and protect the exterior walls of the garage.
- ◦ Clear Span
- Open floor space between the building's exterior supports without interior columns getting in the way.
- ◦ Setback
- The required amount of space between your garage and a property line, road or another boundary covered by local rules.
- ◦ Gable
- The triangular wall section found at the end of a building with a pitched roof.
- ◦ Overhead Door
- The large door that opens upward to let cars, trucks or equipment move in and out of the garage.
- ◦ Building Permit
- Approval from the local government to construct a building under the building and zoning rules that apply to the property.
- ◦ Eave Height
- The height of the sidewall measured to the point where the wall and roof meet.
- ◦ Trim
- The finished metal pieces used along corners, roof edges, openings and other transitions on the building.
- ◦ Roof Panel
- A formed sheet of metal that makes up part of the garage's exterior roof surface.
- ◦ Building Footprint
- The amount of ground the garage takes up, based on its outside width and length.
Mitchell Forks, Bulloch County — At a Glance
- Permit Authority Name
- Bulloch County Building Permit/Inspection Department
- Permit Authority Url
- https://bullochcounty.net/permitting/
- Permit Threshold Sqft
- 200
- Setback Feet Side Rear
- 10 ft from property line in AG-5/R80/R40/R25/R15/R8 districts (5 ft in R2/R3/PUD/HC/GC/NC/LI/HI); detached accessory building must also sit at least 12 ft from the principal building
- Wind Load Zone
- Inland Georgia — roughly 115-120 mph (ASCE 7, Exposure C). NOT a verified figure; the exact design wind speed depends on which ASCE 7 edition Bulloch County has adopted and must be confirmed with a GA-licensed engineer or the county building official before publishing.
- Coastal
- Drive Miles
- 18.4
- Drive Minutes
- 31
- Nearby Towns
- Truckers, Arcola, Leefield, Ivanhoe
- Delivery Weeks In Stock
- 1
- Delivery Weeks Custom
- 2
- Panel Type Gauge
- 29-gauge and 26-gauge Rib panels -- Benton's existing standard gauge/profile for pole-barn, carport, and agricultural structures.
- Color Count
- 7
Why Benton Metal Depot
Benton Metal Depot manufactures metal products in Statesboro and has served residential, agricultural and commercial customers since 2004. For someone building a garage in Mitchell Forks, that means working with a regional metal supplier rather than trying to piece the project together from unrelated sources. The garage package can be quoted around the specifications of the project.
Ready to talk through your metal garages project in Mitchell Forks?
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 metal garages. (2026)
- https://bullochcounty.net/permitting/ (2026)
- https://bullochcounty.net/permitting/ ("Structure over 200 square feet (e.g., garage, pole barn, storage building, shed)" requires a permit) (2026)
- Bulloch County Zoning Ordinance (adopted 4/4/23), Section 1403, as summarized at https://www.zoneomics.com/code/bulloch-county-unincorporated-GA/chapter_13 — verify against the primary PDF at https://bullochcounty.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Appendix-C-Zoning-ADOPTED-4_4_23-002-002.pdf (text extraction failed on that PDF, so this is from a secondary source) (2026)
- General ASCE 7 inland-Georgia range (aggregated from windload.solutions and similar secondary sources) — no county-specific or primary map source found (2026)
- Bulloch County is ~50 miles inland and is not among the coastal counties named in the client spec (Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn, Camden, Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, Charleston) (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)
