Reviewed by the Benton Metal Depot team · Updated
One mistake people make when planning a garage is sizing it for what they own today. If you're building your garage in Garden City, think about storage, door clearance, work space and what might be added later. Benton Metal Depot supplies metal garage packages for residents throughout Chatham and the surrounding area.
Key Points
- ◦Get the final garage dimensions before completing permanent site work.
- ◦Benton serves Sharon Park, Woodlawn Terrace, Monteith and Meinhard and other communities around Garden City.
- ◦In Garden City, a building permit is required once the garage exceeds No explicit sqft exemption found on the county page — it lists "garages, carports... accessory buildings, storage buildings, tool sheds" as requiring permits without stating a size cutoff. Georgia's state minimum code baseline (IRC) exempts one-story detached sheds/playhouses up to 120 sq ft, but it is unconfirmed whether Chatham County enforces that exemption as-is. square feet.
- ◦Plan for door clearance and walking room when deciding how wide your garage needs to be.
- ◦The current local setback for a metal garage is Not retrieved — Chatham County has its own zoning ordinance with district-specific setback tables; figures were not found in available search results and need direct lookup..
At a Glance
| Permit threshold |
No explicit sqft exemption found on the county page — it lists "garages, carports... accessory buildings, storage buildings, tool sheds" as requiring permits without stating a size cutoff. Georgia's state minimum code baseline (IRC) exempts one-story detached sheds/playhouses up to 120 sq ft, but it is unconfirmed whether Chatham County enforces that exemption as-is.
As of 2026 · Source |
|---|---|
| Setback (side/rear) |
Not retrieved — Chatham County has its own zoning ordinance with district-specific setback tables; figures were not found in available search results and need direct lookup.
As of 2026 · Source |
| Wind load zone |
Coastal Georgia (Savannah/Chatham County) — commonly cited around 130 mph (3-second gust, ASCE 7-22, Risk Category II), with barrier-island areas (Tybee, Wilmington, Skidaway Islands) potentially reaching or exceeding 140 mph. NOT verified against a primary county map — Georgia adopted the 2024 IBC/IRC (with GA amendments) effective Jan 1, 2026, referencing ASCE 7-22, and the exact mapped speed depends on precise site location and must be confirmed with a GA-licensed engineer or the county building official.
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 |
69
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Chatham County
Chatham treats a metal garage like any other accessory structure: under No explicit sqft exemption found on the county page — it lists "garages, carports... accessory buildings, storage buildings, tool sheds" as requiring permits without stating a size cutoff. Georgia's state minimum code baseline (IRC) exempts one-story detached sheds/playhouses up to 120 sq ft, but it is unconfirmed whether Chatham County enforces that exemption as-is. square feet, Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services typically doesn't require a full permit, but the Not retrieved — Chatham County has its own zoning ordinance with district-specific setback tables; figures were not found in available search results and need direct lookup. setback rule still governs where it can sit on the lot.
Delivery to Garden City
Metal garage delivery to Garden City can take about 1 to 2 weeks. Use that time to take care of permits and get the site ready if work is needed beforehand. If you're hiring someone for grading or concrete, coordinate those jobs around the delivery schedule instead of trying to squeeze everything in at the last minute.
Representative product photo — a Chatham 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 a metal garage delivered to Garden City?
Current delivery time to Garden City is approximately 1 to 2 weeks. If your project also involves permitting, grading or concrete, don't wait to do those jobs until the garage is almost ready. Use the delivery window to get the property prepared, and base your schedule on the estimate given for your order.
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. Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services has requirements that can affect garage placement, including a current setback of Not retrieved — Chatham County has its own zoning ordinance with district-specific setback tables; figures were not found in available search results and need direct lookup.. Check the rules for your address before choosing the location, particularly if you're working with limited room between the house and property line.
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.
Should I pour the concrete before ordering the garage?
Get the garage specifications nailed down first. You want to know the correct dimensions and make sure the planned location meets the rules for Garden City before putting permanent concrete in the ground. It's much easier to adjust a garage plan on paper than to deal with a slab that was poured in the wrong place or at the wrong size.
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 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.
How close can my metal garage be to the property line?
The current setback in Garden City is Not retrieved — Chatham County has its own zoning ordinance with district-specific setback tables; figures were not found in available search results and need direct lookup., although you should confirm the requirement for your particular property with Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services. A setback controls how close the building can be to certain property boundaries. Check that distance before you settle on a location, especially when space on the lot is tight.
How far is Benton Metal Depot from Garden City?
Benton Metal Depot's Statesboro location is approximately 52.3 miles from Garden City. The company serves residents throughout Chatham, including communities such as Sharon Park, Woodlawn Terrace, Monteith and Meinhard. Current delivery time for a metal garage to the Garden City area is about 1 to 2 weeks.
Definitions
- ◦ Roof Pitch
- How steep the roof is, usually described by how much it rises over a set horizontal distance.
- ◦ Walk Door
- A regular entry door that lets you enter the garage without opening one of the larger vehicle doors.
- ◦ Fastener
- A screw or other connector used to hold metal panels and building components securely in place.
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ Ridge
- The top line of a pitched roof where the two sloping sides come together.
- ◦ Concrete Slab
- A flat poured-concrete surface commonly used as the finished floor and part of the foundation system for a garage.
- ◦ 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.
Garden City, Chatham County — At a Glance
- Permit Authority Name
- Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services
- Permit Authority Url
- https://buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/PermitsInspections/WhenPermitsRequired
- Permit Threshold Sqft
- No explicit sqft exemption found on the county page — it lists "garages, carports... accessory buildings, storage buildings, tool sheds" as requiring permits without stating a size cutoff. Georgia's state minimum code baseline (IRC) exempts one-story detached sheds/playhouses up to 120 sq ft, but it is unconfirmed whether Chatham County enforces that exemption as-is.
- Setback Feet Side Rear
- Not retrieved — Chatham County has its own zoning ordinance with district-specific setback tables; figures were not found in available search results and need direct lookup.
- Wind Load Zone
- Coastal Georgia (Savannah/Chatham County) — commonly cited around 130 mph (3-second gust, ASCE 7-22, Risk Category II), with barrier-island areas (Tybee, Wilmington, Skidaway Islands) potentially reaching or exceeding 140 mph. NOT verified against a primary county map — Georgia adopted the 2024 IBC/IRC (with GA amendments) effective Jan 1, 2026, referencing ASCE 7-22, and the exact mapped speed depends on precise site location and must be confirmed with a GA-licensed engineer or the county building official.
- Coastal
- 1
- Drive Miles
- 52.3
- Drive Minutes
- 69
- Nearby Towns
- Sharon Park, Woodlawn Terrace, Monteith, Meinhard
- 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
Buying a garage isn't just a matter of picking a picture and choosing a size. You also have to think about what you're putting inside, where it will sit and what materials the project needs. Benton Metal Depot works with residents in Garden City and throughout the region to help them choose a garage package that will work well with whatever they need.
Ready to talk through your metal garages project in Garden City?
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://buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/PermitsInspections/WhenPermitsRequired (2026)
- https://buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/PermitsInspections/WhenPermitsRequired — needs direct confirmation by phone (912-201-4300) (2026)
- https://buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/ — needs direct ordinance lookup (2026)
- Aggregated from windload.solutions and similar secondary sources — no primary Chatham County wind map found (2026)
- Given/client spec — Chatham County (Savannah) is a coastal Georgia county (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 Chatham County
See the Chatham County hub for metal garages
