Reviewed by the Benton Metal Depot team · Updated
A garage doesn't have to be just a place to park the car. Property owners in Bath can use metal garages to store cleaning equipment, different kinds of tools, storage and it can be used as a work space, too. Benton Metal Depot serves customers across Richmond and can help you find the building depending on how the space will actually be used.
Key Points
- ◦The current local setback for a metal garage is Rear: minimum 10 ft (including eaves/overhangs) for all accessory buildings. Side: same as required for the principal structure — 5 ft each side on lots ≤55 ft wide, 7 ft on lots 56-70 ft wide, 10 ft on lots >70 ft wide. Accessory buildings generally barred from front yards (except carports/garages, which must meet the principal-structure front setback)..
- ◦Plan for door clearance and walking room when deciding how wide your garage needs to be.
- ◦In Bath, a building permit is required once the garage exceeds 120 square feet.
- ◦Check the permit and setback rules before deciding exactly where the garage will go.
- ◦Benton serves Dyes Crossroad, Blythe, Windsor Spring and Ellwood and other communities around Bath.
At a Glance
| Permit threshold |
120
As of 2026 · Source |
|---|---|
| Setback (side/rear) |
Rear: minimum 10 ft (including eaves/overhangs) for all accessory buildings. Side: same as required for the principal structure — 5 ft each side on lots ≤55 ft wide, 7 ft on lots 56-70 ft wide, 10 ft on lots >70 ft wide. Accessory buildings generally barred from front yards (except carports/garages, which must meet the principal-structure front setback).
As of 2026 · Source |
| Wind load zone |
Inland Georgia, Wind Zone 1 per Georgia Dept. of Insurance/Safety Fire — roughly 115-120 mph (ASCE 7, Exposure C). Exact design wind speed depends on which ASCE 7 edition Richmond County/Augusta has adopted 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 |
100
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Richmond County
Richmond's permitting office, Augusta-Richmond County Planning & Development Department, License & Inspection / Construction Division, sets the accessory-structure line at 120 square feet — build under that and you generally skip the full building-permit process, though a setback of Rear: minimum 10 ft (including eaves/overhangs) for all accessory buildings. Side: same as required for the principal structure — 5 ft each side on lots ≤55 ft wide, 7 ft on lots 56-70 ft wide, 10 ft on lots >70 ft wide. Accessory buildings generally barred from front yards (except carports/garages, which must meet the principal-structure front setback). still applies. Confirm your lot's zoning district before ordering, since setbacks vary by district.
Delivery to Bath
Residents in Bath are currently looking at about 1 to 2 weeks after placing an order. Benton Metal Depot is approximately 78.1 miles away. Use that window to finish whatever needs to happen at the property first. Waiting until the garage is ready can create unnecessary delays if the site isn't.
Representative product photo — a Richmond 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. Augusta-Richmond County Planning & Development Department, License & Inspection / Construction Division has requirements that can affect garage placement, including a current setback of Rear: minimum 10 ft (including eaves/overhangs) for all accessory buildings. Side: same as required for the principal structure — 5 ft each side on lots ≤55 ft wide, 7 ft on lots 56-70 ft wide, 10 ft on lots >70 ft wide. Accessory buildings generally barred from front yards (except carports/garages, which must meet the principal-structure front setback).. 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 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 Bath?
That depends on the garage and the requirements of Augusta-Richmond County Planning & Development Department, License & Inspection / Construction Division. The current rule requires a permit once the garage exceeds 120 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.
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.
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.
How far is Benton Metal Depot from Bath?
Benton Metal Depot's Statesboro location is approximately 78.1 miles from Bath. The company serves residents throughout Richmond, including communities such as Dyes Crossroad, Blythe, Windsor Spring and Ellwood. Current delivery time for a metal garage to the Bath area is about 1 to 2 weeks.
Definitions
- ◦ Building Footprint
- The amount of ground the garage takes up, based on its outside width and length.
- ◦ Roof Panel
- A formed sheet of metal that makes up part of the garage's exterior roof surface.
- ◦ Ridge
- The top line of a pitched roof where the two sloping sides come together.
- ◦ Building Permit
- Approval from the local government to construct a building under the building and zoning rules that apply to the property.
- ◦ Overhead Door
- The large door that opens upward to let cars, trucks or equipment move in and out of the garage.
- ◦ Gable
- The triangular wall section found at the end of a building with a pitched roof.
- ◦ Setback
- The required amount of space between your garage and a property line, road or another boundary covered by local rules.
- ◦ Roof Pitch
- How steep the roof is, usually described by how much it rises over a set horizontal distance.
- ◦ Fastener
- A screw or other connector used to hold metal panels and building components securely in place.
- ◦ Clear Span
- Open floor space between the building's exterior supports without interior columns getting in the way.
Bath, Richmond County — At a Glance
- Permit Authority Name
- Augusta-Richmond County Planning & Development Department, License & Inspection / Construction Division
- Permit Authority Url
- https://www.augustaga.gov/2101/Building-Permits
- Permit Threshold Sqft
- 120
- Setback Feet Side Rear
- Rear: minimum 10 ft (including eaves/overhangs) for all accessory buildings. Side: same as required for the principal structure — 5 ft each side on lots ≤55 ft wide, 7 ft on lots 56-70 ft wide, 10 ft on lots >70 ft wide. Accessory buildings generally barred from front yards (except carports/garages, which must meet the principal-structure front setback).
- Wind Load Zone
- Inland Georgia, Wind Zone 1 per Georgia Dept. of Insurance/Safety Fire — roughly 115-120 mph (ASCE 7, Exposure C). Exact design wind speed depends on which ASCE 7 edition Richmond County/Augusta has adopted and must be confirmed with a GA-licensed engineer or the county building official.
- Coastal
- Drive Miles
- 78.1
- Drive Minutes
- 100
- Nearby Towns
- Dyes Crossroad, Blythe, Windsor Spring, Ellwood
- 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 Bath, 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 Bath?
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://www.augustaga.gov/2099/Building-Construction (2026)
- https://www.augustaga.gov/2101/Building-Permits (2026)
- Secondary source (permitsguide.com/shed/georgia) states "one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds not exceeding 120 square feet do not require a permit" in Augusta-Richmond County — NOT independently confirmed against the primary zoning ordinance PDF at https://www.augustaga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8388; verify before publishing. (2026)
- Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of Augusta-Richmond County, Section 8-4(a)/(b), as summarized at https://www.zoneomics.com/code/augusta-GA/chapter_10 — verify against primary PDF at https://www.augustaga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8388 (2026)
- https://oci.georgia.gov/inspections-permits-plans/manufactured-housing/wind-zones (confirms Richmond County is not one of the 6 GA Wind Zone 2 coastal counties; Georgia has no Wind Zone 3) — general ASCE 7 range aggregated from windload.solutions (2026)
- Richmond County is inland (Augusta, on the Savannah River but ~120 miles from the coast) 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)
