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 Bath, think about storage, door clearance, work space and what might be added later. Benton Metal Depot supplies metal garage packages for residents throughout Aiken and the surrounding area.
Key Points
- ◦Get the final garage dimensions before completing permanent site work.
- ◦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 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..
- ◦Benton serves Spiderweb, Johnstown, Beech Island and Gloverville and other communities around Bath.
- ◦Doors, windows and other selections can change the final cost of a garage.
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 -- Benton's existing standard gauge/profile for pole-barn, carport, and agricultural structures.
As of 2026 · Source |
| Drive time from Statesboro |
114
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Aiken County
Aiken treats a metal garage like any other accessory structure: under 200 square feet, Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division) typically doesn't require a full permit, but the 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. setback rule still governs where it can sit on the lot.
Delivery to Bath
Metal garage delivery to Bath 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 Aiken County-specific project photo is pending (rotates in from Trey's weekly upload per the freshness cadence).
FAQ
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.
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. Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division) has requirements that can affect garage placement, including a current setback of 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 the rules for your address before choosing the location, particularly if you're working with limited room between the house and property line.
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.
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 Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division). 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.
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 Bath 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.
Definitions
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ 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 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.
Bath, 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
- 88.2
- Drive Minutes
- 114
- Nearby Towns
- Spiderweb, Johnstown, Beech Island, Gloverville
- 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 has been working with metal building products in Statesboro since 2004. That local experience is important when you're planning a garage in Bath and trying to sort through materials, building specifications and the rest of the project details. Benton works with homeowners, contractors and property owners throughout the region.
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.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 metal garages
