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 College Acres 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 Aiken and can help you find the building depending on how the space will actually be used.
Key Points
- ◦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..
- ◦Check the permit and setback rules before deciding exactly where the garage will go.
- ◦Benton serves Dry Branch, Bonniview Estates, Montmorenci and Elmwood Park and other communities around College Acres.
- ◦In College Acres, 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) |
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 |
136
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Aiken County
Before a metal garage goes up in College Acres, check with Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division) — Aiken's cutoff for requiring a building permit is 200 square feet. Below that, you still need to clear 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 from your property line.
Delivery to College Acres
Metal garage delivery to College Acres 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
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 College Acres 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.
How long does it take to get a metal garage delivered to College Acres?
Current delivery time to College Acres 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.
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 Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division). 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.
Are metal garages a good choice for Georgia?
Metal buildings are utilized throughout Georgia for garages, equipment storage and other residential, agricultural and commercial uses. The important thing is choosing a building appropriate for the project and location. If you're building in College Acres, make sure the garage specifications and site plan also meet the local requirements that apply to the property.
How far is Benton Metal Depot from College Acres?
Benton Metal Depot's Statesboro location is approximately 103 miles from College Acres. The company serves residents throughout Aiken, including communities such as Dry Branch, Bonniview Estates, Montmorenci and Elmwood Park. Current delivery time for a metal garage to the College Acres area is about 1 to 2 weeks.
How close can my metal garage be to the property line?
The current setback in College Acres 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., although you should confirm the requirement for your particular property with Aiken County Planning and Development Department (Building Codes/Inspections Division). 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.
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 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.
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.
- ◦ Concrete Slab
- A flat poured-concrete surface commonly used as the finished floor and part of the foundation system for a garage.
- ◦ Walk Door
- A regular entry door that lets you enter the garage without opening one of the larger vehicle doors.
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ Ridge
- The top line of a pitched roof where the two sloping sides come together.
- ◦ 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.
College Acres, 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
- Dry Branch, Bonniview Estates, Montmorenci, Elmwood Park
- 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 College Acres 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 College Acres?
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
