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 Sweetwater and across Aiken, with different building sizes depending on the amount of space the property owner needs.
Key Points
- ◦A metal garage can be used as parking, storage, equipment and work space under the same roof.
- ◦Benton Metal Depot is approximately 94.5 miles from Sweetwater.
- ◦Doors, windows and other selections can change the final cost of a garage.
- ◦Get the final garage dimensions before completing permanent site work.
- ◦Delivery to Sweetwater is currently estimated at 1 to 2 weeks.
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 |
123
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Aiken County
Before a metal garage goes up in Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater
Metal garage delivery to Sweetwater 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.
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 Sweetwater, make sure the garage specifications and site plan also meet the local requirements that apply to the property.
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.
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 Sweetwater?
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 Sweetwater 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.
How long does it take to get a metal garage delivered to Sweetwater?
Current delivery time to Sweetwater 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.
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.
- ◦ Walk Door
- A regular entry door that lets you enter the garage without opening one of the larger vehicle doors.
- ◦ Concrete Slab
- A flat poured-concrete surface commonly used as the finished floor and part of the foundation system for a garage.
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ Clear Span
- Open floor space between the building's exterior supports without interior columns getting in the way.
Sweetwater, 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
- 94.5
- Drive Minutes
- 123
- Nearby Towns
- North Augusta, Bradleyville, Willow Springs Park, Hamburg
- 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 Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater?
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
