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 Freedman 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 Charleston and can help you find the building depending on how the space will actually be used.
Key Points
- ◦Doors, windows and other selections can change the final cost of a garage.
- ◦Delivery to Freedman is currently estimated at 1 to 2 weeks.
- ◦A metal garage can be used as parking, storage, equipment and work space under the same roof.
- ◦Benton Metal Depot is approximately 147.5 miles from Freedman.
- ◦Get the final garage dimensions before completing permanent site work.
At a Glance
| Permit threshold |
120
As of 2026 · Source |
|---|---|
| Setback (side/rear) |
Detached accessory structures must comply with all applicable setback standards of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations, but the specific side/rear footage by district was not retrieved from available excerpts.
As of 2026 · Source |
| Wind load zone |
Charleston County is a Coastal High-Hazard Area — secondary sources cite design wind speeds in roughly the 130-150 mph range (ASCE 7-16/7-22, Risk Category II), with the wind-borne debris region extending about 1 mile inland from the coast. Exact figure depends on precise parcel location and adopted county wind map; must be confirmed with a 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 |
189
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Charleston County
Charleston's permitting office, Charleston County Building Inspection Services, 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 Detached accessory structures must comply with all applicable setback standards of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations, but the specific side/rear footage by district was not retrieved from available excerpts. still applies. Confirm your lot's zoning district before ordering, since setbacks vary by district.
Delivery to Freedman
The current estimate for getting a metal garage to Freedman is 1 to 2 weeks. The area is about 147.5 miles (189 minutes) from Benton Metal Depot in Statesboro. That gives you a general timeline for scheduling contractors, preparing the property and handling local permits before the building is due to arrive.
Representative product photo — a Charleston 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. Charleston County Building Inspection Services has requirements that can affect garage placement, including a current setback of Detached accessory structures must comply with all applicable setback standards of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations, but the specific side/rear footage by district was not retrieved from available excerpts.. 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 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 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.
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.
Do I need a permit for a metal garage in Freedman?
That depends on the garage and the requirements of Charleston County Building Inspection Services. 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.
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 Freedman 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
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ Ridge
- The top line of a pitched roof where the two sloping sides come together.
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ Fastener
- A screw or other connector used to hold metal panels and building components securely in place.
- ◦ Roof Pitch
- How steep the roof is, usually described by how much it rises over a set horizontal distance.
- ◦ 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.
Freedman, Charleston County — At a Glance
- Permit Authority Name
- Charleston County Building Inspection Services
- Permit Authority Url
- https://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/building-inspection-services/
- Permit Threshold Sqft
- 120
- Setback Feet Side Rear
- Detached accessory structures must comply with all applicable setback standards of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations, but the specific side/rear footage by district was not retrieved from available excerpts.
- Wind Load Zone
- Charleston County is a Coastal High-Hazard Area — secondary sources cite design wind speeds in roughly the 130-150 mph range (ASCE 7-16/7-22, Risk Category II), with the wind-borne debris region extending about 1 mile inland from the coast. Exact figure depends on precise parcel location and adopted county wind map; must be confirmed with a SC-licensed engineer or the county building official.
- Coastal
- 1
- Drive Miles
- 147.5
- Drive Minutes
- 189
- Nearby Towns
- Little Edisto, Edisto Island, Edisto Beach, Rockland
- 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 Freedman 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 Freedman?
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.charlestoncounty.org/departments/building-inspection-services/ (2026)
- Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Regulations, Sec. 3.8.2(D) (https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/charlestoncounty-sc/ereader/zldr) — a Zoning Permit is not required for one detached one-story accessory structure (tool/storage shed, playhouse, or similar) if the building footprint does not exceed 120 sq ft; this exemption applies to only one such structure per lot, and it covers the zoning permit specifically — garages and structures with electrical/plumbing typically still require a building permit regardless of size. (2026)
- Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Regulations, Sec. 3.8.2(D), https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/charlestoncounty-sc/ereader/zldr — needs direct lookup of the district-specific yard table (2026)
- Aggregated from windload.solutions and similar secondary sources — no single primary Charleston County wind-speed map document was retrieved (2026)
- Given/client spec — Charleston County is a coastal South Carolina 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 Charleston County
See the Charleston County hub for metal garages
