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 Lotts Crossroads, think about storage, door clearance, work space and what might be added later. Benton Metal Depot supplies metal garage packages for residents throughout Dorchester and the surrounding area.
Key Points
- ◦Doors, windows and other selections can change the final cost of a garage.
- ◦A metal garage can be used as parking, storage, equipment and work space under the same roof.
- ◦Benton Metal Depot is approximately 148.1 miles from Lotts Crossroads.
- ◦Delivery to Lotts Crossroads is currently estimated at 1 to 2 weeks.
- ◦Get the final garage dimensions before completing permanent site work.
At a Glance
| Permit threshold |
200
As of 2026 · Source |
|---|---|
| Setback (side/rear) |
Not confirmed with specific figures. Dorchester County's Zoning and Land Development Standards govern accessory-structure setbacks by district, but the exact side/rear setback numbers could not be retrieved (page returned 403 on fetch). Verify against the primary ordinance or by calling Planning & Zoning at (843) 832-0011.
As of 2026 · Source |
| Wind load zone |
Coastal-plain South Carolina, closer to the coast than Aiken/Berkeley's inland portions (Dorchester borders Charleston/Berkeley counties) — roughly 120-140 mph (ASCE 7, Exposure C/D). NOT a verified figure; the exact design wind speed depends on the ASCE 7/IBC edition Dorchester 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 |
184
As of 2026 · Source |
Permits & Setbacks in Dorchester County
Dorchester treats a metal garage like any other accessory structure: under 200 square feet, Dorchester County Building Services Department typically doesn't require a full permit, but the Not confirmed with specific figures. Dorchester County's Zoning and Land Development Standards govern accessory-structure setbacks by district, but the exact side/rear setback numbers could not be retrieved (page returned 403 on fetch). Verify against the primary ordinance or by calling Planning & Zoning at (843) 832-0011. setback rule still governs where it can sit on the lot.
Delivery to Lotts Crossroads
The current estimate for getting a metal garage to Lotts Crossroads is 1 to 2 weeks. The area is about 148.1 miles (184 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 Dorchester 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 Lotts Crossroads 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 Lotts Crossroads?
Current delivery time to Lotts Crossroads 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.
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. Dorchester County Building Services Department has requirements that can affect garage placement, including a current setback of Not confirmed with specific figures. Dorchester County's Zoning and Land Development Standards govern accessory-structure setbacks by district, but the exact side/rear setback numbers could not be retrieved (page returned 403 on fetch). Verify against the primary ordinance or by calling Planning & Zoning at (843) 832-0011.. Check the rules for your address before choosing the location, particularly if you're working with limited room between the house and property line.
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 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.
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.
How far is Benton Metal Depot from Lotts Crossroads?
Benton Metal Depot's Statesboro location is approximately 148.1 miles from Lotts Crossroads. The company serves residents throughout Dorchester, including communities such as Driggerstown, Carnes Crossroad, Grove Hall and Brownsville. Current delivery time for a metal garage to the Lotts Crossroads area is about 1 to 2 weeks.
How close can my metal garage be to the property line?
The current setback in Lotts Crossroads is Not confirmed with specific figures. Dorchester County's Zoning and Land Development Standards govern accessory-structure setbacks by district, but the exact side/rear setback numbers could not be retrieved (page returned 403 on fetch). Verify against the primary ordinance or by calling Planning & Zoning at (843) 832-0011., although you should confirm the requirement for your particular property with Dorchester County Building Services Department. 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.
Definitions
- ◦ Walk Door
- A regular entry door that lets you enter the garage without opening one of the larger vehicle doors.
- ◦ 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.
- ◦ Concrete Slab
- A flat poured-concrete surface commonly used as the finished floor and part of the foundation system for a 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.
- ◦ Building Permit
- Approval from the local government to construct a building under the building and zoning rules that apply to the property.
Lotts Crossroads, Dorchester County — At a Glance
- Permit Authority Name
- Dorchester County Building Services Department
- Permit Authority Url
- https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/government/building-services/submittal-process
- Permit Threshold Sqft
- 200
- Setback Feet Side Rear
- Not confirmed with specific figures. Dorchester County's Zoning and Land Development Standards govern accessory-structure setbacks by district, but the exact side/rear setback numbers could not be retrieved (page returned 403 on fetch). Verify against the primary ordinance or by calling Planning & Zoning at (843) 832-0011.
- Wind Load Zone
- Coastal-plain South Carolina, closer to the coast than Aiken/Berkeley's inland portions (Dorchester borders Charleston/Berkeley counties) — roughly 120-140 mph (ASCE 7, Exposure C/D). NOT a verified figure; the exact design wind speed depends on the ASCE 7/IBC edition Dorchester County has adopted and must be confirmed with an SC-licensed engineer or the county building official.
- Coastal
- Drive Miles
- 148.1
- Drive Minutes
- 184
- Nearby Towns
- Driggerstown, Carnes Crossroad, Grove Hall, Brownsville
- 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 Lotts Crossroads 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 Lotts Crossroads?
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.dorchestercountysc.gov/government/building-services (2026)
- https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/government/building-services/submittal-process (2026)
- South Carolina Residential Code § R105.2 (2018 IRC as adopted statewide, incl. Dorchester County): one-story detached accessory structures used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, etc. are exempt from a building permit if floor area ≤200 sq ft AND the structure has no electrical/plumbing/mechanical connections. Not independently re-confirmed on Dorchester's own permitting page (403'd on fetch) — verify against Dorchester's current submittal guide before publishing. (2026)
- https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/government/planning-development/planning-zoning/zoning-and-land-development-standards (2026)
- General ASCE 7 coastal-plain-SC range (aggregated secondary sources) — no county-specific or primary map source found (2026)
- Dorchester County is not among the coastal counties named in the client spec, though it borders Charleston and Berkeley counties (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)
