Is a Permit Required for a Fabric Building? What to Ask First

Is a permit required for a fabric building? Often, yes, but the only answer that counts comes from your local building department, so call them before you order. People hear "tension fabric" and "portable" and assume no one will care, and that is a risky guess.

Covermore Buildings, in Chouteau, Oklahoma, sells tension fabric buildings, shipping-container shelters and container roof kits and ships them nationwide. Every county handles permits a little differently, and we are not your local authority. Here is how to get a straight answer from yours.

Is a permit required for a fabric building on my land?

Often, yes. Whether your fabric building needs a permit depends on where it sits, how big it is and what goes inside, and your building department makes that call. Ask them about:

• Location: a city lot, a county road frontage and open farm ground may fall under different rules. Ask whether agricultural use is handled differently where you are.
• Size: some offices exempt small storage buildings under a set footprint. Ask where that line is and whether your building is over it.
• Use: parking equipment, working inside, adding heat, lights or power, or letting the public in can each change the review.

Do not go by a neighbor's experience. Their building may have been exempt, grandfathered or never checked.

Does a "temporary" fabric building still need a permit?

It may. Calling a building temporary does not settle the question, so ask the office how it defines temporary and how long a structure can stand before permanent rules apply. How long the building stays and how it is anchored may matter more than what you call it. If you plan to leave it up for years, plan for the permanent rules.

What will the building department want to see?

Expect questions like these, and have answers ready:

1. A site plan showing where the building sits and how far it is from property lines, roads and other structures.
2. The building's overall dimensions and height.
3. Wind and snow load requirements for your location.
4. Foundation or anchoring details.
5. What you will use the building for.
6. Whether a stamped drawing is needed. Get that answer in writing.

Also confirm any setback rules, and check with your insurer, who may want some of the same paperwork. If you have spec questions for your permit packet, call us.

Why do the foundation and site prep come first?

The base is what holds a building down in a storm, so permit reviewers often look at it closely. Settle the foundation or anchoring plan before you order, and get the site level, drained and reachable for delivery. A permit does not help if the truck cannot reach the pad.

Do container shelters and roof kits need a permit?

Ask your office. A shelter or roof kit mounted on shipping containers can land in a gray area: the containers may already be on site and only the cover is new. Describe it plainly as containers with a fabric cover over them, and ask whether it is reviewed as a building or an accessory structure.

Who pulls the permit?

The owner does, or a contractor acting for the owner. Covermore Buildings is the supplier, and we cannot tell you what your county requires.

What mistakes stall a fabric building permit?

The most common permit mistake is ordering the building before asking the building department. Others that hold up jobs:

• Relying on a verbal "you should be fine" from the counter. Get it in writing, or get the permit.
• Changing the size after approval. If the footprint or height grows, go back to the office before you order the bigger building.
• Not allowing time. Review can take days or weeks, depending on the office and the season, so build that wait into your schedule before you book a crew or a delivery date.