Do You Need a Permit or Engineered Plans? A Complete Guide for Barndominium Builders

Building a barndominium or modern farmhouse is exciting—but before you start ordering materials, hiring installers, or pouring concrete, you need to make sure your home is legal to build in your county.

The #1 mistake new barndominium builders make?

👉 Starting the project before verifying whether their county requires a building permit or engineered plans.
This one oversight can delay a project by months—or stop it entirely.

This guide walks you through exactly how to figure out what your county requires, what documents they expect, and how Buckeye Plans ensures your design meets all codes nationwide.

1. Why Counties Have Different Rules for Barndominiums

Every county creates its own building and zoning rules because:

• soil conditions differ

• wind and snow loads vary

• flood zones must be considered

• local zoning districts restrict structure types

• foundation requirements change state-to-state

• some regions need stricter engineering due to tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes

That means the rules for building a barndominium in:

• Mississippi

• Ohio

• Kentucky

• Tennessee

• West Virginia

• Texas

• Pennsylvania

…can all be completely different.

This is why Buckeye Plans engineers plans for your specific county, not just your state.

2. What Most Counties Require (A General Starting Point)

While every region is different, here’s what most counties will ask for when building a barndominium:

✔️ A set of architectural drawings

This includes floor plans, elevations, roof layout, and structural notes.

✔️ An engineered foundation plan

Most counties require a stamped foundation plan showing load paths and slab thicknesses.

✔️ Framing / Structural details

For post frame, steel frame, and hybrid structures, engineering is nearly always required.

✔️ Electrical & plumbing layout

Some jurisdictions require this before issuing a permit.

✔️ Site plan showing home placement

Driveway, utilities, septic location, and setbacks.

✔️ Energy compliance certificate (in many states)

Especially required for new construction.

✔️ Material specifications

Siding type, roofing, windows, door egress sizes, truss spans, etc.

Buckeye Plans includes or sources all of these depending on the package you choose.

3. Do Barndominiums Require More Documentation?

Short answer: Yes—usually.

Why?

Because most barndominiums use:

• large open spans

• vaulted living rooms

• long-span trusses

• metal roof systems

• heavy window walls

• unconventional framing (post frame / steel / hybrid)

Counties want assurance that these structures can safely withstand:

• wind

• uplift

• snow load

• lateral bracing

• seismic loads (in some states)

This is why Buckeye Plans offers engineering in 47 states.

4. How to Check YOUR County Requirements (Step-By-Step)

Here’s the fastest and easiest way to confirm requirements:

Step 1: Search Your County Building Department

Google this:

"[Your County Name] Building Department"
"[Your County Name] Building Permits"
"[Your County Name] Permit Office"

Example:
"Jones County MS Building Department"

Most counties have a simple page listing:

• permit types

• required drawings

• engineering requirements

• phone number and email

• zoning map

• inspection schedule

Step 2: Download the County’s Permit Packet

Nearly every county now posts PDFs online, usually titled:

• Residential Permit Packet

• New Construction Requirements

• Building Permit Application

• Structural Guidelines for New Homes

• Residential Plan Review Checklist

This document alone answers 90% of questions.

Step 3: Look for These Keywords

You're specifically searching for clues like:

• “Engineered plans required”

• “Stamps required for structural drawings”

• “Wind load requirements”

• “Foundation must be engineered”

• “Truss engineering required”

• “All new construction requires an architectural plan”

• “Submit floor plan and elevations”

If the packet says any of these, you need professionally drafted plans—not a sketch or internet PDF.

Step 4: Check Zoning

Search:

"[Your County Name] Zoning Map"

Confirm:

• Your land is zoned for residential or agricultural use

• Barndominiums are allowed (most counties do allow them)

• Minimum setbacks are compatible with your land

• Your home’s footprint won’t violate restrictions

If you want help, Buckeye Plans can overlay your chosen design onto your actual land.

Step 5: Call or Email the County (Simple Script)

Here’s the exact wording:

“I am building a new home and need to confirm your requirements for plan submission. Do you require engineered plans? And do you require sealed foundation drawings or structural framing drawings?”

Counties will give you clear directions in minutes.

5. What Happens If You Build Without Permits or Engineering?

Many rural counties don’t actively police new construction—but that doesn’t mean you’re safe.

Problems arise when:

• You sell the home

• You refinance

• You insure the home

• You want utilities connected

• You want an appraisal

• A storm causes damage

• A bank requires certification

Without proper plans:

❌ insurance claims may be denied
❌ refinancing may be blocked
❌ the appraisal may come in low
❌ resale value drops
❌ structural issues become your liability

Starting with professionally drafted, engineered plans prevents all of this.

6. How Buckeye Plans Makes the Permit Process Easy

When you purchase a plan or custom design from Buckeye Plans, we provide:

✔ Architectural drawings

✔ Structural framing layouts

✔ Foundation engineering

✔ Roof engineering

✔ Electrical + plumbing layouts

✔ Material specifications

✔ Builder-ready sheets

✔ State-compliant code notes

We design hundreds of homes annually, so we already know how to satisfy the most complex counties—from northern snow regions to southern hurricane zones to western seismic regions.

7. How to Know When You Need Engineering

You definitely need engineered plans if:

• you are in a hurricane zone

• you are in a tornado-prone region

• you have large spans (20’+ open rooms)

• you want large window walls

• you are building with post frame or steel

• your porch wraps or exceeds 10’

• your plan is over 2,000 sq ft

• your roof pitch changes multiple times

You might need engineering if:

• you’re on sloped property

• soil reports require thicker foundations

• local code office requests verification

You typically do not need engineering if:

• you're in an unincorporated county with minimal regulation

• your home is under 1,200 sq ft

• you have a very simple roofline

…but most modern barndos do.

Permits and engineering aren’t hurdles—they’re protection.

They protect:

• you

• your investment

• your future resale

• your insurance coverage

• your safety

• and your construction budget

And with the right partner, navigating county requirements is simple.

Buckeye Plans is here to make sure your home is designed correctly, engineered properly, and ready to pass every permit review the first time.