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A building permit is your formal permission to begin construction, demolition, addition or renovation on your project.

The Building Department's certified plans examiners must review your plans to ensure that they comply with the Ohio Building Codes, local Zoning Ordinances, and other applicable regulations. Building permits regulate types of construction allowed and ensure that building standards are met. The building permit process protects the owner's interests and those of the community at large, and helps to ensure that structural changes are safe. Life Safety is the goal of the codes and the building department.

Generally speaking, permits are required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or portion thereof, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing system, or other building service equipment, or piping system, Permits are not generally required in the case of ordinary repairs and maintenance.

If your project is for new construction, it will need to be brought before The Planning Commission and possibly also the Board of Zoning Appeals. These Boards regulate the development of property in the City and ensure zoning requirements are met.

Most commercial project permits will require a plan review. You will need to submit plans signed and sealed by a State of Ohio Registered Architect or Engineer for the plan review. Expect at least 3 weeks from the time you submit your application until the permit can be picked up.

The review will be made under the current building codes (2007 Ohio Building Code, Ohio Mechanical Code, Ohio Plumbing Code and the 2008 National Electric Code).

Your application and drawings go to our Plan Examiner. (NOTE: 2 separate copies of the project Civil drawings must be submitted to the City Engineer's office for review.)

After the plan exam is complete the Plan Examiner will send a correction / comment letter to your design professional. The letter will indicate and corrections that must be made to the drawings or additional information required.

Once all drawings are corrected and information requested is received along with a signed copy of the correction letter, the project information is input into our database and you will receive a call to let you know that your permit is ready and what the fee is.

After you receive the permit, during construction, you or your contractor must contact the building department at least 24 hours prior to any inspections that are required. If you don't know what inspections your project will need, we can give you a list.

Commercial Application And Fees

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