Administrative Building Department Council, Boards & Commission Fire Income Tax Law Department Mayors Court Miscellaneous Parks & Recreation Police Department Refuse/Recycling/Yard Waste Service Garage Senior Center Utilities
Administrative  |  | How can I get a garage sale permit? |  | This permit is available at the Mayor's Office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Two permits per year, per address are allowed and can be up to four consecutive days (Sundays permissible) at a cost of $2.00 per permit. | Back to Top | | | How can I get a vehicle sale permit? | | If you are wishing to sell a vehicle, you must obtain a permit. These can be obtained in the Mayor's Office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The permit is good for 30 days. Two permits per year per address are allowed at the cost of $2.00. | | Back to Top | | | How do I get a solicitor/peddler permit? | | Permit applications are available through the Mayor's Office at City Hall and also available online. Solicitors/peddlers must complete the application providing the requested documents and submit it to the Mayor's Office for approval. There is a $250 fee for this permit payable by cash, business check or money order. All door-to-door activity of any nature shall be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Monday-Friday, noon to 5:00 pm on Sunday; and, prohibited on any state or federal holiday. A violation by the Registrant or any agent thereof any requirement of Section 854.03 is punishable by a fine up to $250.00 per violation. A copy of this permit shall be carried by the solicitor/peddler who goes upon the property of citizens in the City of North Ridgeville. | | Back to Top | | | How do I get a dog license? | | Dog licenses can be purchased at Discount Drug Mart at 33633 Bagley Road, (440) 406-5031 or at the Lorain County Administration Building, Lorain County Auditor's Office, in Elyria, 226 Middle Avenue or call (440) 329-5000. | | Back to Top | | | How do I get a mobile frozen dessert permit? | | The mobile frozen desserts sales permit (ice cream truck vendors) applications are available in the Mayor's Office. There is a $50.00 fee. Applications must be filled out and all criteria met before permit is approved by the Mayor (or designee). You can also access the permit application online by visiting the Permits, Licensing and Additional Services link on our website. | | Back to Top | | | How do I get married by the Mayor? | | - Make appointment at mutually agreeable time by calling the Mayor's Office at (440) 490-2042. The Mayor performs weddings 9 AM to 4 PM, Mon. through Friday.
- Take Mayor's name and date of wedding to the Probate Court at the Justice Center, 225 Court Street, 6th Floor, Elyria. For further information regarding their requirements, costs, etc., visit their link at http://www.loraincounty.com/probate/ or call 329-5295 or 329-5176.
- The Probate Court will give you a packet which you bring to the Mayor's Office anytime during regular business hours, BUT NO LATER THAN 2 DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE WEDDING, so that forms may be filled out and the ceremony prepared.
- Mayor asks that you make a $150 donation when bringing in your license which he gives to the North Ridgeville Senior Center. (Cash, checks or money orders only. Make checks payable to North Ridgeville Senior Center.)
- Return on the chosen date and come to the Mayor's Office to gather. You are allowed to have guests, but witnesses are not required. The ceremony will take place in our Council Chambers. Cameras, music, flowers, etc., are acceptable. The ceremony will take approximately 10 minutes.
Please feel free to call 440-490-2042 if you have any further questions. | | Back to Top |
Building Department | | What is a building permit and when do I need one? | | A building permit is your formal permission to begin construction, demolition, addition or renovation on your property.
The Building Department's certified plans examiners must review your plans to ensure that they comply with the Residential Code of Ohio, 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. By obtaining a permit, you can also take advantage of the professional expertise of the Building Department's State of Ohio Certified Inspectors. Our staff, Plan Examiners and Inspectors can offer suggestions to help you solve or avoid construction problems. It is to your advantage to ensure that you or your contractor obtain the necessary permits and schedule the required inspections. You will need a building permit if you plan to: Construct a new house Renovate, repair or add to a house Demolish or remove all or a portion of a building Install, change, or remove partitions and load bearing walls Make new openings for, or change the size of, doors and windows Build a detached garage, outbuilding or storage shed Build a balcony or deck Finish a basement Install or modify heating, plumbing or air-conditioning systems Install or reconstruct chimneys or fireplaces Install or add to a driveway Build a fence Install a lawn sprinkler system Put in an in-ground or above ground pool
| | Back to Top | | | When are inspections required? | | It is the responsibility of the permit holder to call for all required inspections. Review the inspection steps with the Building Department person assigning the permit. Whenever an inspection has been requested and work is found to be incomplete or in need of correction(s), there may be a re-inspection fee imposed. | | Back to Top | | | I want to build a new detached garage or storage shed on my property. What do I need to do. | | You must obtain a permit to build detached garages or outbuilding. Visit the Building Department's webpage for the application for the permit. | | Back to Top | | | I need to put a new roof on my house, how do I go about obtaining a permit and what do I need to know? | | Visit the Building Department's webpage for information on re-roof projects and the application for the permit.
| | Back to Top | | | I want to build a deck, what do I need to know and do? | | You will need a permit and construction drawings if the deck exceeds 200 square feet, is attached to the house, is more than 30" above the ground, or serves the exit door. Visit the Building Department's webpage for more information. | | Back to Top | | | I want to build a fence, what do I need to know and do? | | A fence requires a permit for construction. Visit the Building Department's webpage for the permit application. | | Back to Top | | | Can I run my downspouts into the storm sewer? | | No, all downspouts (for new construction) must be run to grade on splash blocks. On an existing building it is recommended that they be run to splash blocks. | | Back to Top | | | Do I need to be registered (as a contractor) to do construction work in North Ridgeville? | | Yes, all contractors and subcontractors must be registered. For more information and the application, visit the Building Department's webpage. | | Back to Top | | | Can I put my company sign in the yard of a dwelling I am doing work on? | | Yes, a temporary sign with a commercial message in a residential zoning district is permitted. One sign per single lot and no individual sign shall exceed eight (8) square feet. | | Back to Top | | | I want to install a pool. What do I need to do? | | Pools require a permit to install. Visit the Building Department's webpage for the permit application. | | Back to Top | | | Do I need a permit to construct a concrete or asphalt driveway, widen and existing driveway, or replace an old driveway? | | Driveway work requires a permit and inspections. Visit the Building Department's webpage for more information and permit application. | | Back to Top | | | Do I need a permit to construct a service or postal walk? | | No | | Back to Top | | | Do I need a permit to construct a concrete patio ? | | No, as long as it is not used for vehicular traffic/parking. Do not direct storm run off onto adjacent property. | | Back to Top | | | Are permits required for public sidewalks and street aprons? | | Yes, permits are required for both. | | Back to Top | | | What type of tree can I plant in my tree lawn? | | The following list of trees shall be permitted in tree lawns (Right-of-Way). Any other species of tree(s) not on the following list shall require the approval of the City of North Ridgeville. | | Back to Top | | | We are interested in putting in a rain barrel to capture some of the run-off from the roof downspout at our residence. This captured water would then be used to water flowers and gardens. What requirements are in place for a rain barrel system? | | There are currently no requirements or restrictions for rain barrels in the City of North Ridgeville. | | Back to Top | | | Can I get a copy of my floor plans from the city? If so, how do I go about obtaining a copy? | | You may make a records request at the building department, it may take a few days to search our off site storage facility. What we have depends on the age of your house and what may have been submitted at the time. If we have your floor plans (or the "model" set from that builder) we can make a copy for a minimal charge. | | Back to Top |
Council, Boards & Commission Fire | | How do I obtain a recreational fire permit? | | The North Ridgeville Fire Department maintains a recreational fire permit program in order to track recreational fire locations and encourage safe burning practices. For additional information please visit the Fire Department's webpage. | | Back to Top |
Income Tax | | What is the tax rate? | | 1 % (.01 - One percent) | | Back to Top | | | | Is there credit provided? | | Yes, although we do not receive any of the monies from the work cities a credit for paying to these communities is allowed. The credit remains at .10 of 1% (.01) | | Back to Top | | | | Do I have to pay estimated tax quarterly? | | Yes, the City of North Ridgeville is a member municipality of the Regional Income Tax Agency (R.I.T.A.). R.I.T.A. is responsible for the administration and collection of all income taxes and serves as an Agent of the City in this capacity. | | Back to Top | | | | What about property, federal and state taxes? | | The property taxes are assessed through the county and you must contact the Lorain County Auditor's office or the Treasurer's office at: (440) 329-5212 or (440) 329-5256. Also we can not answer questions regarding the Federal or State income taxes however you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The State of Ohio Department of Taxation can be reached at 1-800-282-1780. | | Back to Top |
Law Department | | May the Law Department provide me legal advice? | | Due to legal constraints, the Law Department staff is unable to provide legal advice to residents concerning private legal disputes or any other private matters, such as property disputes or eviction proceedings. | | Back to Top |
Mayors Court | | Can I pay for my ticket online? | | Yes, by clicking this link. You can also appear for court, pay at the Mayors Court window, or call in to find out your fine and mail in your payment. If you call in, please have your ticket available for reference. | | Back to Top |
Miscellaneous | | Is there a citywide yard sale? | | Yes, and it is typically held in June of each year and sponsored by the North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce. For further information regarding this event please contact the Chamber at (440) 327-3737. | | Back to Top | | | Who should I contact to report a street light outage. | | When there is a street light outage, please call 1-888-544-4877 or visit First Energy Corp/Ohio Edison website. By directly contacting First Energy Corp/Ohio Edison, it will speed up the repair time. For hazardous situations If the outage presents a hazardous situation - such as broken glass or lens, the fixture is in danger of falling, the wires are exposed, the pole is damaged, leaning or knocked down - DO NOT complete the form. Instead, call your First Energy Contact Center at 1-800-633-4766 immediately. | | Back to Top | | | Where do I find an employment application for the City of North Ridgeville? | | A printable copy of our employment application can be found under Employment on the City's website or you can obtain a copy from the Administrative Office in City Hall between the hours of 8 AM-4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. | | Back to Top | | | What is the NOPEC Residential Electric/Natural Gas Governmental Aggregation? | | North Ridgeville is a member of NOPEC's natural gas and electric aggregation programs. The Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) is a nonprofit group of 240 Ohio communities. NOPEC negotiates lower utility rates. In fact, over the past 20 years, NOPEC has saved Ohio consumers hundreds of millions of dollars on their energy costs. NOPEC also provides member communities with energy-saving grants, low-interest rate financing for energy-efficiency projects, and community outreach programs to help residents learn how to save even more.
For a more detailed explanation of the NOPEC governmental aggregation you may call 1-855-667-3201 or visit NOPEC’s website: http://www.nopec.org/ or watch the following 30-minute video: https://youtu.be/nyz_fVPr4vM | | Back to Top | | | Where can I get a list of approved landscaping contractors? | | Contact our Building Department during normal office hours, Monday-Friday from 8 AM-4:30 PM,
(440) 490-2081. | | Back to Top |
Parks & Recreation | | How do I register my bicycle? | | North Ridgeville residents can obtain a bike license at the Parks and Recreation office during normal business hours. Bike information, such as serial number, make/model, tire size, color, etc., will be kept on file at the North Ridgeville Police Department. | | Back to Top | | | Where can I buy a dog license? | | Dog licenses can be purchased at the Lorain County Auditor's Office located at 226 Middle Avenue, Lorain County Administration Building in Elyria or by calling (440) 329-5243 or purchased at Discount Drug Mart located at 33633 Bagley Road, 440-406-5031. | | Back to Top | | | Can I reserve the gazebo at South Central Park? | | The South Central Park gazebo can be reserved for weddings. Permits are issued at the Parks and Recreation office at a cost of $25.00. | | Back to Top | | | Can I reserve a pavilion at South Central Park? | | Yes, you can reserve pavilions in South Central Park. Please visit the Parks & Rec webpage for more information or call (440) 490-2052. | | Back to Top | | | Do I need a license to fish at South Central Park? | | No license is required to fish at South Central Park. Fishing is allowed year round from dawn to dusk. Catch and release is encouraged. | | Back to Top | | | How can I become an instructor? | | If you have a special skill, talent, practical knowledge or experience you would like to share, Parks and Recreation will gladly work with you to set up a program. Send a letter of interest to: Program Supervisor
Parks & Recreation
7327 Avon Belden Road
North Ridgeville, OH 44039 | | Back to Top | | | How do I become a volunteer? | | There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for programs and special events. Contact the Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor at 440-490-2052 to see how you can help. | | Back to Top |
Police Department | | How do I obtain a copy of a crash report? | | Crash reports usually take 3-5 business days to complete. The records department can be reached at (440) 490-2002, between the hours of 6:00 AM and 2:00 PM, Monday thru Friday. When the report is complete, it can be left for you to pick up at your convenience at the dispatch window, which is open 24 hours a day. Your insurance company can request a copy of the report by fax. Our fax number is (440) 328-4555. When requesting a copy of a crash report, please include the report number. If the report number is unknown, include the driver's name, date of crash, and location, as well as your telephone number and fax number in case we have any questions regarding your request. | | Back to Top | | | How do I obtain a record check for employment? | | Records checks for employment purposes are done for residents of North Ridgeville only. If an employer is requesting a record check, the person having the record check done must come to the police department with a drivers license and a letter from their employer requesting the record check. If the employer did not supply this form, we need a written, signed and dated request from the person needing the record check for employment purposes. This record check is through our department only and NOT a criminal history check through BCI or any other law enforcement agency. | | Back to Top | | | I need to be fingerprinted for employment purposes. Can the police department do that for me? | | Recently the Bureau of Criminal Investigation began accepting AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) prints only. At this time, our department does not have this technology available to the general public. However, there are several locations in Lorain County that can assist you. (Call the police department at (440) 490-2001 for a list of those locations).
We can assist you with fingerprinting if the employer supplies you with a fingerprint card and you are a resident of North Ridgeville, or work in the city. An appointment is not needed, however you may have a short wait until an officer is available to assist you. Be sure to bring your drivers license or state I.D. card with you. | | Back to Top | | | Can I have a copy of my arrest report? | | As long as an arrest is pending court action, it is not considered a public record. Once it has been adjudicated it is available to the public. If a defendant wants a copy of the arrest report they must file a Motion of Discovery with the court. The request is then given to the Prosecutor's Office to consider. If you have an attorney, he or she can do this for you. | | Back to Top | | | What is the cost for copies of police reports? | | The cost for a crash report and log entries is five cents per page. This cost includes any pages that need to be redacted. | | Back to Top | | | What is considered a public record? | | Any police log or report that is not under investigation or pending any court action is available to the public. Requests need to be as specific as possible and not overly broad. Requests will be handled in a timely fashion and in some cases may take several days before they are available for pick up. For more information, visit the Records Request webpage. | | Back to Top | | | My car was impounded. How do I get it released? | | Depending on why it was towed and impounded, you may need to get a court order to have it released. If so, get the release order from the court. After obtaining the court order release, or if no court order was required, the owner and two drivers with a valid drivers license need to come to the police department to obtain a release which can be taken to the towing company. Once the fees are paid to the tow company, the vehicle can be released. | | Back to Top | | | What towing company does the police department use and where is it located? | | The towing company is Patton's Five Star Towing, located at 8067 Maddock Road in North Ridgeville. They can be reached at 440-353-9558. | | Back to Top | | | Is there a curfew for minors? | | Yes. Juveniles under the age of 16 are not permitted to congregate, loiter, or play upon the streets, sidewalks, public places or places of amusement and entertainment, or to remain away from his or her residence or on unenclosed lands within the city between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, a responsible person 21 years of age or older, or a family member eighteen years of age or older. For Juveniles age 16 and 17, the prohibited hours are between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. For further information see city ordinance 636.22. | | Back to Top | | | Can parents or guardians of juveniles be held accountable for minors who are in violation of the city's curfew? | | Yes. For further information see city ordinance 636.22. | | Back to Top | | | What should I do if there is a house in my neighborhood where I believe drugs are being sold? | | Contact the police department and report your suspicions. Questions that you may be asked include the days and times when the activity is more prevalent, the description and/or names of any residents of the house, if known, and descriptions of any vehicles that may be involved. It is not necessary to identify yourself, but it will be helpful if you do, so that police officers can contact you with any additional questions they may have. We do not release any information to the suspects regarding people who report drug activity or include that information in any of the investigative reports. | | Back to Top | | | What should I do if I am involved in a traffic crash? | | Remain at the scene and either use a cell phone to call the police or ask someone else to call. Try to give an accurate location as to where the crash occurred. It also helps if you can advise us if anyone was injured or whether any hazardous conditions exist, such as a fire or downed power lines. The more information we have, the better we can ensure that the appropriate emergency equipment is dispatched. | | Back to Top | | | What do I do if I witness a traffic crash? | | Please remain at the scene if possible. The investigating officer will speak to you when he or she arrives. | | Back to Top | | | What do I do if I am a victim of, or witness to, a hit and run crash? | | Remain at the scene if possible and try to get a license plate number, and vehicle and driver description of the hit and run vehicle. The license plate number is the most important piece of information. Do not attempt to chase a hit and run vehicle, especially if your vehicle is damaged. | | Back to Top | | | What should I do if I witness a crime in progress? | | Notify the police immediately. Try to be as accurate as possible by noting the vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers, description of suspects and victims. If the victims or suspects leave the scene before the police arrive, note their direction and method of travel. | | Back to Top | | | What should I do it I am the victim of a crime? | | If it is an emergency, call 911. Otherwise call the police department at (440) 490-2001. The dispatcher will collect the necessary information and assign an officer as needed. | | Back to Top | | |
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