Building Regulation

The Union County Building Department was established in 1973 at the request of local home builders who wanted uniform standards for residential construction throughout the county. In 1997, we became a certified commercial department broadening our authority to regulate all commercial, industrial and institutional occupancies. All commercial buildings in Ohio shall comply with the Ohio Building Code. In 2006, the State of Ohio adopted the first statewide residential code. If any jurisdiction wishes to regulate residential construction, they must become a certified department and follow the rules in the Residential Code of Ohio.

The Union County Building Department has agreements with all municipalities to provide commercial and residential building code enforcement  except  Unionville Center, Plain City and Dublin. The Dublin Building Department is the regulatory authority within the incorporated area of Dublin. Marysville, Richwood, Milford Center and Magnetic Springs have all contracted with Union County for building code services.

In Unionville Center and Plain City, the Union County Health Department is the permitting authority for all plumbing work. The State of Ohio Department of Industrial Compliance is the permitting authority for any commercial work in Unionville Center. West Jefferson Building Department is the permitting authority for work inside Plain City.

On January 21, 2018, as a result of House Bill 49, the Ohio Manufactured Homes Commission (OMHC) was abolished, and the Manufactured Homes Program officially became part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. In overseeing the Manufactured Homes Program, the Ohio Department of Commerce has jurisdiction over the installation of manufactured homes; the licensing and regulation of manufactured home park operators, installers, dealers, brokers, and salespersons; and the certification and regulation of inspectors and inspection agencies.

Please visit the Manufactured Homes Program (MHP) website for information regarding permitting, installation, and inspections. Please verify separately any plumbing or zoning requirements.

Online Services

Apply for your building permit here. You can then use this service to track the progress of your application, make payments, schedule inspections and more. More information about online services.

Inspections

There are currently two ways to schedule an inspection:

1. Directly through OpenGov. This allows for a 7 AM cutoff time for same business day inspections.
2. Call our inspection line at 937-645-3019. You will need to know the permit number, address and type of inspection needed. Please note, this method can take two business days for inspection scheduling. If the timing of your inspection is critical, please use the inspection option with Opengov.

Please review our policy for Time Requests prior to requesting specific appointment times. Requests for after-hours inspections must be made 48 hours in advance.

Holiday Schedule

Permit Fees

Residential Fee Schedule
Commercial Fee Schedule

Permit Forms

Re-submittal/Revisions - For Plan Review Corrections
Propane Purveyor Installation Agreement
Demolition Permit Application - Affidavit
Special Inspection Form - Commercial
Commercial HVAC Replacement Permit Checklist

Building in Union County

Ready, Set, Build!
Current Ohio Code References 
Ohio Building Codes 
Marysville Permit Flow Chart
Village:City matrix of permitting authority 
Fire Districts Map
Inspection Zones - Building & Mechanical
Inspection Zones - Electrical
Building Department Contact Information
Building Department Process Flow Chart
Building Department FAQ

Checklists, Code Information and Sample Drawings

Residential Building Permit Requirements
Residential Submittal Checklist 
Residential Plan Review Checklist 
Sample Site Plan 
Residential Finished Basement Requirements
Residential Pole Building Structure Permit Requirements
Residential Deck and Covered Porch Requirements
Swimming Pool Permit Requirements
Photovoltaic FAQ Sheet
Radon Control Methods
Residential Inspection Requirements
Commercial Submittal Checklist 
Does my commercial roof require a permit?
Certificate of Occupancy Instructions

Building Department Policies

Cold Weather Concrete Policy
Time Requests for Inspections
Electrical Permit Requirements for Septic Systems - Clarification
Electrical Work Exempt from Approval - Clarification
Demolition Permits
Fabricated Residential Storage Sheds
Existing Fire Alarm Systems - Repairs and Replacement
Existing Fire Suppression System - Repairs and Replacement
Marysville Final Inspection Process
Notice of Changes to Union County Plumbing Program

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I start work? 
Can demolition or construction work begin without a permit? 
What is a permit? 
How long is the permit valid and when is it closed?
How do I get a permit? 
How long does it take to get a permit? 
When will I know if my plans are ready? 
How and when do I pay for a permit? 
Can I obtain a phased plan approval? 
How to schedule an inspection 
What time will the inspector be at my job? 
Do approved plans always need to be on site? 
Does the address need to be posted? 
Do I need a permit for a deck, fence, shed or patio? 
Do I need a permit for an agricultural building? 

When can I start work?

Construction work may begin after the permit is issued. If construction begins prior to a permit being issued, additional permit fees may be assessed along with Adjudication Orders necessitating removal of completed work.

Can demolition or construction work begin without a permit?

No, only work not requiring a permit or emergency repairs may proceed.

Demolition permits are needed when residential and commercial structures will be removed in its entirety. If the structure will not be completely removed the work is considered an alteration and will require a permit & plan submittal.

Please review our policy for Demolition Permits for the requirements to obtain a demolition permit.

What is a permit?

A permit is a license that allows work to be performed on your house or building. A permit may be issued to the owner or the owner's agent, such as the architect, contractor, subcontractor or other person responsible for the work being completed. The Union County Building Department will review construction documents ensuring the proposed work conforms to the adopted building codes. Union County will issue a plan approval when these requirements have been confirmed.

To obtain a building permit for your project, you will need to complete the following steps:

• Complete the applicable online permit application
• Obtain plan approval
• Obtain zoning approval from applicable township / municipality as required
• Obtain approval from the Union County Health Department as required
• Pay all applicable plan review & permit fees

How long is the permit valid and when is it closed?

In accordance with Section 105 of the Ohio Building Code/Residential Code of Ohio, a permit/plan approval is invalid if construction, erection, alteration or other work upon the building has not commenced within 12 months of the approval of the permit/plan approval OR if during the course of construction, work is delayed or suspended for a period of more than 6 months. Any request for an extension must be submitted at least 10 days in advance of the expiration of the permit/plan approval.

How do I get a permit?

Complete the appropriate application form through the Online Services portal and submit to the Union County Building Department along with any required construction drawings and specifications. There are currently two methods to submit your plans.

1. Digital submittal - Upload the complete set of drawings to the attachments of your application. Please review the Digital Plan Review Application Checklist located on our website.
2. Traditional submittal - provide complete and stapled sets of drawings to the permit team. Please be aware, the digital plan review process will be come mandatory on January 1st, 2025.

Simple permits for items such as furnace replacements do not require any drawings. Applications and drawings are reviewed for completeness and conformance with the codes.

Applicants will be notified when the review is complete.

How long does it take to get a permit?

Permits which require construction drawings to be submitted are required by state law to be reviewed within 30 days. Permits that do not require drawings are issued typically within one week.

When will I know if my plans are ready?

You will be notified through our online permitting system when your plan review has been completed.

How and when do I pay for a permit?

Residential:  Application and plan review fees are due upon submittal to our office. The balance of the permit fees (as outlined in the fee schedule) are due when the permit is issued.

Commercial:  Plan review fees are due when permit applications and plans are submitted to our office. Deferred drawings such as sprinkler and fire alarm plan review fees are collected when drawings are submitted. The balance of the permit fees as outlined in the fee schedule are due when the permit is issued. Building permits are based on square footage (as are electrical and HVAC) so the costs fluctuate depending upon the size of the project. Please review our fee schedule for further information.

You may pay by cash, check, e-check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, or Discover). An additional bank processing fee is assessed if a credit card or e-check is used.

Can I obtain a phased plan approval?

Yes, we do issue Phased Approvals for both residential and commercial construction provided that adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with applicable requirements of this code. The holder of such approval for the foundation or other parts of a building or structure may proceed at the holder's own risk with the building operation and without assurance that an approval for the entire structure will be granted. Such approvals may be issued for various stages in the sequence of construction provided that all information and data required by the code for that portion of the building or structure has been submitted. The holder of a phased plan approval may proceed only to the point for which approval has been given. Additional plan sets will need to be resubmitted for subsequent phases of construction.

How to schedule an inspection

There are currently two ways to schedule an inspection:

1. Directly through OpenGov. This allows for a 7 AM cutoff time for same business day inspections.
2. Call our inspection line at 937-645-3019. You will need to know the permit number, address and type of inspection needed. Please note, this method can take two business days for inspection scheduling. If the timing of your inspection is critical, please use the inspection option with OpenGov.

What time will the inspector be at my job?

Please review our policy for Time Requests to see if your project qualifies for specific appointment times.

If your project does not qualify but you still desire an approximate timeframe, please contact the inspector between 7:30AM – 8:00AM at 937-645-3018. Please note that we may not be able to provide an approximate time due to current workloads or scheduling demands.

Do approved plans always need to be on site?

Yes, the field inspectors need the approved plans to complete their inspection. Failure to have the approved plans on site may also result in additional inspection fees.

Does the address need to be posted?

Yes, the building address needs to be posted throughout the building process. Not only to facilitate the inspection process but to assist first responders during emergency situations.

Do I need a permit for a deck, fence, shed or patio?

Deck:  Yes, unless exempt from approval as outlined in RCO 102.1: less than 30” above grade, not connected to house structure, less than 200 sq. ft. and not located at the required egress door.

Fence:  Only where needed for a swimming pool barrier or if over 6 ft. in height. A Zoning Permit may be required for other types of fence permits.

Shed:  Residential sheds are exempt if 200 sq. ft. or less and commercial sheds are exempt if 120 sq. ft. or less. A Zoning Permit may be required.

Patio:  No, however a Zoning Permit may be required.

Do I need a permit for an agricultural building?

If the township zoning inspector determines that the building’s use is agricultural rather than a residential accessory building or commercial storage building, then the building is exempt from building code regulations per ORC 3781.061. Changing an agricultural building to a residential or commercial use will require a change of occupancy permit and all code requirements for the new use shall be met.