Frequently Asked Questions

Additions
Carports
Change of Use
Commercial Construction (ie. apartments, condos, churches, businesses, restaurants)
Cooling Systems
Construction Trailers
Decks (Including decks less than 2 feet above the ground)
Demolitions
Detached Structures (such as detached garages)
Driveways
Electrical Installations
Fire Alarm
Fireplaces
Fire Protection/Suppression Systems
Food Sales & Service (from General Health District)
Garages (attached and detached)
Heating Systems
Kiosks
Modular Homes(State of Ohio Industrialized Units)
Moving Buildings
Plumbing (from General Health District)
Pool (Inground and Above Ground)
Power Poles (temporary for construction and permanent for electric lines)
Range Hoods
Remodeling (involving structural, electrical or heating and cooling changes)
Right-of-Way
Roofing
Septic Installation (from General Health District)
Sewer Tap In
Signs
Single Family Dwellings
Site Development (Water Management & Sediment Control)
Sprinkler Systems
Storage Buildings
Structural Repairs
Swimming Pools (above and inground)
Tents (greater than 400sf)
Towers (ie. communication, water, etc.)
Water Lines (from General Health District)
Water Tap
Woodburning Stoves

Why do I need a permit?

To meet code requirements, and for the protection and safety of the occupants.

Do I need a permit for a fence? Do I need a fence around a swimming pool?

Check with the local zoning office for the designated area (township or village). A building permit is required for fences over 6’ tall.

Construction Drawings

How many and what do I need?

Residential Construction: (2) sets of drawings are required. The drawings should consist of a cross-section and floor plans.

For commercial construction, you need (4) sets of sealed drawings consisting of a cross-section, ADA requirements, floor plan, elevations, energy calculations, electrical and HVAC, plumbing, fire suppression/alarm.

Do I need drawings for fire alarms, range hoods, sprinkler systems?

Yes, (4) sets of drawings are required.

Site Plan/Plot Plan

What is it and how many do I need?

The same amount of drawings are needed for a site plan as indicated for residential or commercial drawings. Your site plan/plot plan should show the following:

The outline of the property showing all dimensions.
The proposed building or addition with distances to all property lines and other existing buildings on the property.
Show all walks and driveways.
The use of all structures, proposed and existing.
The number of family units or housekeeping units.
All easements of records or proposed easements.
All storm water management systems.
The limits of clearing, grading, excavation, or fill.
Show elevations above sea level for basement or lowest floor.
Show the approved drainage system from the downspout inlets to its outlet in a swale, street curb, or ditch, etc. Storm water disposal and final grading shall comply with an approved subdivision plan. If any, and shall also comply with the WMSC Regulations as enforced by the CCBID.
Elevations of the existing and proposed grades at each corner of the proposed building and at each corner of the building site.
If property has sanitary sewer, show sanitary sewer line and sewer invert elevation at point of connection of building sewer. Sewer and water permit to be granted by the Clermont County Sewer District before a Building Permit can be issued or before construction is begun.
If property is to have onsite sewage disposal, such information as may be required by the Clermont County General Health District must be included on the plot plan, and a permit from the General Health District must be issued before a building permit is granted or construction begins.
The driveway curb cut permit must be issued before a building permit is granted.

Do all site plans need to be sealed?

The following will require a plot plan as described above, but will not require certification by a registered Professional Engineer or Surveyor.

Additions or improvements: The cost of which does not equal or exceed fifty (50) percent of the market value of the original structure. Cost shall be confirmed by the Chief Building Official. See R-115.
Accessory Building: Any structure on the same lot with the main structure and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to the principle structure.

Plan Approval

How long does it take for plan approval?

Residential: (5) Business Days – A Plan Review List is used and if corrections need to be made to your plans, your plans will need to be revised and re-submitted for plan review.

Commercial: (10) Business Days – Plan Review is made and if corrections need to be made to your plans, a correction letter is sent to the owner/contractor indicating the corrections that need to be made. Your plans will need to be revised and re-submitted for plan review.

Certificate of Occupancy

How soon can I move into my new residence?

After you have passed all of your final inspections, the owner will be issued a “Certificate of Occupancy”.

NO OCCUPANCY IS APPROVED UNTIL THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY OR A CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IS ISSUED.

CONTACT THE OFFICE TO REQUEST A CONDTIONAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

Zoning

What do I need from zoning?

Zoning Approval – You will need Zoning Approval from the respective jurisdiction you’re building the structure in (village or township). A copy of your Zoning Certificate/Approval is to be filed with our department.

Do I need a permit for a structure that is zoned as agricultural?

No, as long as the structure is not to be used primarily as a retail or commercial structure, and the Building Inspection Department receives a copy of a letter of approval from zoning designating that the structure being built is being used in conjunction with the agricultural use of the land.

Inspections

When do I need to call for an inspection?

When the stage of construction you’re working on is complete. Inspections must be called for by 4:00 p.m. the business day before the inspection is to be scheduled.

What type of inspections are required?

It depends on the type of construction you are performing. You could have the following: footer, slab, crawl, rough building, insulation, electric or mechanical, trench, fireplace, temporary pole, electrical service release, electric for a sump pump, final building, insulation, electric or mechanical, fire suppression testing, driveway, sidewalk, sewer lateral, WMSC (Water Management & Sediment Control).

Frost Line

What is the Frost Line for this area?

The frost line is 30 inches below grade.

Underground Wiring

How deep should a trench be for underground wiring?

The depth of a trench should be 24 inches to the top of the cable, and 26 inches to the bottom of the cable. Red, electrical caution tape is to be placed 12 inches above the wire.

How deep should the cable be under asphalt/concrete (driveways, sidewalks)?

The depth of the cable under asphalt/concrete should be 24 inches. The cable shall be protected in pipe (PVC or rigid).

Chemical Problems

Who checks on chemical problems?

Your local fire department, the Clermont County General Health District, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

To Contact an Inspector

When are the inspectors available for questions about my plans, my inspection(s)?

Our inspectors are typically in the office, and available to speak to the public, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. each morning. After completing their routes, Inspectors are available in the afternoon generally around 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.