Building permits in Franklin County, Ohio
Find the right authority before you build. Franklin County permitting follows Ohio law — here is exactly who issues the permit and where to start.
County + cities (mixed)
Franklin County Economic Development & Planning — Building Department (townships/unincorporated); City of Columbus issues its own permits
The Franklin County Building Department issues residential (1–3 family) building permits for the county’s townships and unincorporated areas. The City of Columbus and other incorporated municipalities (e.g., Groveport, Obetz) issue their own permits; electrical permits are handled through the City of Columbus and plumbing through Franklin County Public Health.
Permit cheat-sheet (Ohio rules)
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Typical fee | Timeline | Go / No-Go | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Permit required | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125; total scales with project valuation and trade permits. Municipal fees vary. | Residential permits ~10 business days (Columbus BZS). | Case by case | Ohio’s Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC) governs construction; ADUs need a building permit plus local zoning approval. Confirm ADU legality with your city (e.g., Columbus BZS). |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | Permit required | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125; total scales with valuation. | Residential permits ~10 business days (Columbus BZS). | Generally allowed | Decks require a permit (Columbus lists deck/ramp permits). Attached decks and any deck more than 30 in above grade always require one. |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | Conditional | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125 where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | Columbus exempts fences 6 ft or lower; other Ohio municipalities vary. A permit is typically required above 6 ft or in overlay/historic districts. |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | Conditional | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125 for permitted sheds. | — | Generally allowed | Larger sheds and any shed with utilities require a building permit. Cleveland and other cities follow the Ohio Residential Code with local fee schedules. Exempt: Under 120 sq ft exempt (Ohio RCO / Columbus). |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | Permit required | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125; total scales with scope. | Residential permits ~10 business days (Columbus BZS). | Generally allowed | Finishing a basement into habitable space requires permits for egress, framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Sleeping rooms need code-compliant egress. |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | Permit required | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125; total scales with valuation. | — | Generally allowed | A new garage requires a permit (Columbus lists detached garages/sheds permits). |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | Permit required | city | Electrical/structural permit fee; Columbus minimum permit fee $125. | — | Generally allowed | Rooftop solar PV requires an electrical and structural permit. Columbus lists rooftop solar panel permits. |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | Permit required | city | Mechanical permit fee; Columbus minimum permit fee $125. | — | Generally allowed | Furnace, AC, or heat-pump replacement requires a mechanical permit and inspection. |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; Columbus minimum $125, trade permits billed separately. | — | Generally allowed | A permit is required when relocating plumbing/electrical, moving walls, or changing fixtures. Cosmetic-only work may be exempt. |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; Columbus minimum $125, trade permits billed separately. | — | Generally allowed | A permit is required when relocating plumbing/electrical, moving walls, or changing fixtures. Cosmetic-only updates may be exempt. |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | Permit required | city | Building permit fee based on valuation; Columbus minimum $125 plus plan review. | Plan-review permits ~10+ business days (Columbus BZS). | Generally allowed | Room additions change the footprint and require a full building permit, zoning approval, and usually a site plan. |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | Conditional | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125 where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | Permit required | city | Roof-covering permit fee; Columbus minimum $125. | — | Generally allowed | Roof covering replacement is typically permitted; minor leak repairs may be exempt. |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | Conditional | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125 where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | A permit may be required where the driveway connects to the street/right-of-way or involves significant grading. Verify locally. |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; Columbus minimum $125; barrier fencing required. | — | Generally allowed | Pools require a permit and barrier fencing. Columbus lists swimming pool permits (above-ground and in-ground). |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | Conditional | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125 where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | Height and whether the wall supports a surcharge (driveway, structure, or slope above) determine the permit threshold. Verify with your municipality. |
Sources: Franklin County (OH) Economic Development & Planning — Building Permits · ICC — Ohio Codes (2019 Residential Code of Ohio, 2018 IRC) · Ohio Board of Building Standards — Building Codes · City of Columbus — Building & Zoning Services FAQ (permit exemptions) · City of Columbus — Residential Code (Ohio RCO)