On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Brown County
Permit required for covered one, two, and three-family work listed above
Required documents
- two sets of plans
- board of health approval
- planning commission approval
- fee
- site plan and construction documents
- subdivision approval
- erosion control approval
- driveway curb cut approval
- local zoning permit
- flood permit where applicable
- septic approval
- Building code
- Residential Code of Ohio for one, two, and three-family dwellings
- Permit validity
- approval expires if no work has started within 12 months
- Owner-builder
- application certifies work is authorized by owner of record or authorized agent; no separate owner-builder policy published
- Contractor requirements
- no countywide general contractor license requirement is published; OCILB state licensing applies to electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades
§ 03
Application process
Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final
- 01 Start with the residential building application and checklist
- 02 Submit two sets of plans, fee, and required approvals
- 03 County review and plan approval
- 04 Permit issued upon plan approval
- 05 Inspections requested 24 hours in advance
§ 04
Fee schedule
Brown County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
100
02
Plan check fee
included in the $100 plan review/processing fee; second review after first recheck is $75
03
Permit fee formula
residential new construction and garages/accessory buildings are priced by square footage tiers
04
Reinspection fee
50 for reinspection/additional inspection when disapproved, inaccessible, or specially requested
05
Penalty (no permit)
20 for an additional certificate of occupancy after file closure
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
- Scheduling deadline
- requested 24 hours in advance
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Typical sequence: foundation, concrete slab or under-floor, framing/mechanical, fireplace if applicable, final
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Brown County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, OH? ▸
Permit required for covered one, two, and three-family work listed above
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Brown County, OH? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Brown County, OH are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is 100. Fees are calculated as: residential new construction and garages/accessory buildings are priced by square footage tiers. Plan check fee: included in the $100 plan review/processing fee; second review after first recheck is $75.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, OH? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, OH, follow these steps: 1. Start with the residential building application and checklist 2. Submit two sets of plans, fee, and required approvals 3. County review and plan approval 4. Permit issued upon plan approval 5. Inspections requested 24 hours in advance
last verified April 2026
source Brown County Building Department ↗
entry id permits/ohio/brown/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Brown County Building Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.