County Building Permits
Clark County, OH - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Clark County, Ohio. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Clark County and, based on county materials, building permits for several villages that do not run their own building department.
- Department
- Clark County Community Development, Building Division
- Address
- 3130 East Main St., Springfield, OH 45503, Suite 1A
- Phone
- 937-521-2160
Online Permit Portal
Platform: BSA Online • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm zoning and whether the project requires a permit.
- Prepare application and construction documents.
- Submit through the online permit portal or by following county instructions for paper submittals.
- County reviews the submittal and uploads approved documents to the portal.
- Pay fees and any required state fee.
- Permit is issued after all required submittals and fees are received.
Source: Clark County Community Development, Building Division
General Requirements
The county's public permit guide says permits are required for many structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roofing, deck, addition, pool, accessory structure, and demolition projects.
Required Documents
- 2 sets of building plans
- A building notice from the auditor
- Plumbing approval or site approval when applicable
- Building code
- 2019 Residential Code of Ohio, based on the 2018 IRC, for residential; 2024 Ohio Building Code, based on the 2021 IBC, for commercial
- Owner-builder
- The county publishes an owner affidavit form, but the public page reviewed does not spell out the rule in summary text. Thin data.
- Contractor requirements
- Clark County publishes a contractor registration form and fee schedule. The portal page says contractors need an access code. Contractors must also comply with Ohio trade licensing rules for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- The residential schedule shows a Residential Application Fee of $42.00 and a Residential Plan Review Fee of $21.00.
- Plan check fee
- Residential Plan Review Fee is $21.00; residential plan approval minimums are $285.00 habitable and $142.00 non-habitable plus 1 percent state fee.
- Permit fee formula
- County fee schedules are formula-based and include inspection fees, application fees, plan review fees, and state fee.
- Reinspection fee
- Additional Inspection/Reinspection Fee is $50.00 on the residential schedule.
- Payment note
- Online application fee is $2.00 per application; credit card fee is 2.50 percent per transaction.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Fence work is listed as no permit required, but zoning still applies.
- Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, lawn irrigation systems, and playground equipment are listed as no permit required.
- Minor repairs with no impact on access, safety, or health are listed as no permit required.
- Siding repair or replacement is listed as no permit required.
- Repairs to loose or damaged roof shingles under 50 square feet are listed as no permit required.
Important: The public county materials list several no-permit items, but zoning and other approvals may still apply.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Call 937-521-2160 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Call by 3:30 PM for next working day inspections.
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Typical inspections include lot line, footer, foundation, framing, slab, rough electrical, rough mechanical, rough fuel gas, rough plumbing, insulation, weather protection, finals, and other special inspections as needed.
Reinspection fees may apply if work is not ready or does not comply with code.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2019 Residential Code of Ohio, based on the 2018 IRC, for residential; 2024 Ohio Building Code, based on the 2021 IBC, for commercial
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- County permit guide
- Current codes
- License lookup guide: Ohio Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Ohio Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Ohio hub: Ohio Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Clark County Community Development, Building Division before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clark County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Clark County, OH?
- The county's public permit guide says permits are required for many structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roofing, deck, addition, pool, accessory structure, and demolition projects.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Clark County, OH?
- The minimum permit fee is The residential schedule shows a Residential Application Fee of $42.00 and a Residential Plan Review Fee of $21.00.. Fees are calculated as: County fee schedules are formula-based and include inspection fees, application fees, plan review fees, and state fee.. Plan check fee: Residential Plan Review Fee is $21.00; residential plan approval minimums are $285.00 habitable and $142.00 non-habitable plus 1 percent state fee..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Clark County, OH?
- 1. Confirm zoning and whether the project requires a permit. 2. Prepare application and construction documents. 3. Submit through the online permit portal or by following county instructions for paper submittals. 4. County reviews the submittal and uploads approved documents to the portal. 5. Pay fees and any required state fee. 6. Permit is issued after all required submittals and fees are received.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Clark County, OH?
- The following work is generally exempt: Fence work is listed as no permit required, but zoning still applies.; Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, lawn irrigation systems, and playground equipment are listed as no permit required.; Minor repairs with no impact on access, safety, or health are listed as no permit required.; Siding repair or replacement is listed as no permit required.; Repairs to loose or damaged roof shingles under 50 square feet are listed as no permit required.. Note: The public county materials list several no-permit items, but zoning and other approvals may still apply.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Clark County, OH?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Call 937-521-2160. Call by 3:30 PM for next working day inspections..
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