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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Sunbury
Many projects need a Sunbury zoning certificate before applying for the county building permit. Building permits then follow Delaware County requirements.
One-story detached accessory structures under 200 square feet
Fences not over 7 feet high in Delaware County
Retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting surcharge
Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement/story below and not part of an accessible route
Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
Certain small detached decks meeting county exemption criteria
- Exempt One-story detached accessory structures under 200 square feet
- Exempt Fences not over 7 feet high in Delaware County
- Exempt Retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting surcharge
- Exempt Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement/story below and not part of an accessible route
- Exempt Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
- Exempt Certain small detached decks meeting county exemption criteria
Note: Sunbury does not publish its own building exemption list on the zoning page. Delaware County residential building exemptions are used for Sunbury building-permit administration.
Required documents
- Sunbury zoning: application-specific forms in OpenGov
- County building: PDF submittals, separately labeled by address and document type; construction documents and related materials may be grouped in one PDF
- Building code
- Building permit and inspection fees per Delaware County Department of Building Safety. County code applies the latest adopted Residential Code of Ohio for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings and latest Ohio Building Code for other structures.
- Permit validity
- Sunbury ordinance states zoning certificates for alterations, additions, and remodeling with major structural modification are valid for one year from date of issue. County fee schedules note expired permit fees are not refunded, but the public-facing pages do not summarize the standard county expiration period.
- Owner-builder
- County owner affidavit is published for owner permits.
- Contractor requirements
- Building permits are processed through Delaware County. County publishes contractor registration and owner affidavit forms, but the public-facing Sunbury page does not summarize all contractor categories. State licensing applies to regulated trades.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: Sunbury does not publish a single zoning turnaround on the zoning page. Delaware County says permit status can be checked 72 hours after all documents are submitted.
- 01 Check the Sunbury zoning page guidance to determine whether the project first needs a Sunbury zoning certificate or may go directly to Delaware County Building Safety.
- 02 If zoning approval is required, submit the local zoning certificate or related zoning application through Sunbury's OpenGov forms.
- 03 For building permit review, submit residential plans to residential@co.delaware.oh.us or commercial plans to commercial@co.delaware.oh.us in PDF form following county naming rules, or use county-directed submittal methods for large files.
- 04 After all county documents are submitted, check status in the county public portal after about 72 hours.
- 05 Once county review is approved, pay fees and obtain the issued permit.
- 06 Schedule building inspections through Delaware County's public portal.
Typical processing time: Sunbury does not publish a single zoning turnaround on the zoning page. Delaware County says permit status can be checked 72 hours after all documents are submitted.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Sunbury building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
Sunbury zoning certificate for new residential: $400; for major structural alteration/addition/remodel: $200. County residential 1, 2, 3 family starts at $60 plus $8.50 per 100 sf.
02
Plan check fee
County residential plan examination starts at $35 plus $1 per 100 square feet; county commercial plan examination starts at $50 plus $4 per 100 square feet
03
Permit fee formula
Mixed local zoning flat fees plus county schedule-based building, trade, inspection, and plan examination fees
04
Reinspection fee
$75 residential and $75 commercial
05
Penalty (no permit)
County code states fees are doubled for work started without required permits
Sunbury says permit payments can be made online and notes a processing fee collected by Invoice Cloud. County credit card permit payment page is separate from the public portal.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- Delaware County public portal (online)
- Time windows
- County guidance notes that inspections showing 8 a.m. or no time may occur at any point during the day
Typical sequence: County residential sequence includes footing, foundation, slab/under-floor, plumbing, electrical rough, HVAC rough, structural, insulation, finals, gas pressure test, and building final. Commercial sequence is county project-specific.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Sunbury permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Sunbury, OH? ▸
Many projects need a Sunbury zoning certificate before applying for the county building permit. Building permits then follow Delaware County requirements.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Sunbury, OH? ▸
Building permit fees in Sunbury, OH are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Sunbury zoning certificate for new residential: $400; for major structural alteration/addition/remodel: $200. County residential 1, 2, 3 family starts at $60 plus $8.50 per 100 sf.. Fees are calculated as: Mixed local zoning flat fees plus county schedule-based building, trade, inspection, and plan examination fees. Plan check fee: County residential plan examination starts at $35 plus $1 per 100 square feet; county commercial plan examination starts at $50 plus $4 per 100 square feet.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Sunbury, OH? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Sunbury, OH, follow these steps: 1. Check the Sunbury zoning page guidance to determine whether the project first needs a Sunbury zoning certificate or may go directly to Delaware County Building Safety. 2. If zoning approval is required, submit the local zoning certificate or related zoning application through Sunbury's OpenGov forms. 3. For building permit review, submit residential plans to residential@co.delaware.oh.us or commercial plans to commercial@co.delaware.oh.us in PDF form following county naming rules, or use county-directed submittal methods for large files. 4. After all county documents are submitted, check status in the county public portal after about 72 hours. 5. Once county review is approved, pay fees and obtain the issued permit. 6. Schedule building inspections through Delaware County's public portal.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Sunbury, OH? ▸
Building permit processing times in Sunbury, OH typically run Sunbury does not publish a single zoning turnaround on the zoning page. Delaware County says permit status can be checked 72 hours after all documents are submitted.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Sunbury, OH? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Sunbury, OH. The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached accessory structures under 200 square feet; Fences not over 7 feet high in Delaware County; Retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting surcharge; Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement/story below and not part of an accessible route; Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work; Certain small detached decks meeting county exemption criteria. Note: Sunbury does not publish its own building exemption list on the zoning page. Delaware County residential building exemptions are used for Sunbury building-permit administration. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Sunbury, OH? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Sunbury, OH via: Delaware County public portal.
last verified April 2026
source City of Sunbury Planning and Zoning (for zoning); Delaware County Department of Building Safety (for building permits and inspections) ↗
entry id permits/ohio/delaware/sunbury
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Sunbury Planning and Zoning (for zoning); Delaware County Department of Building Safety (for building permits and inspections) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.