How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Delaware County, OH?

The minimum permit fee is Residential 1, 2, and 3 family residence: $60 plus $8.50 per 100 sf; Commercial new building: $150 plus $7 per 100 sf; County zoning single-family zoning certificate in Marlboro, Radnor, and Thompson: $150. Fees are calculated as: Area-based and permit-type schedules, plus separate plan examination fees and state surcharges. Plan check fee: Residential plan exam: $35 plus $1 per 100 square feet; Commercial plan exam: $50 plus $4 per 100 square feet.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Delaware County, 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 story below and not part of an accessible route; Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work; Swings and playground equipment accessory to one-, two-, or three-family dwellings; Window awnings within the county exemption limits; Certain detached decks meeting county exemption criteria; Listed low-risk electrical repair items shown in the county exempt-from-approval handout.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Delaware County, OH?

Inspections can be scheduled via: County public portal. Request before 3:00 p.m. the prior business day for commercial; before 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day residential inspection.

County Building Permits

Delaware County, OH - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Delaware County, Ohio. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Ohio Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Building permits for unincorporated county areas are handled by Delaware County Building Safety. Zoning is not one unified countywide system: 15 of 18 townships have their own zoning resolutions, while Marlboro, Radnor, and Thompson are under county zoning administration.

Department: Delaware County Building Safety (building permits); Township or Delaware County zoning authority (varies by location)
Address: Delaware County Building Safety: 1610 State Route 521, PO Box 8006, Delaware, OH 43015; Delaware County Regional Planning Commission / County Zoning: 1610 State Route 521, PO Box 8006, Delaware, OH 43015
Phone: Building Safety: 740-833-2200; DCRPC Zoning Contact: 740-833-2260
Email: Building Safety: building@co.delaware.oh.us , Residential submittals: residential@co.delaware.oh.us , Commercial submittals: commercial@co.delaware.oh.us
Website: https://buildingsafety.co.delaware.oh.us/

Online Permit Portal

Open Delaware County Building Safety Public Portal

Platform: Delaware County Building Safety • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Additional resources:

Application Process

Determine whether the parcel is in a township with its own zoning authority or under county zoning (Marlboro, Radnor, Thompson).
Obtain required zoning approval from the correct township or county zoning office.
Submit county building plans electronically in PDF format to the proper county submittal email.
Check status in the county public portal after about 72 hours from full submission.
After approval, pay fees and receive the county permit.
Schedule inspections through the county public portal.

Typical processing time: County portal status can be checked 72 hours after all documents are submitted. Building department must perform required inspections within four days (excluding weekends and holidays) after request for commercial work.

Source: Delaware County Building Safety (building permits); Township or Delaware County zoning authority (varies by location)

General Requirements

County code requires permits for owners or authorized agents intending to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy, and for regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, and related building service work.

Required Documents

County requires PDF documents, separately titled by address and document type, with construction documents and related materials submitted electronically.

Permit validity: County fee schedules note that fees will not be refunded on permits that have expired; a general county expiration interval was not clearly summarized on the public-facing pages.
Building code: Latest adopted Residential Code of Ohio for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings and latest Ohio Building Code for other structures; county code also references 2021 ISPSC for private residential pools and Ohio-adopted NEC Article 680.
Owner-builder: County home owner's exemption states a bona fide owner and occupant may personally perform work on the residence to be occupied as the owner's established residence, but the owner must still obtain the required permit.
Contractor requirements: County publishes contractor registration and owner affidavit forms. Public-facing county pages do not clearly summarize every registration category on the reviewed pages, so contractor-side verification with Building Safety is prudent. State licensing applies to regulated trades.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: Residential 1, 2, and 3 family residence: $60 plus $8.50 per 100 sf; Commercial new building: $150 plus $7 per 100 sf; County zoning single-family zoning certificate in Marlboro, Radnor, and Thompson: $150
Plan check fee: Residential plan exam: $35 plus $1 per 100 square feet; Commercial plan exam: $50 plus $4 per 100 square feet
Permit fee formula: Area-based and permit-type schedules, plus separate plan examination fees and state surcharges
Reinspection fee: $75
Penalty (no permit): County code states fees are doubled for work started without permits
Payment note: County credit card permit payment is handled separately from the tracking portal; portal payments may not show immediately until staff approval.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

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 story below and not part of an accessible route
Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
Swings and playground equipment accessory to one-, two-, or three-family dwellings
Window awnings within the county exemption limits
Certain detached decks meeting county exemption criteria
Listed low-risk electrical repair items shown in the county exempt-from-approval handout

Inspections

How to Schedule

County public portal (online)

Scheduling deadline: Request before 3:00 p.m. the prior business day for commercial; before 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day residential inspection
Time windows: Current county guidance says inspect through the portal and check the portal or daily schedule the morning of inspection

Typical inspection sequence: Residential: footing, foundation, slab/under-floor, plumbing, electrical rough, HVAC rough, structural, insulation, finals, gas pressure test, building final. Commercial: footer, formed foundation walls and piers, slab, and other project-specific stages.

Additional Resources

Building code: Latest adopted Residential Code of Ohio for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings and latest Ohio Building Code for other structures; county code also references 2021 ISPSC for private residential pools and Ohio-adopted NEC Article 680.
Verify contractor license: Ohio eLicense Contractor Lookup
Zoning information: View zoning info
Inspections
County Building Code
DCRPC FAQ
Zoning Officers Directory
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 Delaware County Building Safety (building permits); Township or Delaware County zoning authority (varies by location) before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Delaware County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Delaware County, OH?: County code requires permits for owners or authorized agents intending to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy, and for regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, and related building service work.
How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Delaware County, OH?: The minimum permit fee is Residential 1, 2, and 3 family residence: $60 plus $8.50 per 100 sf; Commercial new building: $150 plus $7 per 100 sf; County zoning single-family zoning certificate in Marlboro, Radnor, and Thompson: $150. Fees are calculated as: Area-based and permit-type schedules, plus separate plan examination fees and state surcharges. Plan check fee: Residential plan exam: $35 plus $1 per 100 square feet; Commercial plan exam: $50 plus $4 per 100 square feet.
How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Delaware County, OH?: 1. Determine whether the parcel is in a township with its own zoning authority or under county zoning (Marlboro, Radnor, Thompson). 2. Obtain required zoning approval from the correct township or county zoning office. 3. Submit county building plans electronically in PDF format to the proper county submittal email. 4. Check status in the county public portal after about 72 hours from full submission. 5. After approval, pay fees and receive the county permit. 6. Schedule inspections through the county public portal.
How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Delaware County, OH?: Typical processing time is County portal status can be checked 72 hours after all documents are submitted. Building department must perform required inspections within four days (excluding weekends and holidays) after request for commercial work..
What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Delaware County, 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 story below and not part of an accessible route; Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work; Swings and playground equipment accessory to one-, two-, or three-family dwellings; Window awnings within the county exemption limits; Certain detached decks meeting county exemption criteria; Listed low-risk electrical repair items shown in the county exempt-from-approval handout.
How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Delaware County, OH?: Inspections can be scheduled via: County public portal. Request before 3:00 p.m. the prior business day for commercial; before 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day residential inspection.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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