On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Delaware County
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.
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
- 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 story below and not part of an accessible route
- Exempt Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
- Exempt Swings and playground equipment accessory to one-, two-, or three-family dwellings
- Exempt Window awnings within the county exemption limits
- Exempt Certain detached decks meeting county exemption criteria
- Exempt Listed low-risk electrical repair items shown in the county exempt-from-approval handout
Required documents
- County requires PDF documents, separately titled by address and document type, with construction documents and related materials submitted electronically.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: 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.
- 01 Determine whether the parcel is in a township with its own zoning authority or under county zoning (Marlboro, Radnor, Thompson).
- 02 Obtain required zoning approval from the correct township or county zoning office.
- 03 Submit county building plans electronically in PDF format to the proper county submittal email.
- 04 Check status in the county public portal after about 72 hours from full submission.
- 05 After approval, pay fees and receive the county permit.
- 06 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.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Delaware County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
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
02
Plan check fee
Residential plan exam: $35 plus $1 per 100 square feet; Commercial plan exam: $50 plus $4 per 100 square feet
03
Permit fee formula
Area-based and permit-type schedules, plus separate plan examination fees and state surcharges
04
Reinspection fee
$75
05
Penalty (no permit)
County code states fees are doubled for work started without permits
County credit card permit payment is handled separately from the tracking portal; portal payments may not show immediately until staff approval.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
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 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.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Delaware County permits
01 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.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Delaware County, OH? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Delaware County, OH are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. 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.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Delaware County, OH? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Delaware County, OH, follow these steps: 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.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Delaware County, OH? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Delaware County, OH typically run 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.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Delaware County, OH? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit 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. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Delaware County, OH? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Delaware County, OH 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.
last verified April 2026
source Delaware County Building Safety (building permits); Township or Delaware County zoning authority (varies by location) ↗
entry id permits/ohio/delaware/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Delaware County Building Safety (building permits); Township or Delaware County zoning authority (varies by location) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.