County Building Permits
Montgomery County, OH - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, Ohio. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Montgomery County serves unincorporated areas, including townships, and also issues permits for several partner jurisdictions. It enforces building codes, flood damage prevention regulations, and airport zoning around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
- Department
- Montgomery County Building Regulations
- Address
- 451 W. Third St., 10th Floor, Dayton, OH 45422-1070
- Phone
- 937-225-4622
- build@mcohio.org
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Accela Citizen Access • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Identify whether the property is in unincorporated county jurisdiction and check any local township zoning requirements.
- Create an Accela account using the county's online guide.
- Submit the permit application, PDFs, and supporting documents through Accela.
- Respond to comment letters, upload revisions, and pay fees through the online payment portal.
- After permit issuance, schedule required inspections and obtain final approval.
General Requirements
The county enforces building codes for new construction, additions, alterations, changes in use, and flood-damage-prevention regulated work in its service area.
Required Documents
- PDF plan set, unlocked for commenting, flattened, no image files, with file names using letters and numbers only
- Permit application and supporting materials
- Building code
- Ohio Building Code, Ohio Residential Code, Ohio Fire Code, plus county-administered floodplain and WPAFB airport zoning requirements where applicable.
- Contractor requirements
- Ohio has no statewide general contractor license. OCILB trade licensing applies for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and hydronics work.
Fees
- Plan check fee
- Included in county fee schedule as applicable
- Permit fee formula
- Schedule-based under the county's effective January 1, 2026 fee structure
- Reinspection fee
- County reinspection and other charges apply where required by the fee schedule
- Payment note
- County online payments use Point and Pay; credit or debit cards carry a 2.30 percent service fee with a 2.00 dollar minimum per transaction, and eCheck or ACH costs 0.50 dollars per transaction.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective January 1, 2026).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Montgomery County Building Regulations to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 937-225-4622 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: Application, plan review, permit issuance, phased inspections, final inspection
Additional Resources
- Building code: Ohio Building Code, Ohio Residential Code, Ohio Fire Code, plus county-administered floodplain and WPAFB airport zoning requirements where applicable.
- Verify contractor license: Ohio eLicense Contractor Lookup
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Building Regulations FAQs
- Where to Find Us
- WPAFB Map and Zoning Information
- 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 Montgomery County Building Regulations before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, OH?
- The county enforces building codes for new construction, additions, alterations, changes in use, and flood-damage-prevention regulated work in its service area.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Montgomery County, OH?
- Fees are calculated as: Schedule-based under the county's effective January 1, 2026 fee structure. Plan check fee: Included in county fee schedule as applicable.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, OH?
- 1. Identify whether the property is in unincorporated county jurisdiction and check any local township zoning requirements. 2. Create an Accela account using the county's online guide. 3. Submit the permit application, PDFs, and supporting documents through Accela. 4. Respond to comment letters, upload revisions, and pay fees through the online payment portal. 5. After permit issuance, schedule required inspections and obtain final approval.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Montgomery County, OH?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 937-225-4622.
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