Unincorporated Stark County

Residential examples include new homes, decks, porches, ramps, steps, pergolas, carports, additions, fire repair, reroofing, solar panels, generators, industrialized units, detached sheds or accessory buildings over 200 square feet, attached or detached garages or pole buildings, many alterations, foundation repair, demolition, fences over 6 feet tall, electrical and HVAC repairs or upgrades, and pools and hot tubs. Commercial examples include new buildings, additions, alterations, change of occupancy, detached accessory buildings over 120 square feet, signs, fire suppression, alarms, refrigeration, hoods, demolition, site work, and solar.

• Exempt Detached residential sheds or accessory buildings of 200 square feet or less are not listed in the county's residential permit-required list
• Exempt Residential fences 6 feet tall or less are not listed in the county's permit-required list
• Exempt One-for-one replacement work may be handled as a one-time special inspection permit if design parameters remain the same

Note: Always verify zoning-layer requirements separately because township or regional planning approvals may still apply even when a county building permit does not.

Building code

2019 Residential Code of Ohio, 2019 Ohio Mechanical Code, 2023 National Electrical Code for residential work; 2024 Ohio Building Code, 2024 Ohio Mechanical Code, 2024 Ohio Plumbing Code, and 2023 National Electrical Code for commercial work

Owner-builder

Stark County publishes a Homeowner Exemption Form in its residential forms list, indicating there are owner-homeowner filing scenarios.

Contractor requirements

Stark County posts 2026 Specialty Contractor Registration and Low Voltage Contractor Registration forms. Local contractor registration is required for covered trades, alongside State of Ohio licensure for state-licensed trades.

1. 01
   Determine whether the property is in unincorporated Stark County and whether zoning approval is required from township zoning or the Stark County Regional Planning Commission.
2. 02
   Follow the county's development review sequence for the project type; for single-family residential in unincorporated areas, the core sequence is: official house number, sanitary sewer permit or septic permit, zoning permit, and building permit.
3. 03
   Download the applicable forms from the county forms page, including residential or commercial permit forms and any supporting trade forms.
4. 04
   For residential work requiring plan review, submit two sets of plans. For commercial work, submit completed application forms with two sets of drawings and the applicable plan review fees.
5. 05
   Pay application and permit fees; commercial plan review fees are due at submission.
6. 06
   Permit is issued.
7. 07
   Post the permit-issued card in a conspicuous but protected location.
8. 08
   Request required inspections at the proper construction stages.
9. 09
   Receive certificate of use and occupancy only after all final inspections are approved.

Source: Stark County Building Inspection Department ↗

The payment portal currently accepts reinspection fees and invoiced fees online. Other fees must be paid by mail or in person at the Building Department.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

• 330-451-1770 (phone)

Inspection hours

Walk-in and phone hours Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; inspectors available by phone 8:00 am to 8:30 am

Typical sequence: Commercial inspections: underground electrical, footer, foundation, rough electric and plumbing, rough building and heating, insulation, final electric and plumbing, and final building and heating. Residential construction uses all of the above except footer inspection.