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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Union County
county FAQ says permits are required before demolition or construction work begins unless the work is exempt or an emergency repair
Decks are exempt only if they are less than 30 inches above grade, not connected to the house structure, less than 200 square feet, and not located at the required egress door
Fences require a permit only when needed for a swimming pool barrier or if over 6 feet in height
Residential sheds are exempt if 200 square feet or less
Commercial sheds are exempt if 120 square feet or less
Patios do not require a building permit, though zoning approval may still be required
Agricultural buildings are exempt from building code regulation if the township zoning inspector determines the use is agricultural rather than residential accessory or commercial storage
Manufactured home installation is governed by the Ohio Department of Commerce Manufactured Homes Program rather than the county building department
- Exempt Decks are exempt only if they are less than 30 inches above grade, not connected to the house structure, less than 200 square feet, and not located at the required egress door
- Exempt Fences require a permit only when needed for a swimming pool barrier or if over 6 feet in height
- Exempt Residential sheds are exempt if 200 square feet or less
- Exempt Commercial sheds are exempt if 120 square feet or less
- Exempt Patios do not require a building permit, though zoning approval may still be required
- Exempt Agricultural buildings are exempt from building code regulation if the township zoning inspector determines the use is agricultural rather than residential accessory or commercial storage
- Exempt Manufactured home installation is governed by the Ohio Department of Commerce Manufactured Homes Program rather than the county building department
Required documents
- permit application, construction drawings and specifications when required, zoning approval from the applicable township or municipality as required, Union County Health Department approval as required
- Building code
- Ohio Building Code / Residential Code of Ohio, administered locally by the county and based on the state code framework
- Permit validity
- permit or plan approval becomes invalid if work does not commence within 12 months of approval or if work is delayed or suspended for more than 6 months; extension requests must be submitted at least 10 days before expiration
- Owner-builder
- a permit may be issued to the owner or the owner’s agent, such as the architect, contractor, subcontractor, or other person responsible for the work
- Contractor requirements
- county pages do not publish a general contractor license requirement; Ohio does not have a statewide general contractor license. State-licensed trades include electricians, plumbers, and HVAC mechanics through OCILB
§ 03
Fee schedule
Union County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
application fee $35.00 for all permit applications
02
Plan check fee
residential plan review $105.00 for new/addition/alteration/accessory building work; commercial plan review $255.00 plus $40.00 per 1000 square feet for new/addition/alteration/accessory building work
03
Permit fee formula
residential building permit fee is $95.00 plus $10.00 per 100 square feet for new/addition/alteration/accessory building work; commercial building permit fee is $255.00 plus $100.00 per 1000 square feet for new/addition/alteration/accessory building work
04
Reinspection fee
residential re-inspection/additional inspection fee $65.00; commercial re-inspection/additional inspection fee $130.00; work without permit fee $250.00 in both schedules; after-hours/overtime inspection $150.00 per hour with a 2-hour minimum per inspector
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 04
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- OpenGov inspection request or call 937-645-3019 (online)
- Inspection hours
- OpenGov same-business-day requests have a 7:00 AM cutoff; phone scheduling can take up to two business days; inspectors may provide approximate timing by phone between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM at 937-645-3018 when time requests qualify
Typical sequence: inspections are scheduled after permit issuance and during construction; final plans must be on site for field inspection
missing approved plans on site can trigger additional inspection fees; address must be posted during construction
§ 05
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Union County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Union County, OH? ▸
county FAQ says permits are required before demolition or construction work begins unless the work is exempt or an emergency repair
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Union County, OH? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Union County, OH are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is application fee $35.00 for all permit applications. Fees are calculated as: residential building permit fee is $95.00 plus $10.00 per 100 square feet for new/addition/alteration/accessory building work; commercial building permit fee is $255.00 plus $100.00 per 1000 square feet for new/addition/alteration/accessory building work. Plan check fee: residential plan review $105.00 for new/addition/alteration/accessory building work; commercial plan review $255.00 plus $40.00 per 1000 square feet for new/addition/alteration/accessory building work.
03 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Union County, OH? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Union County, OH typically run plan-set permits must be reviewed within 30 days by state law; no-draw permit applications are typically issued within one week. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
04 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Union County, OH? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Union County, OH. The following work is generally exempt: Decks are exempt only if they are less than 30 inches above grade, not connected to the house structure, less than 200 square feet, and not located at the required egress door; Fences require a permit only when needed for a swimming pool barrier or if over 6 feet in height; Residential sheds are exempt if 200 square feet or less; Commercial sheds are exempt if 120 square feet or less; Patios do not require a building permit, though zoning approval may still be required; Agricultural buildings are exempt from building code regulation if the township zoning inspector determines the use is agricultural rather than residential accessory or commercial storage; Manufactured home installation is governed by the Ohio Department of Commerce Manufactured Homes Program rather than the county building department. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
05 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Union County, OH? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Union County, OH via: OpenGov inspection request or call 937-645-3019.
last verified April 2026
source Union County Engineer, Division of Building Regulations / Union County Building Department ↗
entry id permits/ohio/union/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Union County Engineer, Division of Building Regulations / Union County Building Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.