County Building Permits
Washington County, OH - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Washington County, Ohio. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Washington County and other listed jurisdictions in the SEOBD jurisdiction listing
- Department
- Address
- 340 Muskingum Drive, Marietta, OH 45750
- Phone
- (740) 374-4185
Application Process
- Confirm whether the project needs a permit using the county's permit guidance.
- Download the applicable application and supporting forms from the county site.
- Prepare drawings and required documents.
- Submit application materials to SEOBD.
- If drawings are submitted electronically, use the published Dropbox process.
- Plan review is completed by SEOBD.
- Permit is issued after approval and fee payment.
General Requirements
- Building code
- Ohio Building Code, with county-adopted code information published by SEOBD.
- Owner-builder
- not clearly summarized on the public county landing page; treat as thin data.
- Contractor requirements
- no statewide general contractor license in Ohio; trade licensing rules still apply for state-licensed trades.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- SEOBD uses a published fee schedule and applies a 3 percent State of Ohio surcharge
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County page provides an inspector's calendar and residential inspection list (contact)
Typical inspection sequence: Residential and non-residential inspection checklists are published by SEOBD
Not clearly summarized on the landing page
Additional Resources
- Building code: Ohio Building Code, with county-adopted code information published by SEOBD.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Adopted building codes
- Residential inspection list
- 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 before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington County Building Permit FAQ
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Washington County, OH?
- Fees are calculated as: SEOBD uses a published fee schedule and applies a 3 percent State of Ohio surcharge.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Washington County, OH?
- 1. Confirm whether the project needs a permit using the county's permit guidance. 2. Download the applicable application and supporting forms from the county site. 3. Prepare drawings and required documents. 4. Submit application materials to SEOBD. 5. If drawings are submitted electronically, use the published Dropbox process. 6. Plan review is completed by SEOBD. 7. Permit is issued after approval and fee payment.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Washington County, OH?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County page provides an inspector's calendar and residential inspection list.
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