Williams County, OH - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Persons living outside a municipality in Williams County, plus County-administered building notice coverage where applicable

Department

Williams County Auditor, Building Notices / New Construction

Address

One Courthouse Square, Bryan, OH 43506

Phone

419-636-5639

Application Process

1. Determine whether the work requires a county building notice.
2. For residential construction, follow the county instructions for flood plain review, zoning or township zoning, health department septic or well permits, county sewer or driveway permits, emergency house numbering, and then the building notice at the Auditor's office.
3. Submit the building notice at the Auditor's office, 2nd floor of the courthouse.
4. County issues the notice for tax tracking purposes only; it is not an inspection permit.

General Requirements

structural improvements or buildings costing more than $2,000, per ORC 5713.17 notice requirement

Required Documents

• building notice application, estimated cost, property description, and any related county or township zoning, flood plain, sewer, driveway, health, and address assignment documentation

Building code

state Ohio Building Code governs where applicable, but county building notice is not itself a code inspection permit

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$25 for county building notice

Permit fee formula

$25 standard notice fee; under $2,000 construction cost, notice issued at no cost

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Roofs without pitch changes
• Heating source
• Handicap ramp
• Above-ground pools
• Residential driveway
• Residential solar panels
• Fences

Inspections

How to Schedule

Typical inspection sequence: county building notice comes after related zoning, flood plain, septic, sewer, driveway, and address steps where applicable

Additional Resources

• Building code: state Ohio Building Code governs where applicable, but county building notice is not itself a code inspection permit
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Engineer / flood plain / driveway
• Combined Health Department
• License lookup guide: Ohio Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Ohio Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Ohio hub: Ohio Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Williams County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Williams County, OH?

structural improvements or buildings costing more than $2,000, per ORC 5713.17 notice requirement

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Williams County, OH?

The minimum permit fee is $25 for county building notice. Fees are calculated as: $25 standard notice fee; under $2,000 construction cost, notice issued at no cost.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Williams County, OH?

1. Determine whether the work requires a county building notice. 2. For residential construction, follow the county instructions for flood plain review, zoning or township zoning, health department septic or well permits, county sewer or driveway permits, emergency house numbering, and then the building notice at the Auditor's office. 3. Submit the building notice at the Auditor's office, 2nd floor of the courthouse. 4. County issues the notice for tax tracking purposes only; it is not an inspection permit.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Williams County, OH?

The following work is generally exempt: Roofs without pitch changes; Heating source; Handicap ramp; Above-ground pools; Residential driveway; Residential solar panels; Fences.