All Commercial and Multi-family
Residential Structures, commonly referred to as "Commercial Construction". Per
State Law, this construction is regulated by the Ohio Board of Building
Standards, and is enforced locally by Clark County. This includes new
construction, additions, structural and non-structural alterations, and changes
of occupancy. Enforcement also covers mechanical, electrical, fire suppression
and alarm systems. In addition to code compliance listed above, we also check for compliance with Flood Damage Prevention Standards, and Airport Zoning requirements around Wright Patterson Air Force Base and Springfield - Beckley Municipal Airport.
Maintenance and repairs may
be made without building permits, but such repairs cannot include any structural
work, mechanical or electrical work, or construction or removal of
non-structural walls or portions. Permits are not required for cosmetic changes
such as painting or carpeting, but such work must still comply with applicable
codes, such as not exceeding applicable flame spread
requirements. Some work is exempt from local code enforcement, such as State or Federal projects built on State or Federally owned land, used for governmental purposes. In those cases, the State or Federal government oversees code compliance. Other buildings such as those used for agricultural purposes may also be exempt. If you have questions about whether your project is exempt, be sure to check with the Building Department before proceeding.
All Townships in the County
are under the jurisdiction of Clark County Building Regulations. Also, some
villages and cities under contract with Clark County to do all or some building
code enforcement for them. Refer to the Clark County Building Regulations
Jurisdiction Chart. Continuation of existing
uses: To use a building in the same manner as previously approved, such as dress
shop occupying a former men's clothing store, and the former use had been
legally approved, a simple floor plan and application must be submitted and a
field inspection will be performed to determine the structure is free of any
serious hazards. Once the building is determined to be safe, a fee will be
assessed, and the Certificate of Occupancy will be
issued. Same overall use, but some specific changes in use or occupancy: The specific changes will need to be in compliance with the respective building codes, the remainder of the building must be free of any serious hazards. Plans, describing the proposed changes must be submitted for review and application completed. Examples include converting sales rooms to storage rooms. Once the plans have been reviewed approved, the building permits will be issued.
Residential Permit
Applications must include two copies of drawings that show in detail and
describe the proposed work and how it will meet applicable code requirements,
along with a completed application form. Upon approval of the plans, the permit(s) will be issued and one set of plans with plan review will be returned,
and one set of plans on file in our office. For more detailed information,
contact our residential plans examiner. Commercial Permit Applications must include four copies of drawings and specifications describing the work for which the permit is sought, and how it will meet applicable code requirements, along with a completed application form. Submittal requirements vary depending on the nature of the proposed work, and often require the plans to be designed by a Design Professional. Upon plan approval, the permit(s) will be issued and one set of plans with the plan review will be returned to the applicant, one set of plans to be kept at the project site, and one set of plans on file in our office. For more detailed information, contact our commercial plans examiner.
Other Documents Necessary: Most construction projects will require Zoning approval, and these certificates can be secured from the respective Zoning Inspectors. If you are unsure who the Zoning Inspector is for your area, contact the Building Department. A Building Notice, from the County Auditor is required for all construction improvements, and approval from the respective agency overseeing septic or public sewer may be required.
When submittals are found to be deficient, either because the documents
are incomplete or the work proposed is code deficient, the applicant is
notified of the need to submit additional or corrected information, and
the review process starts over.
A variety of partial
permits are available to expedite commercial construction. The most common is
the issuance of a footing/foundation permit which is processed in one to three
days. Zoning, Building Notice, Septic Approval, and adequate foundation plans
are required. Contact the office for further information.
Other agencies issue permits
that may be required for your work, such as Plumbing and Food Service permits,
Commercial Swimming Pool permits, Historical Review permits, Airport Overlay
permits, etc. Contact the Building Department to verify if other permits are
know. Read all notes returned with
your plans before you start construction! Too many small issues become big
problems because the applicant did not read the code review comments as soon as
the permit was issued. There may be notes about submittals that still need to be
made, or general code comments which are not fully described on the drawings. If
you have questions about the plan review notes, it is best to raise them at the
beginning of the job, not when the Inspector turns your project
down. Both commercial and
residential work must have rough inspections of construction progress before
work is covered up, and final inspections after works is complete. Typically all
sub trade inspections such as electrical, plumbing and mechanical must be
approved before the main permit (general construction) inspection will be done.
Approved plans must be on the job site for each inspection. When you secure a
building permit, a LIST of required inspections will be
returned.
For new construction, we
typically require that building and sub trade rough inspections be approved
before the electric service is permitted to be energized.Contact our office for more details on our commercial service release policies.
Electric Reconnects will be authorized after permit is obtained and an inspection is done to ensure no electrical hazards are present. If there is a Change of Occupancy to a commercial project, approval may be required from the Building Official before the electric service is permitted to be energized.
Certificates of occupancy
are issued after all work has been completed and inspections (including
inspections by other agencies such as plumbing and fire departments) for the
building permit have been approved. In the event no new work is proposed, and
the occupancy has not been changed, one inspection will be made to determine no
serious hazards exist and a new Certificate issued to the current
owner/tenant.
Temporary Certificates of Occupancy may be
granted by the Building Official if most of the work is complete and the space
is deemed safe to occupy. Note: A Zoning Certificate of Occupancy only signifies
compliance with zoning ordinances for use approval. It does not take place of
the Certificate issued by the Building Department.
Clark County, in
conjunction with FEMA enforce the Flood Damage Insurance Program. All
construction within areas identified by FEMA Maps, or otherwise identified as
having flood hazard potential must secure a Floodplain Construction Permit.
These regulations may have special construction limitations or requirements.
Contact the Building Department for further information.
Frost Depth = 30"; Ground Snow Load = 20SF; Wind Speed = 90MPH; Seismic Zone = 1; Weathering = Severe;
Termite = Yes; Decay = Yes.
YES. Information submitted
for permit approval becomes public record, and is available for public
inspection and research. Drawings are disposed of on a two (2) year cycle, with
permit and inspection records going back to the mid 1960s.
Airport zoning regulations
is an overlay district, affecting construction in close proximity to the
airports. It has been created in order to protect public health and welfare
within noise - sensitive areas surrounding the airport and flight paths. If work
is within the overlay district, construction compliance will be required, and
effects heights of structures, exterior lighting, soundproofing, and may
prohibit certain uses such as schools and hospitals.
The Building Department
must be notified as soon as possible. An inspection will be made to determine
the damage assessment, and the owner notified if a building permit will be
necessary.1. Damage was minor, no repair is necessary
2. Damage to structural portions must be replaced with like
materials, and permits are required
3. Extensive repairs may require plans to be submitted for approval
*All work must be inspected before concealing