Columbus, Ohio is home to a diverse array of industries, from retail and finance to food & beverage and life sciences. With excellent infrastructure and an environment that fosters business growth, Columbus is an attractive city for companies looking to thrive. But with growth often comes construction projects, and that means navigating the municipal system for getting Columbus building permits.

As permitting review systems go, Columbus, Ohio does not have the most complex one. However, it’s still worth taking a look at the basic process so you can get a better feel for the challenges you might face and some of the pitfalls to avoid.

Key Players in Columbus

The oversight and enforcement of Columbus building permits are mostly centralized around the City of Columbus Building and Zoning Services. Outside of that, you likely won’t need to interact with additional city departments or officials.

As with every other location in the U.S., make sure you’re working with a contractor who is familiar with the area and licensed to work in the city of Columbus.

What is the Process for Getting Columbus Building Permits?

Step 1: Gather Application Materials

When preparing to apply for Columbus building permits, the first step is to ensure you understand the requirements so you can gather the necessary documentation and materials.

According to the Columbus government website, permit applications for commercial projects almost always require:

In some cases, your project may have other requirements, such as soil reports.

However, keep in mind that many government websites will list everything that might be required for a building permit in an effort to be thorough. While this might seem helpful at first, it can also result in you wasting valuable time gathering reports and documents that you don’t need for the scope of your project.

Partnering with experienced permit expediters like Scout Services can help ensure that you have everything you need in your permit application without wasting time on things you don’t need.

Step 2: Submit Your Application

After you have completed an accurate permit application, it’s time to submit it. Like most systems today, applying for Columbus building permits is done online via their Citizen Access Portal.

Again, depending on your project, the information that might be required upon submission can vary, but in most cases, you should expect to provide:

  • The applicant and design professional contact information
  • Contractor’s license number
  • Attached plans and sheets

In Columbus, the application fee is not required upon submission. Instead, you’ll need to look for an email, which will be sent out once your application has been verified. This email will contain instructions on how to pay the fees, which must be taken care of before your review can start.

Step 3: Navigating the Permit Review Process

Once your permit application has been accepted, it will be assigned to a reviewer, who then has 30 days to either issue approval or corrections letters. In nearly all cases, the initial review can result in one of three outcomes: full plan approval, conditional plan approval, or non-conformance plan approval.

It’s essential to remember that full approval after the initial review is rare. The vast majority of projects will receive comments after the initial review.

This is one of the things that makes review the most important and challenging part of any permitting process. Follow-up with local officials is absolutely essential, and a swift response to comments can help your project timeline stay on track.

At Scout Services, we help you with all of that. Our local experts are committed to regularly checking on your application, and facilitating meetings between your team and Columbus reviewers in order to resolve comments as quickly as possible.

Step 4: Resubmissions as Needed

Next, you’ll need to resubmit your applications with the addressed comments. In Columbus, you can do this easily through their online portal. The timing of any subsequent reviews can vary based on the number and the severity of the comments received.

Step 5: Approval

After your application has been fully approved, the permit applicant and contractor will receive an email notifying you that the permit and other documentation are available for download.

FAQs

Q: Which building codes apply in Columbus?

Columbus, Ohio adheres to the 2017 Ohio Building Code, the Columbus Building Code, and various international codes, many of which are listed on their official website.

Q: Are there any exemptions for commercial projects?

A: There are a few exemptions for commercial projects, including minor construction like sheds and some fences, and minor work for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing projects.

Q: What do I need if I have a phased construction project?

For a phased commercial construction project in Columbus, you’ll need to be sure you have prior approval from a Chief Building Official before getting your permits.

Partner with Scout Services for Your Columbus Building Permits

At Scout Services, we are the go-to national permitting expediters for commercial projects. If you have a project coming up in Columbus, we can help you put together accurate applications and navigate through the entire review process as quickly as possible. Reach out to our team today to get started.

Disclaimer: While we aim to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, the local regulations and standards that govern the permitting process are constantly evolving. Reach out to us about your next project and we’ll connect you with one of our permitting experts in your area.