Building permits in Cleveland, Ohio
Of the 9 common home projects we have verified in Cleveland, 4 need a permit outright and 5 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Cleveland
City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting
- Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting, Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave., Room 505, Cleveland, OH 44114
- Phone: 216.664.2910
- Email: BHpermits@clevelandohio.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Cleveland
Cleveland runs an online permit portal. Many local portals let you check application status, search permit records, and view inspection results without calling the office.
What needs a permit in Cleveland
Of the 9 common home projects we have verified in Cleveland, 4 need a permit outright and 5 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | The General Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014 has no deck line item. |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Not specified | Electrical Wiring and Equipment fee schedule effective January 2, 2014: "the minimum fee... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | share of an existing fence repaired or replaced within any twelve month period, where foundations and footers are unchanged | General Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014, item C(2) "Fences, guardrails, or... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | HVAC permit fee schedule effective January 2, 2014: "One, two and three family... |
| Patio Permit | Not confirmed | Not specified | Not published |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Not specified | Plumbing Fixtures, Appliance and Piping fee schedule effective January 2, 2014: "The... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | water capacity of a private swimming pool; a depth of more than two feet also triggers the permit | General Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014, item C(4) "Swimming pools... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | share of the roof whose shingles are replaced, where the replacement is in the same material | The General Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014 has no roofing line item. |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Not specified | General Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014, item C(1) "Private garages, tool sheds... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Cleveland's Solar Panel Guide publishes a residential table: residential building permit... |
Planning a project in Cleveland?
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
Planning several things at once? Check your whole project