Building permits in Franklin County, Ohio
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Franklin County, 10 need a permit outright. 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 Franklin County
Franklin County Building Department (Division of Building), Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department
- Franklin County Building Department, 142 S. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215 (the Economic Development and Planning Department offices, where zoning applications are filed, are at 150 South Front Street, FSL Suite 10, Columbus, OH 43215-7104)
- Phone: 614-525-3166
- Email: building@franklincountyohio.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Franklin County
Franklin County 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 Franklin County
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Franklin County, 10 need a permit outright. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
None of the 10 project types verified for Franklin County carry a size or scope threshold. See the Permit needed column for each project's own answer, since there is no threshold to compare here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | 1, 2014', Building Permit Fees: 'Decks, Under 1000 sq ft $75.00', '1000 sq ft and over... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | 1, 2014', still lists Building Permit Fees: 'Electric Permit, Each outlet $1.50', 'Each... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | 1, 2014', Zoning Fees: 'Fence Permit/Zoning Compliance $25.00' |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | 1, 2014', Building Permit Fees: 'HVAC Permit, Each 10 runs or portion thereof $10.00'... |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | 1, 2014', Zoning Fees: 'Certificate of Zoning Compliance, Residential $75.00' |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | See schedule |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | 1, 2014', Zoning Fees: 'Certificate of Zoning Compliance, Residential $75.00' |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | 1, 2014', Building Permit Fees: 'Roof Replacement $50.00', 'Siding Replacement $50.00'... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | 1, 2014': Building Permit Fees, 'Base Fee (first 1000 sq. ft.) $120.00' and 'Plus: Each... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | ...County EDP: Certificate of Zoning Compliance, Residential, 'Roof Mounted $25.00'... |
Planning a project in Franklin County?
Hire it out
Sponsored
Licensed contractors usually pull the permit as part of the job. Comparing a few local quotes before you commit is the useful next step.
Compare local contractor quotes on Angi
Sponsored link. PermitNotebook may earn a fee if you request quotes through it. Partners never influence our permit data.
Planning several things at once? Check your whole project
Franklin County permit fees compared with nearby Ohio localities
| Ohio locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | ...Building Permit Fees: 'Decks, Under 1000 sq ft... | ...'HVAC Permit, Each 10 runs or portion thereof... | ...Permit Fees: 'Electric Permit, Each outlet $1.50'... |
| Cincinnati | ...- ADDITION - ALTERATION - REPAIR" (a $2,000.00... | ...1, 2026: HVAC replacement in RCO projects is $118.00... | See schedule |
| Cleveland | ...buildings and additions, or parts of the same: $10.00... | ...the minimum fee for any permit shall be... | ...2014: "the minimum fee for any permit shall be... |
| Columbus | Flat $350 fee for a 1-2-3 family deck permit covering... | Mechanical work uses the combined trade line, $275... | Standard electrical trade permit is $275 with 2... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Ohio jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Franklin County penalty for work started without a permit
Franklin County publishes what it charges when work begins before the permit, quoted here from the schedule or permit page we verified.
-
Penalty Fees on the same schedule: 'Zoning Compliance after-the-fact $150.00 + fee'.
Franklin County fence permit page · last checked
The Ohio statute, the after-the-fact permit path and who may pull the permit: building without a permit in Ohio.
Franklin County permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Franklin County?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for Franklin County, 10 always require a permit (for example a deck permit), 0 depend on size or scope. Each Franklin County permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Franklin County?
- Franklin County publishes a fee for 10 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by Franklin County Building Department (Division of Building), Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Franklin County?
- Franklin County Building Department (Division of Building), Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department issues permits in Franklin County, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at 614-525-3166. The Franklin County official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
- What is the penalty for building without a permit in Franklin County?
- Franklin County publishes its own charge for work started before the permit: Penalty Fees on the same schedule: 'Zoning Compliance after-the-fact $150.00 + fee'. That is the local bill; the Ohio statute, the after-the-fact permit path and who may pull the permit are on the Ohio building-without-a-permit page.
How the Franklin County pages were verified. 10 permit types, 5 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from Franklin County Building Department (Division of Building), Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Franklin County is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.