Portage County, Ohio Building Permit Guide

In Portage County, plumbing permits, plan reviews, inspections and plumbing contractor registration in the townships are handled by the Portage County Combined General Health District, 999 East Main Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266 ((330) 296-9919), open Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. The cities of Aurora, Kent, Ravenna and Streetsboro handle their own plumbing.

Portage County’s own building department website could not be checked, so contact the county directly. This guide covers the Health District, the Soil & Water Conservation District and the City of Ravenna.

What requires a building permit in Portage County?

Ohio’s building codes are statewide; what changes in Portage County is which office handles the address and what that office asks for on top.

In Portage County, plumbing, septic and private water systems, and stormwater each have their own office: plumbing, septic and well approvals come from the Health District or the city, a stormwater plan reviewed by the Soil & Water Conservation District in unincorporated areas, and in the county seat, Ravenna, permits from the City of Ravenna Building Department.

Permits in Portage County are governed by Ohio’s statewide codes: the Ohio Building Code for commercial and other nonresidential buildings, and the Residential Code of Ohio for detached one-, two- and three-family dwellings. The Ohio Building, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes in force since 1 March 2024 are based on the 2021 International Codes; the Residential Code of Ohio is the 2019 edition, based on the 2018 International Residential Code; both use the 2023 National Electrical Code. Only departments certified by the Ohio Board of Building Standards may approve plans, and residential rules are uniform statewide. How Ohio’s statewide code works

Who handles permitting in Portage County?

The Health District’s plumbing program covers Atwater, Brimfield, Charlestown, Deerfield, Edinburg, Franklin, Garrettsville, Hiram, Mantua, Nelson, Palmyra, Paris, Randolph, Ravenna, Rootstown, Shalersville and Suffield; it has no plumbing jurisdiction in the cities of Aurora, Kent, Ravenna and Streetsboro.

The Ohio Board of Building Standards certifies which departments may enforce the code, and for which buildings; the certified department’s political subdivision sets fees, and zoning is a separate approval. Where no certified department has jurisdiction, nonresidential plans go to the state, while houses need no plan submission. The Board’s building-department look-up shows which department has authority over an address. Who has authority in Ohio

Plumbing, septic and stormwater in Portage County

Plumbing in the Health District’s area

A property owner may not buy a commercial plumbing permit; a Registered Plumbing Contractor must. Plumbing contractor registrations expire on June 30, 2027; register with the application, contractor license and certificate of liability insurance. Plumbing documents can be emailed to PCHD@portagehealth.net.

Septic and wells

Septic systems for 1-3 family homes and small flow systems up to 1,000 gallons per day are permitted and inspected by the local health district, which may adopt rules stricter than the state’s. Private wells, springs, ponds and cisterns serving homes are private water systems under OAC Chapter 3701-28.

Stormwater

The Portage Soil & Water Conservation District reviews stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPP) for all unincorporated areas of the county. A submittal needs one hard copy and one digital set of plans with the report and calculations, a CAD file with at least the site layout layer, and the SWPPP application.

Ravenna contractor registration

Contractors working in Ravenna register with the city for $100.00, showing liability insurance of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage, with the City of Ravenna named as additional insured, plus proof of state registration and work references.

Portage County permit costs and fees

City of Ravenna permit fees (Ordinance No. 2020-006):

• New home under 2,000 square feet $300.00, under 3,000 $350.00, under 4,000 $450.00.
• Residential additions, alterations and repairs $75.00, plus a $75.00 plan review fee for additions and garages.
• Residential plumbing $60.00 plus $10.00 per fixture.

Fee schedules are revised on each jurisdiction’s own cycle, so ask the issuing department for the schedule in force on your filing date, and ask separately about plan review, trade, re-inspection and revision charges. A Board of Building Standards assessment of 3 percent (nonresidential) or 1 percent (residential) is added to local fees. How Ohio permit fees work

How to get a building permit in Portage County

Approved plans become invalid if work has not started within twelve months, with one twelve-month extension available. Before filing, confirm the department has authority over the address for the work, whether the Ohio Building Code or the Residential Code of Ohio governs, and which approvals must be in hand first. Review and corrections in Ohio

Inspections in Portage County

To consult with or schedule the Health District’s Certified Plumbing Inspector, call 330-296-9919 ext. 151. The Soil & Water Conservation District inspects active sites in unincorporated areas that disturb over one acre at least once every 30 days; call (330) 235-6815 with inspection questions.

No building may be occupied until a certificate of occupancy or completion is issued, and a change of occupancy needs approved construction documents even without other work. Address correction notices before requesting a re-inspection, and do not cover work before it has been inspected and approved. Inspections and occupancy in Ohio

Official Portage County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Portage County Health District plumbing
• Health District waste water
• Private water systems
• Portage SWCD SWPPP review
• City of Ravenna Building Department

Frequently asked questions

Who handles plumbing permits in Portage County townships?

The Portage County Combined General Health District, (330) 296-9919; Aurora, Kent, Ravenna and Streetsboro handle plumbing themselves.

Can a property owner buy a commercial plumbing permit?

Not in the Health District’s area: a Registered Plumbing Contractor must.

Who reviews stormwater plans in unincorporated Portage County?

The Portage Soil & Water Conservation District, which also inspects active sites over one acre.

Simplify Portage County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm which certified building department, health district and zoning office have the address
• Prepare the building application and plans, plus the zoning, drainage and plumbing filings that go with them
• Submit through the right portal or inbox and track plan review, inspections and the certificate of occupancy

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Ohio. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Portage County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.