APPLICATION PROCESS FOR BUILDING PERMITS
The Building Division issues permits, reviews plans, inspects construction and enforces building regulations. Plumbing plan review and inspections are performed by Franklin County Public Health and not by the City. However, plumbing permit applications are required to be submitted to the City for review. Building contractors and residents can now apply, pay for and obtain their residential and commercial building permits online. If construction plans are required with the permit application, paper copies must be submitted after applying for the permit online. Please refer to the appropriate section of the City Code when completing an application.
Note: As part of a continued, statewide effort to help stop the community spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), Gahanna’s Building Division will no longer be accepting walk-in customers. It is our priority to protect the health of our residents, and employees and their families, while continuing to provide necessary, quality services. Building division staff are working remotely and altering field operations to follow social distancing guidelines.
Customers will still be able to drop off plans, applications and any other necessary documents at a drop box located in front of City Hall; however, staff will be unavailable for walk-in services. A large majority of our services are available through our online permit portal on Gahanna.gov.
Contact us at 614-342-4010 or email building@gahanna.gov with any questions. We appreciate your patience as we navigate this evolving situation and look forward to continuing our work with you.
Download: Current Fee Schedule, City Code
COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL OR MULTI-FAMILY OF 4 UNITS OR MORE PERMITS
Four (4) sets of plans conforming to the Ohio seal law must be submitted with the commercial and industrial building permit application.
Download: Commercial and Industrial Building Permit Application
CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION
NEW FOR: Please note, the registration requirements changed. General contractors along with remodeling contractors are now required to be registered with the City. Contractors previously registered as home improvement contractors will now be registered as general contractors or as remodeling contractors. Contractors installing new sidewalks and driveways, replacing driveway aprons and retaining walls requiring building permits are now required to be registered as general contractors or remodeling contractors.
Annual contractor registration for general contractors, remodelers, HVAC, electrical, fence, gas piping, plumbing and signs can now be completed online!
Contractors who would like to obtain registration as a water and sewer installer must still contact the Utility Billing Division at 614-342-4440 to apply and obtain their registrations.
Contractors are required to register with the City and provide a copy of their state license prior to being issued an electrical, gas piping, HVAC or plumbing permit for Ohio Building Code related construction (commercial, industrial or residential buildings larger than a three family dwelling). There is a $100 registration fee. Liability insurance is required, minimum amounts of $100,000/$300,000, with the City of Gahanna shown as the “Certificate Holder.”
For contractors constructing decks, sheds, fences, signs, and residential projects, no state license is required. Only certificate of liability insurance and registration are required.
Download: Contractor Registration Application
DECK PERMITS
Four (4) sets of drawings must be submitted with the residential building permit application.
Download: Residential Building Permit Application
INSPECTIONS
Call the Building Division at 614-342-4010 and press 1 to leave your inspection request on the voicemail. Please be sure to include the following information: permit number, project address, type of inspection being requested, date of requested inspection, contact name and contact phone number. Omission of any information may delay the scheduling of the inspection. It is the contractor’s responsibility to provide an accurate permit number when requesting an inspection. Please note, electrical inspections are only performed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
INSPECTION REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 4:00PM FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY.
RESIDENTIAL 1, 2 AND 3 FAMILY DWELLING PERMITS (FOR ADDITION, ALTERATION, BASEMENT FINISH, NEW DWELLING OR NEW GARAGE)
Four (4) copies of a survey with the location of the proposed project shown along with four (4) sets of drawings must be submitted with the residential building permit application.
Download: Residential Building Permit Application
SHED PERMITS
Two (2) copies of a survey with the location of the shed shown along with a copy of the manufacturers brochure or drawing must be submitted with the residential building permit application.
Download: Residential Building Permit Application
VARIOUS ADDITIONAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS
RESOURCE LINKS
- AEP Ohio Home Energy Improvement Rebates
- Franklin County Auditor
- Franklin County Engineer’s Office
- Franklin County Public Health
- Energy Codes for Residential Structures
- Ohio Building Code
- Ohio Residential Energy Code Compliance Methods
- Residential Code of Ohio
- Residential Code of Ohio Amendments
- Statement of Special Inspections