About Construction Projects in Cincinnati, OH

As the third largest city in Ohio, Cincinnati is full of projects for contractors. However, before you get too excited, keep in mind the rules you’ll have to follow before you can start working. Cincinnati has strict guidelines for building permits and contractor licenses, so you’ll have to study up before you can start any jobs.

Building Permits

In general, you’ll need a permit for the following:

• Building a new structure
• Adding on to a structure
• Altering a structure
• Tearing down a structure
• Repairing a structure
• Filling in or excavating
• Changing the use of a building

The exact permit you need depends on your project type. You can check with Cincinnati officials to get the forms you need.

However, you don’t need a permit for some projects:

• Adding fences shorter than 6 feet tall
• Repairing windows
• Adding downspouts and gutters
• Replacing siding or roof coverings
• Installing flagpoles
• Adding a storage shed less than 200 square feet

If you’re still not sure if your project needs a permit, call the city’s building permits office to ask your questions. If you start work without a permit, but you needed one for the work, you’ll get charged the cost of the permit and an extra investigation fee.

Getting a Building Permit

Once you’ve decided your need for a permit, you’ll have to follow a few more steps. First, you’ll need to have registered architects or engineers create plans for your project if it involves a new building or major construction work. They’ll ensure everything is up to par with the Ohio Building Code.

You can also set up a pre-development meeting with city agencies to talk about issues related to your project. This meeting makes it easy to get answers to questions you have about fire safety, water supply, and sewer connections.

When you need to send your permit application, you’ll have to pay a $30 processing fee for one- to three-family homes and an $89 fee for commercial buildings.

Contractor Licensing Requirements

To work in Cincinnati, a home improvement, licensed specialty, or building construction contractor needs to have a valid registration with both the city and state. To register with the city, you’ll need to pay a $128.75 fee, and you’ll also need to renew this registration annually.

Contractor Insurance Requirements in Cincinnati, Ohio

To be approved as a licensed contractor, you’ll also have to have liability insurance. The minimum limit for this coverage is $100,000 for damages to a single person and $300,000 per occurrence. If you have more employees working for you, you’ll also need proof of workers’ compensation coverage.

This information may sound like too much to deal with, but once you’ve filed all the necessary paperwork, you’ll be on your way to a successful construction project. To further help you with your work, be sure to rent aerial equipment such as boom lifts, scissor lifts, forklifts, and manlifts to enable you to get your work on the job site done faster and more efficiently.