Stark County Building Inspection Department
Status of Operations
The Stark County Building Inspection Department was created in 1967. The office issues building permits for new structures and structural changes to existing buildings. Permit fees are assessed on a square foot or unit cost basis. The department is responsible for enforcing the residential building code adopted by the Stark County Board of Commissioners and the Ohio Basic Building Codes for commercial structures.
The department's jurisdiction covers the unincorporated areas of Stark County and those villages and cities that have entered into a contract with the county. Currently, contracts exist with Brewster, East Canton, Hills and Dales, Limaville, Magnolia, Meyers Lake, Minerva and Waynesburg. The office also inspects commercial structures only for East Sparta, Louisville and Hartville since each of these jurisdictions have residential building departments of their own.
Alliance, Canton, Massillon and North Canton have their own building inspection departments. Areas that do not have a building inspection department or a contract with any other office obtain commercial permits from the state. Code enforcement of existing structures or property maintenance for one-, two-, or three-family dwellings are not part of this office's responsibilities.
The Stark County Building Inspection Department is comprised of three divisions: structural, electrical, and heating. The office enforces the new construction code for one-, two- and three-family dwellings in the county and is certified for enforcement of the Ohio Basic Building Code for all commercial structures in the county. The number of inspections varies according to the type structure and job conditions.
Commercial structures require submission of plans drafted by a registered Ohio design professional together with the necessary application fees and approvals. Approvals required before a building permit can be issued include township zoning, sewer or septic, and Stark County regional planning.
All new structures must have the following inspections: foundation and footer inspection, rough inspection, and final inspection. The department then issues a "Certificate of Occupancy" stating the building complies with state of Ohio building code standards. The office also administers flood plain regulations as promulgated by the federal government (FEMA).
The department is staffed by the chief building official, plans examiner, three electrical inspectors, two building/heating inspectors and three office clerks.