Northwest Ohio permits quick-reference

By trade — does it need a permit?

• ✅

  Plumber

  Almost always

  Water heater, sewer line, gas line, repipe, fixture rough-in: permit required. Like-for-like fixture swap (faucet, toilet, disposal): usually no permit.

• ✅

  HVAC Technician

  Almost always

  Furnace, AC, ductwork modifications, mini-split install: permit required.

• ✅

  Electrician

  Almost always

  Panel upgrade, sub-panel, EV charger, generator hookup, any new circuit: permit required. Outlet/switch replacement: usually no permit.

• ℹ️

  Appliance Repair Tech

  Usually no

  Repairs and like-for-like swaps don't require permits. Hardwired appliances (built-in microwave, garbage disposal new install) may.

• ✅

  Gas Technician

  Almost always

  Any gas line work requires permit + Columbia Gas coordination + pressure-test inspection.

• ℹ️

  Concrete Contractor

  Usually no

  Driveway repair, sidewalk replacement, pad pours: usually no permit. New driveway curb-cut, foundation work, or anything in city right-of-way: permit required.

• ✅

  Roofer

  Almost always

  Toledo requires a building permit for re-roof + structural roof work. Toledo also requires roofers to register with the city. Skipping the permit voids insurance for any future damage.

• ℹ️

  Tree Service

  Usually no

  Standard tree removal: no permit. Trees in city right-of-way (front-yard tree-lawn): need City of Toledo Forestry approval. Historic-district trees may also need review.

• ℹ️

  Water/Fire/Mold Restoration

  Usually no

  Drywall + insulation removal after water damage: no permit needed. Large-scale mold remediation (>10 sqft): some Ohio cities require permit. Structural repairs after fire damage: yes, permit + Ohio EPA notification if asbestos suspected.

• ✅

  Lead Abatement Contractor

  Almost always

  Lead-abatement work must be handled by an Ohio Department of Health licensed lead professional. Pre-1978 housing, dust containment, clearance testing, disposal, and local building or health-department notifications can all apply; confirm the project plan before work starts.

• ✅

  Fire Protection Contractor

  Almost always

  Fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, and monitored fire-protection system work usually requires a licensed Ohio State Fire Marshal company plus local building or fire-department permits and inspections. Confirm who files the permit and who provides inspection documentation before work starts.

• ✅

  Water Well Contractor

  Almost always

  New wells, well alterations, pump work, cisterns, ponds, sealing, and other private-water-system work usually require an Ohio Department of Health registered contractor plus local board-of-health permits, inspections, and water sampling.

• ✅

  Septic System Contractor

  Almost always

  New, replacement, alteration, hauling, and service-provider work on household sewage treatment systems usually requires a contractor registered with the local health district where the work is performed plus a county permit, inspection, and operation/maintenance documentation.

• ℹ️

  Computer & Electronics Repair

  Usually no

  Consumer electronics repair never requires a building permit. Hardwired smart-home installations (whole-home wifi access points, security camera runs through walls) cross into electrician territory and may need an electrical permit if low-voltage cable is run inside finished walls.

• ℹ️

  Pest Control Service

  Usually no

  Routine pest-control treatments usually do not require building permits, but Ohio Department of Agriculture pesticide licensing applies to commercial applicators. Structural termite repairs, wildlife exclusion that changes framing, or contaminated-material cleanup can trigger local building or health review.

• ℹ️

  Landscaper

  Usually no

  Mowing, planting, cleanup, and ordinary beds usually need no permit. Retaining walls over 4 feet, surcharge conditions, grading/drainage changes, irrigation wiring, right-of-way work, and hardscape structures may require permits or engineering.

• ℹ️

  Painter

  Usually no

  Ordinary painting usually needs no building permit, but EPA RRP lead-safe rules apply when disturbing paint in pre-1978 housing. Structural siding repairs, lead abatement, or major exterior work can trigger separate permits or licensed scopes.

• ✅

  Foundation Repair Contractor

  Almost always

  Structural wall repair, piers, underpinning, egress windows, foundation cuts, waterproofing drains, sump discharge, and floodplain work often require local permits or engineering. Simple non-structural crack injection may not.

• ℹ️

  Garage Door Company

  Usually no

  Like-for-like garage door, spring, cable, and opener repairs usually need no building permit. Structural header repair, opening changes, or new electrical circuits for an opener can require local permits and inspections.

• ✅

  Deck Builder

  Almost always

  New decks, replacement decks, and most resurfaces need a building permit because they trigger Ohio Residential Code R507 ledger flashing, footing depth (36-inch frost line), guardrail, and stair rules. Painting and staining do not require permits.

• ℹ️

  Patio Installer

  Usually no

  Paver patios, stamped concrete pads, and stone walks at grade rarely need permits. Patios with attached structures, drainage tied to storm sewers, or retaining walls over 4 feet usually do. Fire pits and outdoor kitchens have separate gas/electrical permit triggers.

• ✅

  Pool Installer

  Almost always

  Every Ohio jurisdiction requires a permit for inground pools and most above-ground pools because of barrier/fence rules, electrical bonding, and drainage. Confirm pool barrier, electrical bonding, and bonding inspection before final payment.

• ℹ️

  Fence Contractor

  Usually no

  Most residential fences do not require building permits, but many Ohio cities require zoning approval, HOA approval, and Ohio 811 call-before-you-dig tickets. Fences over 6 feet, pool barriers, and right-of-way fences usually need permits.

• ℹ️

  Shed & Pole-Barn Builder

  Usually no

  Sheds under 200 sq ft typically do not require a building permit in Ohio, but zoning setback and HOA rules still apply. Larger sheds, pole barns, garages, and any outbuilding with electric or plumbing need building and possibly electrical/plumbing permits.

• ℹ️

  Siding Contractor

  Usually no

  Like-for-like siding replacement usually does not require a building permit in most Ohio cities, but storm-damage scopes that also touch sheathing, house wrap, flashing, or windows often do. Toledo and other cities may require contractor registration even when no permit is pulled.

• ℹ️

  Window & Door Installer

  Usually no

  Like-for-like window and door replacement usually does not require a permit. Cutting new openings, structural headers, egress windows, and exterior doors that change the wall opening do. Energy Star/NFRC ratings mattered for the federal §25C tax credit, which ended for projects placed in service after December 31, 2025 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act).

• ℹ️

  Gutter Installer

  Usually no

  Like-for-like gutter and downspout replacement does not require a permit. Underground downspout extension that ties into storm sewers, or work that touches structural fascia or roof decking, can trigger a local permit.

• ℹ️

  Pressure-Washing Service

  Usually no

  Pressure washing does not require a building permit. EPA Clean Water Act and many Ohio cities require wastewater capture so sodium hypochlorite, mildewcide, and detergent do not enter storm drains.

• ℹ️

  Lawn Care Service

  Usually no

  Routine lawn-care work does not require permits. Chemical applications (fertilizer + weed control + grub treatment) require an Ohio Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator license. Drainage changes, grading, and irrigation wiring may trigger separate permits.

• ℹ️

  Asphalt Sealcoat Contractor

  Usually no

  Residential driveway sealcoating does not require a permit. Right-of-way work, line striping on private parking surfaces, and asphalt patching tied to a city sidewalk can trigger local approval. Coal-tar sealer is banned or restricted in some Ohio cities — confirm before purchase.

• ℹ️

  Outdoor Lighting Installer

  Usually no

  Low-voltage landscape lighting (12V transformer + landscape cable) does not require a permit in most Ohio jurisdictions. Line-voltage (120V) security floodlights, hardwired smart-control panels, and any new outdoor outlet require an OCILB Electrical contractor and a local electrical permit.

• ✅

  Solar Installer

  Almost always

  Residential solar (PV array + inverter + AC tie-in) almost always requires a local building permit, electrical permit, and utility interconnection paperwork. The AC tie-in must be performed by an OCILB-licensed electrical contractor. Battery storage and ground-mount systems add structural and setback review.

• ✅

  EV Charger Installer

  Almost always

  Level 2 EV charger installs almost always require an electrical permit because they need a dedicated 240V circuit. An OCILB Electrical contractor is required. Plug-in (NEMA 14-50) and hardwired installs both need permit + inspection. Panel upgrades to support the load add a second permit scope.

• ✅

  Heat Pump Installer

  Almost always

  Heat pump installs (air-source, ductless mini-split, or geothermal) almost always require a mechanical permit. An OCILB HVAC contractor is required. EPA Section 608 refrigerant card is required for any refrigerant work. Manual J load calculation belongs on the written quote.

• ℹ️

  Insulation Contractor

  Usually no

  Attic blown insulation and rim-joist sealing usually do not require a permit. Spray foam in conditioned spaces, vapor barrier changes that affect fire-rated assemblies, and basement insulation tied to waterproofing or egress changes can trigger building permits. EPA SPF cert is required for spray foam contractors.

• ✅

  General Contractor

  Almost always

  Most general-contractor scopes (additions, remodels, basement finishing, structural work) require a building permit pulled by the GC and inspected by the local building department. Municipal contractor registration is required in Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton.

• ℹ️

  Handyman

  Usually no

  Small punch-list work (drywall patch, fixture swap, mounting, hardware) usually does not require a permit. Anything touching electrical, HVAC, plumbing past the fixture cutoff, or structural elements requires the licensed trade plus its own permit.