A HANDY GUIDE TO PERMITS FOR
CONTRACTORS AND HOMEOWNERS
Before you build or repair
a one- or two-family house...
Obtaining permits to build or repair a one- or two-family
home does not have to be a complicated experience. With proper
instruction and preparation, it can be almost as simple as 1-2-3.
This page is designed to clarify and expedite the application process
for contractors and homeowners by explaining it step-by-step. It
begins with basic guidelines.
CONTRACTORS:
To build or rehabilitate homes in Cleveland,
you must be bonded, insured and registered with the City of Cleveland.
Electricians and plumbers must also be licensed. To arrange
for registration, call the Contractor Registration Section of
the Department of Building and Housing at 664-2912. For information
on permits and plan examination call 664-2910 or visit Room
505 of City Hall.
HOMEOWNERS:
To verify that the general or mechanical (plumbing,
heating, HVAC) contractor you plan to hire to build or repair
your home is registered with the City of Cleveland, call Contractor
Registration at 664-2912.
Make certain that all of the necessary permits
have been obtained before work begins and request copies for your
records.
Do not accept the work until a final inspection
is conducted and work is approved by an inspector of the Division
of Building and Housing.
DO-IT-YOURSELFERS:
If you are the owner-occupant of a one- or two-family
home, you may obtain a homeowners permit to perform your own
alterations or build your own home. You will be subject to the
same regulations that apply to contractors for permits, plan
examination, and inspection--except that you do not have to be
registered. All work must comply with the Council of American
Building Officials (CABO) code for one- and two-family units,
available in the Public Administration Library of City Hall.
To obtain a homeowner's permit, you must sign an affidavit in
Room 505 of City Hall affirming your owner-occupied status.
To obtain a copy of the affidavit, plumbing, HVAC,
and/or electrical permit applications, and/or fee schedules click
here.
The First Step: Applying for Permits...
The requirements listed here apply to contractors
and homeowners who are either building or rehabilitating one-
and two-family homes. Permits are required for new construction,
alterations, additions, and other major improvements but
not for simple repairs such as painting. Fees are paid when
the permit is issued and are based on the valuation of the
structure.
Obtain a building permit application in Room
505 of City Hall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Submit
the completed form with two sets of plans, drawn to scale.
Include the following items, when applicable:
An index of drawings and a legend of symbols
and abbreviations.
A plot plan showing location of street,
buildings, utility lines, setbacks, property lines, side
yard dimensions and distances between buildings.
Floor plans, including basements, walls,
windows and stairs. Identify all spaces by use, such
as kitchen, living room, or bedroom.
Elevations necessary to describe the
building's exterior, including floor to floor dimensions.
Cross sections, wall sections, and details
describing the construction and materials for walls,
ceilings, and floors.
Structural description, including size
and location of principal elements, table of live loads
used in the design, and sufficient data to verify safety
of new foundations.
Indicate the address and permanent parcel number(s)
of the project on the plans. For newly-constructed homes or
room additions, indicate conformance with CABO and the Ohio
Energy Code.
A description of the mechanical and electrical
systems of the building may be submitted along with building
plans or when applying for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC
permits. Include plumbing schematics, duct and piping layouts
for plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning,
and layouts for lighting and power equipment.
In addition, the Division of Streets requires
permits for street openings, curb cuts and aprons. The Division
of Water Pollution Control requires permits for sewer connections,
and the Division of Water requires permits for meters and
connections. Obtain water permits from the Department of Public
Utilities, Division of Water, 1201 Lakeside Avenue, 2nd Floor,
Permits and Sales.
The Second Step: Reviewing the Plans...
The Plan Examination staff of the Division of
Building and Housing then reviews plans to determine compliance
with the building and zoning codes. Here are a few facts you may
need to know:
FEE: There is
no additional charge for the processing of plans for one-
and two-family homes, garages, sheds, fences and swimming pools.
The permit fee covers this expense.
TIME: The review
period varies according to the complexity of the project.
In general, review of one- and two-family homes can be completed
within 3 to 5 working days.
ONE STOP SHOP:
As a special service to contractors and homeowners, the Department
of Building and Housing will circulate plans to other City
departments when additional reviews are required. Water
permits require separate applications, but plans are relayed
by facsimile by Building and Housing to the Division of
Water to expedite the review process.
REVISIONS: Verbal
notification is given to applicants on items that do not comply
with codes. A period of 3O days is allowed for the submission
of additional information or revised drawings.
The Third Step: Inspection...
Work may begin as soon as the permit is issued.
It ends with a final inspection by the City of Cleveland and the
issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
Contractors and do-it-yourselfers are responsible
for requesting and scheduling inspections at these stages of construction:
After excavation of foundation, before concrete
is poured.
After rough-in, before any work is concealed.
Upon completion of work.
The inspection process represents these advantages
to contractors and homeowners:
Each phase of construction is inspected and approved
for safety and code compliance.
If you encounter a problem, the inspector can
advise you how to proceed.
Should faulty work cause an accident, insurance
companies may not cover damages unless work has been approved
by the City in an official inspection.
NOTE: If faulty work is discovered, the inspector
will issue a violation notice to contractors or do-it-yourselfers.
A specific period of time is allotted to correct the problem.
A Word About Fences, Garages, Driveways and
Swimming Pools...
New housing construction or major rehabilitation
projects frequently include improvements to the property such
as the addition of fences, garages, driveways, and even swimming
pools. Sample drawings and complete written instructions for
permits for these projects are available in Room 505 of the
Department of Building and Housing. For your convenience,
the basic information is listed here.
FENCES: Submit
permit application with two copies of site plan, drawn to scale,
indicating the following information:
Street name and address;
Dimensioned property lines;
Location of all buildings and fences;
Fence material height and length;
If fence is along property line, show location
and distance to main buildings on adjacent property.
GARAGES: Submit
permit application with two copies of the site plan and two
sets of construction drawings. Drawings should include the foundation
plan, cross section, and exterior elevation of the garage. Garages
should be at least 10 feet away from the neighbor's house.
DRIVEWAYS: No permit
is needed to construct or alter a residential driveway, but it
must be paved with concrete or asphalt. For information on driveway
aprons, contact the Division of Streets at 664-2158. For information
on sidewalk construction or repair, contact the Bureau of Sidewalks
at 664-2474.
SWIMMING POOLS:
A building permit is required for pools containing more than
1500 gallons of water or more than 24 inches in depth. The
Department pf Public Health must approve the filtering, disinfecting,
and bactericidal treatment as well. A separate permit is required
for electrical work.
Submit four copies of the plot plan, drawn to scale
and showing the position of the pool in relation to buildings,
lot lines, and fencing. All walls of the pool must be at least
10 feet away from overhead electrical wires. A fence must be
at least four feet high, and all gates must be lockable to
prevent casual (unauthorized) access to the pool.
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