Building Department

Ohio Building Code Compliance

It is our mission to protect the customer's life, investment, health and welfare by providing quality service through communication, education and assisting customers in compliance with the Ohio Codes.

The Lima/ Allen County Building Department is responsible for enforcing in accordance with the Ohio Building Code and issuing Commercial Building Permits within the unincorporated townships of Allen County and four contract jurisdictions, including Beaverdam, Elida, Harrod and Lafayette. For the building permit process, the department coordinates the approvals required for the issuance of the building permit and the inspections that are required by the various agencies before the Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Completion can be issued. Residential one-, two- and three-family dwellings within the City of Lima Corporation Limits "only" are enforced in accordance with Residential Code of Ohio and issuance of the appropriate permits.

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Office Hours

M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Inspectors are generally in the office between             8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Requesting Inspections & Scheduling Meetings

Department staff are available in person, by phone and by email for conferences on code issues. Meetings can easily be arranged with the various agencies involved in the permit process if requested. Email the Building Department with a question or concern.

BUILDING SAFETY MONTH 2022

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Building Codes in Action!

In May of 2022, The City of Lima will participate in the 42nd annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, its members and partners to promote building safety. This year’s campaign, “Safety for All: Building Codes in Action,” raises awareness about the importance of building codes in ensuring safety in the spaces in which we live, work and learn.

Homes and buildings that are built in compliance with building safety codes and the officials who enforce the codes are essential to helping communities become affordable, resilient, and energy and water-efficient. Building Safety Month provides homeowners, government officials, and the public with the necessary information and resources to prepare and protect our built environment. 

This year’s campaign themes are: Week One, May 1-8, Planning for a Safe & Sustainable Tomorrow; Week Two, May 9-15, Exploring Careers in Building Safety; Week Three, May 16-22, Understanding Disaster Mitigation; May 23-31, Creating a Safe & Abundant Water Supply

With an extensive history dating back to 2200 B.C and the Code of the Hammurabi, king of the Babylonian Empire, building codes have protected the public for thousands of years. The regulation of building construction in the United States dates back to the 1700s. Today, the International Codes, developed by the Code Council are the basis for our Ohio Codes. The International Codes are the most widely used and adopted set of building safety codes in the U.S. and around the world.

Learn more about Building Safety Month at www.buildingsafetymonth.org or join the conversation on social media using #BuildingSafety365.

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CONTRACTOR DESIGN, CODE & PERMITTING INFORMATION

  1. Contractor Registration
  2. Residential Information
  3. Commercial Information
  4. Electronic Plan Review
  5. Video Inspection Remote (VIR)

Contractor Registration 

To register as a Contractor with the Building Department, the following requirements shall be met:

1. A copy of a valid, un-expired State of Ohio contractors License (HVAC, Electrical, Etc). This requirement does not apply to building contractors. 

2. Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of $300,000.00 listing the City of Lima as the holder of the certificate. 

3. Copy of Workers Compensations Certificate. 

4. Registration with the City of Lima Tax Department. 

5. Completed Application. 

6. Payment of a 50.00 (per trade) non-refundable 

Contractor Application

  1. Vendor Licenses
  2. Tracking Permits
  3. Garage Sale Permits
  4. Fire Protection
  5. Planning Code

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