Do I need a permit for pavers, driveway, or hardscape in Unincorporated Franklin County?
It depends. Whether pavers, driveway, or hardscape needs a permit in Unincorporated Franklin County comes down to the details of your project.
In Franklin County, permits outside the cities are handled by the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning, Building Regulation Division, reachable on 614-525-3166 at https://www.franklincountyohio.gov/Business-Development/Development-Planning/Building-Permits. Its online permit portal is https://co-franklin-oh.smartgovcommunity.com/Public/Home. This is a certified building department serving communities in Franklin County that do not run their own. Ohio certifies municipal, county and township departments alike, so confirm which one covers your address. Patios are often exempt while driveway and right-of-way work is not, so confirm which side of that line your project falls on. Section 102.10 of the Residential Code of Ohio, work exempt from approval, covers sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below. Patios are not on that list, so do not assume a paver patio is exempt in Ohio. Added impervious surface can also trigger local zoning, grading or drainage review, so confirm before you begin. A structural retaining wall over 4 feet high, or any wall supporting a surcharge, a raised deck, or landscape electrical work requires its own permit and is not exempt. Ohio words 102.10 as an exemption from approval rather than from the rules. Exempt work still has to comply with the applicable provisions of the rules of the Board of Building Standards.
Documents you may need
- Zoning / grading permit application (where required)Sometimes required
- Site plan showing coverage, setbacks, and drainageSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Zoning / grading or drainage review where applicable
- Final inspection where a permit is issued
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for pavers, driveway, or hardscape in Unincorporated Franklin County?
- It depends. Whether pavers, driveway, or hardscape needs a permit in Unincorporated Franklin County comes down to the details of your project. In Franklin County, permits outside the cities are handled by the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning, Building Regulation Division, reachable on 614-525-3166 at https://www.franklincountyohio.gov/Business-Development/Development-Planning/Building-Permits. Its online permit portal is https://co-franklin-oh.smartgovcommunity.com/Public/Home. This is a certified building department serving communities in Franklin County that do not run their own. Ohio certifies municipal, county and township departments alike, so confirm which one covers your address. Patios are often exempt while driveway and right-of-way work is not, so confirm which side of that line your project falls on. Section 102.10 of the Residential Code of Ohio, work exempt from approval, covers sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below. Patios are not on that list, so do not assume a paver patio is exempt in Ohio. Added impervious surface can also trigger local zoning, grading or drainage review, so confirm before you begin. A structural retaining wall over 4 feet high, or any wall supporting a surcharge, a raised deck, or landscape electrical work requires its own permit and is not exempt. Ohio words 102.10 as an exemption from approval rather than from the rules. Exempt work still has to comply with the applicable provisions of the rules of the Board of Building Standards.
- Who issues the permit in Unincorporated Franklin County?
- The local building department for Unincorporated Franklin County handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.