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.

MAY IS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH

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It Starts with YOU!

Building Safety Month is an international campaign celebrated in May to raise awareness about building safety.

For more than 42 years, Building Safety Month has reinforced the need for the adoption of modern, regularly-updated building codes, and helps individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures.

The 2023 Building Safety Month theme is "It Starts with YOU!", and each week focuses on a specific topic: 

Week 1 (May 1–7): Building Safety Starts at Home

Week 2 (May 8–14): Building Safety Professionals and You

Week 3 (May 15–21): Prepare Your Community

Week 4 (May 22–28): Advocate for Your Community

Week 5 (May 29–31): Solving Challenges Together

Help spread the word about Building Safety Month on your social media profiles by sharing our premade posts that incorporate Building Safety Month text and images specific to each weekly theme. 

History

For the last 43 years, we have celebrated advances in constructing safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient buildings and homes. The ongoing support of Building Safety Month and the important role code officials play in public safety in the built environment has come from U.S. presidents, governors, mayors, county executives, other government officials and construction industry professionals.

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

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