Building permits in Cincinnati, OH
Permits for Cincinnati are issued by City of Cincinnati, Buildings and Inspections. Applications go through the portal below.
Checked against the department's own page on 6 Sep 2026
Where to file
- Department
- City of Cincinnati, Buildings and Inspections
- Phone
- 513-352-3271
- Portal
- opencounter.cincinnati-oh.gov
OPENCINCY / OpenCounter portal. 805 Central Ave, Ste 500. (Hamilton County outside city.)
What each job needs in Cincinnati
Typical requirements and fee ranges. Fees scale with project valuation, so treat these as a starting point and confirm the number with City of Cincinnati before you quote.
| Project | Permits | Typical fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Remodel | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Addition | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| New Construction | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Site / Grading | $500–3,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
| Electrical | Electrical | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Plumbing | Plumbing | $50–200 | 3–5 business days |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Mechanical (HVAC) | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Roofing | Roofing | $100–400 | 1–5 business days |
| Deck / Fence | Building | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Demolition | Demolition | $50–400 | 5–10 business days |
| Commercial Build-Out | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Fire / Life-Safety Review | $300–2,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
Licensing in Ohio
The state OCILB license covers only commercial specialty trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, hydronics, refrigeration); there is no statewide general-contractor license — GC licensing is local.
Issued by Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) — Dept. of Commerce (trades); local for GC · Verify a licence
Stop looking this up
SQM answers this for any job in Ohio, drafts the contract, and sends the invoice. Ask it in your own words, from the truck.
No credit card. The permit finder is free with no account.
Other Ohio jurisdictions
All Ohio jurisdictionsDepartment, portal and phone checked against the official page on 6 Sep 2026. Fee ranges and turnaround times are typical for this kind of work and are not quotes. Requirements change, so confirm with the department before you file. SQM.AI is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.