CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS AND MATERIALS—RESIDENTIAL CODE OF OHIO GOVERNED STRUCTURES*

Columbus City Codes tit. 41, ch. 4127

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 4127.01 Residential Code of Ohio (RCO).

4127.01 - Residential Code of Ohio (RCO). A. Incorporated. The "Residential Code of Ohio for One-, Two- and Three-Family Dwellings," also known as the RCO, as adopted, and/or as republished from time to time, by the Ohio Board of Building Standards (OBBS) of the State of Ohio, Department of Commerce, and Division of Industrial Compliance, shall be in full force and effect. This code includes, but is not limited to, all related codes and standards for electrical, mechanical (HVAC), refrigeration, hydronic and plumbing systems. The provisions of this model code shall apply to all buildings and structures governed under the provisions of the OBBS - Residential Code of Ohio (RCO). The OBBS-Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) is incorporated as if set out fully at length herein and is referred to as the RCO. Included in this adoption shall be the barrier requirements from the latest version of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and swimming pool electrical requirements from the current adopted National Electrical Code. B. Plans and specifications submitted to the Department for approval for the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure covered by this code, any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures, or any accessory structures, shall be governed by the code as adopted above. (Ord. 1140-06§ 2: Ord. 1710-2007 § 1; Ord. No. 0165-2010, § 2, 5-17-2010; Ord. No. 2647-2018, § 1, 10-22-2018; Ord. No. 2101-2025, § 2, 9-8-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 4127.03 Reserved.

Columbus City Codes § 4127.09 Columbus revision to the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) "Part VIII-Electrical."

4127.09 - Columbus revision to the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) "Part VIII-Electrical." The following subsection is a supplement to the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO)—"Part VIII—Electrical," and shall apply to all one-, two-, and three-family dwellings and all structures not covered or governed under the OBC: (A) Conversion possibility. Any area finished to a point where it could be converted to habitable room without additional construction other than application of finish material(s) shall be wired according to the National Electrical Code. (B) Authorization of service connections. No person or any public or private utility corporation engaged in the distribution or sale of electrical energy shall connect any distribution system, any live supply, or service conductors from such distribution system to any electrical equipment in, on, or about a one-, two-, and three-family dwelling or any other structure not covered or governed under the "OBC." No connection shall be made until such electrical equipment and all authorized connections have been inspected and approved. Whenever the chief building official finds any electrical distribution system, or any live supply or service conductor to have been connected to any electrical equipment, in, on or about any building, without the required approvals, the chief building official is authorized and empowered to cause such system or conductor to be disconnected or order and require the same to be disconnected by the person owning or operating such distribution system. (C) Electrical service entrance maintenance and repair. The electrical service entrance conductors and electrical service equipment in a one-, two-, or three-family dwelling, if it is proven to be adequate for the load it supplies, may be replaced or repaired only for purposes of simple maintenance caused by storm damage, weathering, or for other purposes that are acceptable to the electrical inspector. No such maintenance, repair or replacement shall be done without the prior approval of the electrical inspector. An existing electrical service entrance of less than 60 amperes in a one-, two-, or three-family dwelling that is in need of maintenance or repair shall be excluded from these requirements and shall be made to comply with National Electrical Code (NEC) "Article 230 - Services." (D) Re-connection of an existing electrical service of dwelling(s) to the utility supply. Any electrical service that has been disconnected from the utility supply for any reason shall require that a licensed electrical contractor obtain an electrical permit for the electrical service(s) and make any corrections or modifications necessary to the electrical service(s), if any, to restore the electrical services(s) to its original condition of National Electrical Code and Columbus City Code compliance and to assure its adequacy for the intended load(s) to be served. The electrical contractor shall obtain inspection approval of the electrical inspector before re-connection of the electrical service(s) by the electric utility to the utility's supply. Exception: This section will not apply to the disconnection of electrical service(s) by the electric utility for the non-payment of a utility bill when the method used by the utility to disconnect the electrical energy from the utility supply to the dwelling(s) or other structure governed by this chapter has not been caused by the separation of, and/or removal of, the supplying utility's service conductors. (Ord. 1140-06 § 6.)

Columbus City Codes § 4127.11 Columbus revision to the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) - "Part IX-Plumbing."

4127.11 - Columbus revision to the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) - "Part IX-Plumbing." The following subsection is a supplement to the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO)-"Part IX- Plumbing," and shall apply to all one-, two-, and three-family dwellings and all structures not covered or governed under the OBC: (A) Fixture Termination and/or Abandonment. When any proposed work includes termination/abandonment of existing plumbing fixtures, the drain serving the fixture shall be removed back to the closest main line and capped in a manner compliant with the Ohio Plumbing Code, or the drain shall be extended vertically and terminate at a floor cleanout with Ready Access. If the plumbing fixture had a concealed Trap, such as a floor drain, the Trap shall be removed before extending the drain upward as a floor cleanout. The plumbing fixture shall be removed entirely. If the building water supply system serves the terminated/abandoned plumbing fixture, the portion of the building water supply system that serves the plumbing fixture shall be terminated in accordance with one of the following methods: 1. The portion of the building water supply system that serves the plumbing fixture shall be removed back to the closest main line and capped at or above the horizontal plane in a manner compliant with the Ohio Plumbing Code, or, 2. In the event that portions of the water lines are installed below grade, the water lines shall be either capped as close as possible to the floor or capped below grade in a manner compliant with the Ohio Plumbing Code, provided that the water line(s) are terminated in a manner that does not leave a possibility of stagnate water in the terminated line remaining in contact with the potable water distribution system. 3. The method of termination/abandonment must be included in the documents submitted for approval along with specifications, as applicable, for final completion of the termination/abandonment. (Ord. No. 1956-2024, § 6, 7-29-2024)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT41BUCO_CH4127COSTMAESCOOHGOSTFetched: 10/27/2026