Permits—Qualifications.
Columbus City Codes § 4113.57
in effect4113.57 - Permits—Qualifications.
(A) No person shall commence to perform the work of any trade or craft that is required to be licensed or registered under the Columbus Building Code, including plumbing, sewer, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, hydronics, refrigeration and electrical work, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a separate permit for each such trade from the department.
(B) A permit may be issued only to the following:
(1) Any person, firm or corporation holding a license or registration properly issued under the license or registration regulations in Chapter 4114 of the Columbus Building Code. In the event the holder of such license or registration is a firm, partnership or corporation, any person, proprietor or officer of said firm, partnership or corporation, as designated by the license or registration holder on the contractor assignment or registration form, may sign the application for a permit on behalf of the license or registration holder. In such event, the name of the person who qualified for the contractor license or registration shall be indicated in the permit application.
Exception: Electrical, plumbing, heating-ventilating and air conditioning contractors (HVAC), refrigeration and steam and hot water (hydronics) contractors that have a current and valid license issued by the department on September 17, 2001, shall be allowed to obtain permits for their specific department-licensed trade or craft until the expiration of such current department-issued license. Thereafter, permits for such trade or craft shall only be issued to an OCIEB licensed specialty contractor duly registered with the department.
(2) A homeowner, provided that all work thereunder shall be done with the homeowner's own hands or with assistance only from homeowner's own immediate family. Said work can be done only in a single-family detached residence which is not part of any type of multiple-occupancy dwelling or other type of building or structure and is occupied or is to be occupied by no one except homeowner's own family. In the event that no immediate family is available for assistance, assistance may be acquired from persons other than homeowner's immediate family provided no financial compensation is either given or implied for such assistance. The person or persons who are to perform the work shall be named in the permit application. This work shall include only alteration or extension of existing mechanical or electrical systems.
(C) No department-licensed or registered contractor, homeowner, or occupying homeowner shall allow the use of the contractor or homeowner's name by any person, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of obtaining a permit to do any mechanical or electrical work.
(D) A homeowner's permit shall be revoked if, after inspection by an inspector, the work is of such nature that it is deemed to be a hazard to the occupants of the residence. Thereupon, the inspector shall order the homeowner to obtain the services of a duly department-licensed or registered contractor of the appropriate type to bring the installation into compliance with the applicable codes. This contractor or registrant may not work under the auspices of the homeowner's permit unless the homeowner's permit is transferred to the licensed or registered contractor in accordance with C.C. 4113.07.
(E) Exception: Plumbing, heating and ventilation equipment, refrigeration system equipment, hydronic systems and electrical wiring in connection with manufacturing equipment, scientific research equipment and testing equipment are exempt from the department OCIEB licensed contractor registration and permit requirements of C.C. Chapters 4113 and 4114.
(F) Emergency Work. In cases where an emergency exists, work may be commenced prior to obtaining a permit. In these cases a permit shall be obtained as soon as possible the same day or as soon as the department's office is open for business. An emergency includes, but is not limited to, structural, mechanical or electrical system failures.
(Ord. 1483-97 § 2 (part); Ord. 1669-01 § 14; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)
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_CH4113PEFE_4113.57PEUAFetched: 10/27/2026