CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS AND MATERIALS—"OBC" GOVERNED STRUCTURES*

Columbus City Codes tit. 41, ch. 4125

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 4125.01 Ohio Building Code (OBC).

4125.01 - Ohio Building Code (OBC). Incorporated. The Ohio Building Code (OBC), including all related system codes and standards for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, elevator, fire prevention, and boiler systems, as designated and set forth in the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapters 4101:1-1 to 4101:1-35, and all amendments, additions, deletions, and/or substitutions thereto as adopted by the state of Ohio Board of Building Standards (OBBS), is incorporated fully as if set out at length herein. This model code is frequently referred to herein as the "OBC" and shall apply to all building governed by the Ohio Building Code. OBC adopted standards are, but not limited to, the Ohio Mechanical Code (OAC Chapters 4101:2-1 to 4101:2-15); the Ohio Plumbing Code (OAC Chapters 4101:3-1 to 4101:3-13); the Ohio Elevator Code (OAC Chapters 4101:5-1 to 4101:5-3); the Ohio Fire Code (1301:7-1 to 1301:7-7); the Ohio Boiler Code (OAC Chapters 4101:4-1 to 4101:4-17); and the barrier requirements from the latest version of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Ohio Building Code Additions and Clarifications (Ord. 733-06 § 21; Ord. No. 2101-2025, § 1, 9-8-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 4125.03 Ohio Building Code, Structural—Frost line.

4125.03 - Ohio Building Code, Structural—Frost line. The standard frost depth for OBC governed construction shall be 32 inches (813 mm). (Ord. 733-06 § 22.)

Columbus City Codes § 4125.05 Ohio Building Code, Electric—Authorization of service connections.

4125.05 - Ohio Building Code, Electric—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 building, or allow any such connection to be made, until the department shall have inspected such electrical equipment and have authorized such connection to be made. Whenever the department 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 department 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. (Ord. 733-06 § 23.)

Columbus City Codes § 4125.07 Ohio Building Code, Electric—Electrical service and reconnections.

4125.07 - Ohio Building Code, Electric—Electrical service and reconnections. 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 service(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) for the nonpayment of a utility bill when the method used by the utility to disconnect the electrical energy from the utility's supply to any building or structure covered by this chapter has not been caused by the separation of, and/or removal of, the supplying utility's service conductors. (Ord. 733-06 § 24.)

Columbus City Codes § 4125.09 Ohio Building Code, Electric—Emergency generator installation acceptance test.

4125.09 - Ohio Building Code, Electric—Emergency generator installation acceptance test. (A) Every OBC emergency electrical system (e.g.-NFPA 70—Article 701—Legally Required Standby) power production system using a generator that is powered by a prime mover that operates on (1) liquid petroleum products at atmospheric pressure, or (2) liquefied petroleum gas (liquid or vapor withdrawal), or (3) natural or synthetic gas, shall be subjected to a test(s) of the operation of the entire system to ensure compliance with all OBC requirements. A "cold start" witnessed installation acceptance test shall be performed in accordance with a published directive of the chief building official. (B) A "cold start" shall mean that the prime mover of the emergency generator shall not have been started, operated, or otherwise exercised for a period of 24 consecutive hours prior to the scheduled time of the witnessed installation acceptance test(s). All necessary prime mover systems required for the starting of the prime mover shall be in a normal operating condition for the same period. (C) The department shall be given advance notification of the time at which the final test(s) is to be performed so that the chief building official or his or her designee can witness the test(s). The time for this scheduled installation acceptance test(s) shall be by mutual agreement between the applicant and the department. Ohio Mechanical Code (OMC) Additions and Clarifications (Ord. 733-06 § 25.)

Columbus City Codes § 4125.11 Ohio Mechanical Code—HVAC design and installation.

4125.11 - Ohio Mechanical Code—HVAC design and installation. In OBC use groups A, E and I, all equipment located on grade or within eight feet (2438 mm) of grade shall be enclosed with a protective fence, cabinet, or enclosure. (Ord. 733-06 § 26; Ord. No. 0165-2010, § 1, 5-17-2010)

Columbus City Codes § 4125.43 OPC Plumbing Code—Appurtenance/Fixture Termination and/or Abandonment.

4125.43 - OPC Plumbing Code—Appurtenance/Fixture Termination and/or Abandonment. (a) When any proposed work includes termination/abandonment of existing plumbing appurtenances, such as, storm water catch basins, separators, interceptors, or similar appurtenances, the contents of the plumbing appurtenance shall be removed and disposed of, then the drain serving the appurtenance 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. The plumbing appurtenance shall be removed entirely, or, if approved by the Chief Building Official, the plumbing appurtenance may be crushed/destroyed in place, provided that it is crushed/destroyed in a manner that prevents the plumbing appurtenance from retaining any waste or water. 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. (b) 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. (c) 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, § 5, 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_CH4125COSTMAOBGOSTFetched: 10/27/2026