City of Columbus

How Do I?

• How do I obtain a permit?
  Certain permits can be applied for online. Visit our Citizen Access Portal to see what is currently available. All of our applications are available in the Document Library of this site or in our offices. See the Online Permits section to see if any apply. The completed application along with the specified number of copies of your plans (see Plan Review and Zoning Review) and a Certificate of Appropriateness, if applicable, can be delivered to our office. 
• How do I request an inspection?

  All inspections, except for most Fire Alarm or Suppression, can be scheduled through our Citizen Access Portal or our automated phone system 614-645-8235.

  Most Fire Alarm or Suppression inspections require the Fire Protection Inspection Request form found in the document library of this site. The completed form can be returned to [email protected]. Please pay attention to the cutoff times provided above the inspection types.

  After hours inspections can be requested through our Citizen Access Portal with the After-Hours Inspection Request Form. 

• How do I track my permit?
  Once a record is created, application status can be reviewed through our Citizen Access Portal. 
• How do I obtain a contractor's license?
  Contractors can apply for a license by going to the Document Library and downloading the application for your particular trade.
• How do I purchase additional Inspections?
  Additional inspections can be purchased through our Citizen Access Portal. Once you create an account and log in a Purchase Permit or Inspection Trip link will appear under the Building section. Click the link and follow the steps for an Additional Inspection Trip.  
• How do I find my zoning?
  An online zoning map can be found on the Zoning landing page. Click here for access to our online Zoning map.
• How do I find a licensed contractor?
  Click the "Search for a Contractor" link under the General Information section on our Citizen Access Portal to find a complete list of licensed contractors by trade with all their contact information.
• How do I find the zoning codes?
  For the complete zoning code for the city of Columbus, please visit the Zoning landing page.
• How do I obtain forms and applications?
  All Department of Building & Zoning Services forms and applications can be found in the Document Library. Simply click the link and search for the needed form or application.
• How do I obtain permits online?
  Issued permits can be found through our Citizen Access Portal. Click the Search Applications and Permits link under the Building section. On the search page, enter the application/record/permit number of the job site address and click search. When the record appears, the permit can be found by clicking Record Info, then Attachments.
• How do I find the fees for permits and inspections?
  Our Fee Schedule can be found in the Document Library of this site.
• How do I get contact information for your department?
  Our call center at 614-645-7433 is available from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on days of business. General contact information is listed on our home page. A more detailed list of contact information can be downloaded by click the Additional Contacts link.
• How do I find meeting agendas and minutes for board and commission meetings?

  A complete list of meeting agendas and meeting minutes can be found at the Boards & Commissions landing page.

• How do I find Zoning Variances and Rezoning?
  Zoning Variances and Rezoning can be found in the Zoning section, which will also provide the public meeting schedules, agendas, results, case logs and forms. Click here to navigate to the Zoning Variances and Rezoning section.
• How do I find Construction Industry Communications?
  Construction Industry Communication Reports or CIC for short can be found in the Document Library of this site.  
• How do I find the Columbus City Code?
  Click this link and it will navigate to the Municode site, which you will find the Columbus City Codes.
• How do I find the Ohio Building Standards?
  The Ohio Building Standards is located on thes State of Ohio website. Click here to navigate to the Board of Building Standards. Once you are on the State of Ohio site select the CODES menu.
• How do I find the Ohio Building Code?
  The Ohio Building codes is located on the website of the International Code Council. Click here to navigate to the 2017 Ohio Building Code.
• How do I find the 2017 Ohio Mechanical Code?
  The 2017 Ohio Mechanical Code is located on the International Code Council website. Click here to navigate to the 2017 Ohio Mechanical Code section.