Zoning Permits

Zoning permit must be obtained prior to requesting building permit. Zoning resolutions can be obtained by contacting the zoning inspectors for the township/village/city wherein the construction will take place.

Names and Addresses of County Zoning Inspectors

Building Permits

Property Locator (including aerial and floodplain overlay)

Commercial Application Requirements

4101:2-1-17 Construction Documents, When Required:

Where the OBC is applicable under Rule 4101:2-1-09 of the Administrative Code and before a building or addition to a building is constructed or erected, and before a building is altered or relocated, or building equipment is installed therein, or there is a change of occupancy, construction documents relating to the work and equipment under consideration shall be prepared in conformity with Rules 4101:2-1-19 and 4101:2-1-20 of the Administrative Code and submitted to the building official for inspection.

4101:2-1-18 Construction Documents, When and Where to File:

Construction documents shall be submitted in triplicate.

4101:2-1-19 Construction Documents to be Adequate:

• Construction drawings required shall be drawn to scale and shall be sufficiently clear, comprehensive, detailed, and legible when submitted to the building official so that, together with any accompanying construction documents, a person who is competent in such matters can determine whether or not the proposed building, addition, or alteration, and all proposed building equipment will conform in safety and sanitation to all applicable provisions of the OBC.
• Construction documents for all buildings shall designate the occupancy, type of construction, suppression system occupancy hazard classification and fire resistance rating of all structure elements as required by this code.  The construction documents shall include data substantiating all required fire resistance ratings.
• Construction documents shall indicate how penetrations will be made for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and communication conduits, pipes, and systems, and shall also indicate the materials and methods for maintaining the required structural integrity, fire resistance rating, and fire stopping.
• Construction drawings, when submitted to the building official for review shall be in standard multiples of eight and one-half inches by eleven inches or nine inches by twelve inches MINIMUM in size and shall include:
  • An index of drawings located on first sheet.
  • A plot plan showing street location; the location of the proposed building and all existing        buildings on the site; including setback and side yard dimensions; distance between all buildings; and location and size of all utility lines.
  • Floor plans, including plans of full or partial basements or cellars and full or partial attics or penthouses.  Floor plans must show all relevant information such as door swings, stairs and ramps, windows, shafts, etc.; and must be sufficiently dimensioned to describe all relevant space sizes.  Wall materials must be described by crosshatching (with explanatory key), by notation, or by other clearly understandable method.  Spaces must be identified by code appellation, i.e., an “auditorium” may not be identified as “meeting room” if its size and function dictates that it is an auditorium.
  • All elevations necessary to completely describe the exterior of the building including floor to floor dimensions.
  • Cross section, wall sections and detail sections, to scale, as may be required to describe the general building construction including wall, ceiling, floor and roof materials and construction; and details which may be necessary to describe typical connections, etc;
  • Complete structural description of the building on the above drawings including size and location of all principal structural elements and a table of live loads used in the design of the building and computations, stress diagrams and other data sufficient to show correctness of plans.
  • Complete description of the mechanical, electrical and fire protection systems
  • Additional graphic or text information may be reasonably required by the building official to allow him to review special or extraordinary construction methods or equipment.

4101:2-1-20 Construction Documents, Required Evidence of Responsibility

• Required construction documents, when submitted for inspection as required under Rule 4101:2-1-17 of the Administrative Code, shall bear the identification of the person responsible for their preparation and for the provisions for safety and sanitation shown therein.
• Construction documents, when submitted for inspection as required under Rule 4101:2-1-17 of the Administrative Code, shall bear the seal of a registered design professional pursuant to section 3791.04 of the Revised Code.

Geauga County Building Department
12611 Ravenwood Dr., Suite 360
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone:  440-279-1780
Fax: 440-285-2237

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SBA 504 Loan

Business/Project: Fixed assets only (land, building and fixed equipment) for user with net worth less than $6 million, or after-tax-2-year net profit average under $2 million.
Rate/Terms: $750,000 up to 40% of total project cost, fixed at 1% above treasury bond rates for a similar term may go up to $1 million in rural areas; term of 10 or 20 years. Federal dollars cannot exceed 50% of project cost.
Eligibility: Cash flow must be greater than debt service; appraisal; must create one Ohio job for every $50,000 received.
Apply To: Geauga County Community & Economic Development

Ohio 166 Regional Loan Program

Business/Project: Land and building acquisition, expansion or renovation, and equipment purchase; industrial projects preferred.
Rate/Terms: Up to 40% of total eligible fixed cost ($350,000 maximum); rate negotiable for 5 – 15 years; equity minimum 10%, bank minimum 25%. Ohio prevailing wage rate applies.
Eligibility: Must show repayment and management capabilities; must create one job for every $25,000 received.
Apply To: Geauga County Community & Economic Development

Community Development Block Grants

Business/Project: Projects must help in the development and revitalization of local communities. Must be fixed assets related to commercial, industrial or infrastructure.
Rate/Terms: $500,000 maximum grant to small city or non-urban county on behalf of a business project. Available to user or developer, at approximately 5% to 7% fixed (based on need); flexible terms.
Eligibility: Project must create or retain at least five jobs; 51% of all jobs must be for persons from low- and moderate-income households; federal prevailing wage rates may apply; environmental review covering entire project must be performed; 5% equity in fixed assets; minimum 1:1 leverage; maximum $25,000 in request for each full-time job. Infrastructure grants require local participation based on distress levels.
Apply To: Geauga County Community & Economic Development.

Ohio Enterprise Bond Fund

Business/Project: Land and building acquisition, construction, expansion or renovation, and equipment purchase for commercial or industrial projects between $1 million and $10 million in size.
Rate/Terms: Long-term, fixed rate for up to sixteen years; interest rate based on Standard & Poor’s A-minus rating, for up to 90% of total project amount.
Eligibility: Must show repayment and management capabilities, and must be able to document job creation or retention; Ohio prevailing wage rate applies.
Apply To: Office of Financial Incentives, Ohio Department Of Development.
Incentives: Long-term, fixed rate for up to 90% of total project costs; access to national capital markets for unrated companies; may not require third-party credit enhancement.

Direct Loan (166 Loan)

Business/Project: Land and building acquisition, expansion or renovation, and equipment purchase; industrial projects preferred.
Rate/Terms: Up to 30% of total eligible fixed cost ($1 million maximum, $350,000 minimum), two-thirds of prime fixed rate for 10-15 years; equity minimum 10%, bank minimum 25%. In distressed areas of the State, preferential rates and terms are available. However, the Director of Development may authorize a higher loan amount or modified terms which address a unique and demonstrated economic development need.
Eligibility: Must show repayment and management capabilities; must create one job for every $25,000 received; Ohio prevailing wage rate applies.
Apply To: Office of Financial Incentives, Ohio Department of Development.

Linked Deposit Program

Business/Project: Fixed assets, working capital and refinanced debt for small businesses, creating or retaining jobs. A similar Agricultural Linked Deposit Program provides funds for Ohio farmers to help meet planting deadlines.
Rate/Terms: 3% below current lending rate fixed for 2 years (possible 2 year extension); bank may then extend term at current rates. (All other sources of funds allowable.) The Agricultural Linked Deposit Program provides up to $100,000 per farm at reduced rate, approximately 4% below borrower’s current rate.
Eligibility: Must have Ohio headquarters and no divisions out of state, create one job for every $15,000 to $25,000 received, have 150 or fewer employees, be organized for profit, and have bank loan from eligible state depository. The Agricultural Linked Deposit Program is available for Ohio full-time farmers. Criteria include need, debt-to-equity cash flow, bank loan from eligible state depository or Production Credit Association.
Apply To: Financial institution that has been approved as a state depository for the Agricultural Linked Deposit Program, eligible lending institutions and Farm Credit Service offices throughout Ohio. Applications available early in the calendar year.
Contact: Public Affairs Office, Treasurer of State (614) 466-8855 or 1-800-228-1102 (in Ohio).

Minority Direct Loan

Business/Project: Purchase or improvement of fixed assets for state-certified minority-owned businesses.
Rate/Terms: Up to 40% of total project cost at 4.5% fixed for up to 10years (maximum). Equity required.
Eligibility: Must show repayment ability, management capabilities; create one job for every $15,000 received; company must be at least 51%minority-owned and controlled. Ohio prevailing wage rates apply for construction.
Apply To: Office of Minority Financial Incentives. Incentives: Rate, term, availability, greater bank security.
Contact: Office of Minority Financial Incentives, ODOD (614) 644-7708 or 1-800-848-1300.

Minority Business Bonding Program

Business/Project: Surety bonding assistance for state-certified minority businesses.
Rate/Terms: Maximum bond pre-qualification of up to $1,000,000 per Minority Business. The bond premium for each bond issued will not exceed two percent of the face value of the bond.
Eligibility: Must be state-certified minority business who has been denied a bond by two surety companies within its current fiscal year. The project for which bonding is sought must be economically sound and benefit the people of the State by increasing opportunity for employment and by expanding minority business enterprise. The proposed minority business must not have defaulted on a previous bond.
Apply To: Office of Minority Financial Incentives.
Contact: Office of Minority Financial Incentives, ODOD (614) 644-7708 or 1-800-848-1300.

Local Revolving Loan Funds

Business/Project: Projects must create or retain jobs; 51% of all jobs must be for persons from low- and moderate-income households; federal prevailing wage rates may apply; and an environmental review covering entire project must be performed. All Community Development Block Grant guidelines must be met, including documentation of all project aspects.
Rate/Terms: Loan ceiling determined locally or by availability. Available to user or developer, typically at 5% to 7% fixed; flexible term. Appropriate use of federal program income funds determines participation level of community.
Eligibility: Projects must create and/or retain jobs and help develop, rehabilitate or revitalize a participating “small city” community. Financing is usually approved for fixed assets related to commercial, industrial or infrastructure.
Apply To: Geauga County Community & Economic Development