About Buildings & Inspections
The Department of Buildings and Inspections operates the Permit Center and consists of the following sections:
Customer Service
It all starts here!
All permits for new buildings, remodeling or repair are initiated and issued through this section. Projects are routed through the various other affected sections including Zoning Administration, Plan Examination and all the applicable agencies that review and approve a project prior to permit issuance.
Building Plan Review
The Building Plans Examination section reviews plans, specifications, calculations, and other related construction documents for all new or remodeled commercial, industrial, and residential buildings or structures for compliance with current Building codes and relevant laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations in order to safeguard the life, health, property, and public welfare of the building occupants.
Business Development Services
Business Development Services was established to make it easier for business owners and investors to open their doors in less time allowing them to focus valuable resources on what really matters, running a successful business.
• OpenCincy Business Portal
• Commercial Courtesy Inspections
• Coordinated Site Review
• Same-Day Review and Review by Appointment
Through these initiatives, the Department is facilitating and supporting the revitalization of main streets and business districts throughout the City of Cincinnati.
Inspections
There are two general types of inspections:
• There are Inspections related to building permits, and construction such as soil, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and final.
Inspections are responsible for auditing all construction work to verify compliance with the approved plans and specifications.
• There are inspections related to code enforcement, complaints, issuance of orders, re-inspection for compliance.
Our mission is to protect the public health, safety, and quality of life, by eliminating blight and building safety hazards and promoting property maintenance and renovation through education and code enforcement.
Private Lot Abatement Program (PLAP)
The purpose of PLAP is to promote thriving, clean, safe, and healthy neighborhoods through cleaning and abatement of private lots in Cincinnati neighborhoods. PLAP has two critical components: civil citation issuance (via code enforcement), and lot cleaning/abatement.