Administrative overview · FIPS 39071
Highland County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
Municipal Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Local municipal building departments, including the City of Hillsboro Building Department, with Highland County Health Department plumbing oversight
For a project in or near Highland County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
937-393-5219 (Hillsboro Building Department); 937-393-1941 (Highland County Health Department plumbing)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
City of Hillsboro Building Department, 130 N. High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133; Highland County Commissioners, 119 Governor Foraker Place, Suite 211, Hillsboro, OH 45133
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM for Hillsboro's municipal office; countywide hours vary by responsible local authority.
Review expectation
Hillsboro's published guidance indicates approximately 1-2 weeks or less for residential reviews and 3-4 weeks or less for commercial reviews, depending on project size and review timeline.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Highland County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 937-393-5219 (Hillsboro Building Department); 937-393-1941 (Highland County Health Department plumbing).
How long might review take?
Hillsboro's published guidance indicates approximately 1-2 weeks or less for residential reviews and 3-4 weeks or less for commercial reviews, depending on project size and review timeline.
How are inspections scheduled?
Submit the application and supporting documents to the responsible local department; in Hillsboro call 937-393-5219 to schedule inspections. Plan review must be completed and fees paid before construction inspections. Serious violations may result in a stop-work order.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Hillsboro states that residential work is enforced under the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio and commercial/industrial work under the Ohio Building Code and state-adopted electrical code. Current 2026 editions for all county jurisdictions were not stated. Ordinary maintenance or repair generally does not require a Hillsboro building permit unless it changes exterior lines or limits, changes the number of living units, or affects sanitary conditions. Replacement windows are exempt unless structural changes are involved. Local rules outside Hillsboro may differ.