Administrative overview · FIPS 39167
Washington 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
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Southeast Ohio Building Department
For a project in or near Washington 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
740-374-4185
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Southeast Ohio Building Department, 340 Muskingum Drive, Marietta, OH 45750
Operating hours
Monday-Thursday, 7:00 AM-4:15 PM; Friday, 7:00 AM-12:00 PM; closed legal holidays
Review expectation
Most permits are reviewed in 1-14 days; the published maximum is 30 days. Residential electrical fault-current submissions may require 3-5 days.
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 Washington County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Southeast Ohio Building Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area 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 740-374-4185.
How long might review take?
Most permits are reviewed in 1-14 days; the published maximum is 30 days. Residential electrical fault-current submissions may require 3-5 days.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call 740-374-4185 at least one day before the inspection is needed. Keep all approved permit documents and modifications at the job site for every scheduled inspection; the department issues the final certificate of occupancy after all required inspections pass.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Commercial: 2024 Ohio Building Code, 2024 Ohio Mechanical Code, 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, 2023 NEC, Ohio Plumbing Code, 2024 Ohio Existing Building Code, 2024 NFPA 13 and NFPA 72, applicable 2024 energy provisions, and 2009 ANSI A117.1. Residential: 2019 Residential Code of Ohio for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings and 2023 NEC. Residential permits are not required for sheds up to 200 square feet; painting and wallpapering; gutter or downspout replacement; replacing up to 100 square feet of ordinary roof decking, subject to the fire-rated townhouse exception; replacing glass in existing windows; replacing kitchen cabinets; like-for-like plumbing fixtures without altering supply or drain/waste/vent systems; and replacing existing light fixtures. All exempt work must still meet code.