Programs

Building Permits Seminar

Photos of this event - click here

Many years ago, roadblocks, miscommunication and misunderstanding stood in the way of anyone looking to construct.

In fact, according to Joseph F. Busch, Chief Building Official for the City Of Columbus, there was a wall in the industry, making the process of building very frustrating for almost anyone involved.

“There is no wall today,” said Busch to nearly 100 IFMA and non-IFMA members who filled one of the largest-attended events February 18 at the Fawcett Center.  “It is to our benefit and your benefit to communicate,” he said.

But while Busch, or “Joe” as so many casually call him, points out that he and others have worked very hard to open doors that were once closed or slightly ajar, he admits the business of building permits can still be somewhat confusing.

“Our whole society has become very complex, and our buildings department has not been immune.  There’s precious little in Columbus that doesn’t need a permit.”

But if those who attended the hour and a half-long session walked away with anything, it was a message of hope – that Busch and his office are there to help, not to hinder.

Busch, who has been in his current position for over nine years now, spent most of the morning going over types of permits in the City of Columbus, and the miscellaneous fees that go along with those permits.

The list was long for both.

In fact, almost anything, from the construction of a skyscraper to the movement of partitioned office furniture, needs some type of building permit, said Busch.  And while some permits may seem frivolous, there is usually a safety concern in mind.

According to Section 4113.37 of the Columbus Building Code, “No person shall elect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish any building or structure in the city, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a separate permit for each such building or structure from the Building Official and paying the fee prescribed therefore in the fee schedule.”

“Folks, that doesn’t leave a lot out,” Busch pointed out.

There are some exceptions, including maintenance work, painting (unless the work is being done in one of Columbus’s 19 special living areas like German Village), the construction of playground equipment, or work on mobile homes in a mobile home park or accessory structures less than 169 square feet of gross floor area.

Obviously, there is not enough space here to permit a full overview of all the areas covered by Busch, but some of the highlights included:

• If anyone ever has any doubts about building, construction, or improvement, even due to a fire, accident, or Mother Nature, call Busch’s office at (614) 645-6079. He encourages questions and calls in order to avoid delays in a project, or added fees.  “We really don’t like re-fees,” he said.  “We really don’t like dinging people.  But in the interest of safety, fines get people’s attention.”
  
  Questions can also be answered by visiting the department’s website at http://www.columbusonestopshop.com
  
• Both a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), and a Final Certificate of Occupancy (CO) are very important. A TCO allows someone to move into a structure while other work is being finished, but only if all life safety systems are in place.  A TCO is good for 90 days, with two 90 days renewals allowed, although further exceptions could be granted.
  
  A CO is one of the most important documents an owner could have in his or her possession, said Busch.  “It’s a truly valuable piece of paper.”  In fact, once a structure is complete, Busch said the CO is the owner’s property, and should be prominently displayed.  If an occupant is caught not having one, it is an automatic $500 fine, said Busch.  And if life safety systems are not in place, the occupant will be asked to vacate.
  
• Be sure that any contractor used in a project is registered with the City of Columbus.  “It’s the law,” said Busch.  Many problems and delays can be avoided by ensuring this, including obtaining a simple permit. (Anyone can ask for a plan review though).
  
• While Busch’s office is set up to operate like a “one-stop-shop”, zoning in the City of Columbus is not, and obtaining a review, therefore, can take much longer and cause needless delays.  According to Busch, a zoning clearance can take up to 12 weeks, while his offtee tries to clear all requests in 20 days or less.  His advice is to have the zoning clearance done well in advance of any request for permits, which will result in a much timelier project schedule.
  
• A Removal/Restoration Start Permit must be obtained in order to enter an old building, for example, to get a good look into the possibility of renovation and use.  It is also used for agents to enter a structure damaged by fire, in order to get a good insurance estimate.  In either case, this type of permit goes no father than a little removal and restoration.  “It’s just to take it to that point,” said Busch.
  
• Phases are allowed in Permitting, during which only part of a project is submitted at a time.  Busch said there is a premium to be paid for such a privilege, and only six phases are allowed (to be declared at the start of a project).  The Easton project prompted this new rule, said Bush, because so many phases were being submitted and eating up his office’s time and energy.
  
• Major reconfiguration of office furniture, particularly divided partitions, requires a permit, said Busch, because there are likely electrical concerns involved.  Historically, personnel constraints have not allowed for low-voltage inspections, but new requirements make the inspections a must.

During Busch’s question and answer session, he admitted there are still some gray areas when it come to building permits, but anything posed to his office will get a well-thought out review by qualified personnel.

Overseeing some 68 field inspectors, Busch said his office averages approximately 75,000 inspections a year.  “These folks are busy.”

But it is in his best interest, his employees’, and his customers’ to be efficient and thorough, for safety’s sake, if nothing else.

For complete information about building permits, visit Busch’s one-stop-shop website, or http://www.cityofcolumbus.org.