Do I need a permit for a pole barn in Ohio?

Which rules apply to my barn?

Ohio sorts buildings by use, and a pole barn can land in any of three groups:

• Agricultural. A building used for farming on land used for farming. Ohio's building code law does not apply to it (Ohio Revised Code 3781.061, and the exception in section 101.2 of the Ohio Building Code).
• Residential accessory. A garage, shop or storage barn that goes with a house. It falls under the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO).
• Commercial. A barn used for a business that is not farming, such as a contractor's shop, an event barn or a store. It falls under the Ohio Building Code.

When is a farm barn exempt?

When it is incident to the agricultural use of the land it sits on, and it is not used for retail trade. A farm stand that mostly sells your own crops still counts as agricultural; one that mostly sells other goods does not. A house is never an agricultural building, even on a farm. The Ohio Board of Building Standards publishes a flow chart that walks through these tests, and the guide Ohio's agricultural building exemption, explained covers them in detail.

Does an exempt barn still need zoning?

Often, yes. The exemption is from the building code, not from everything. Many townships ask you to file for a zoning certificate or an agricultural exemption form so the record shows the barn is agricultural; Ohio law gives that certificate weight (ORC 3781.061). Floodplain rules and sediment control still apply to agricultural buildings. On lots of five acres or less in a platted subdivision, township zoning may also limit an agricultural building's setbacks, height and size (ORC 519.21).

When does a pole barn garage need a building permit?

The Residential Code of Ohio exempts one-story detached accessory buildings of 200 square feet or less used as tool sheds, storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses. Larger ones need plan approval and a permit, and some cities set a smaller limit in their own code. Expect to submit a site plan, a floor plan, elevations or a section, and foundation and framing details. Union County and Montgomery County, for example, publish their own checklists for residential pole buildings.

What if my county has no residential building department?

The Residential Code of Ohio is enforced by local building departments that the Board of Building Standards certifies. Where no certified residential department covers your property, no one issues residential building permits. Gallia County, for example, states that its unincorporated area has no building codes, zoning or building permits other than floodplain and subdivision rules. You still need to build safely, and a lender or insurer may still want drawings.

How do I find out what applies to my property?

1. Look up your address on the Board of Building Standards' building department map to see who enforces the residential and commercial codes there.
2. Call the zoning office: the city or village if you are inside one, otherwise the township zoning inspector or the county.
3. Tell both offices what the barn will be used for. The use decides which rules apply.

Do I need an architect to draw a pole barn?

Not for an agricultural barn or a residential garage; Ohio does not require an architect's seal on plans for residential buildings. A commercial barn is different: drawings for buildings under the Ohio Building Code generally need the seal of an Ohio registered architect or engineer. In every case, clear drawings make the zoning and building reviews go faster. Pole barn and post-frame drawings describes what James Kehl Architects draws.