Architect for southeast Ohio

Which counties and towns do you cover?

Athens, Washington, Hocking, Perry, Muskingum, Morgan, Noble, Meigs, Gallia, Lawrence, Scioto, Vinton, Jackson and Ross counties, including Athens, Nelsonville, Marietta, Belpre, Logan, New Lexington, Zanesville, McConnelsville, Caldwell, Pomeroy, Gallipolis, Ironton, Portsmouth, McArthur, Jackson and Chillicothe.

How are permits handled here?

Often there is no county building permit at all. Gallia County, for example, states that its unincorporated area has no building codes, zoning or building permits other than floodplain and subdivision regulations, while sewage permits still come from the health department. Cities and villages such as Athens, Marietta and Zanesville run their own zoning and permit offices, and some townships, such as Athens Township, have adopted zoning that requires a certificate for accessory buildings. Check your address on the state's building department map and ask the county planning office about floodplain and subdivision rules.

What kind of work comes up in southeast Ohio?

Houses and cabins on wooded, sloping land, including rental cabins in the Hocking Hills; barns and garages on rural parcels; and renovations of older houses in the river towns and in Athens.

What should I know about building here?

• Slopes. Sites are steep and often rocky. The foundation, the drive and where water goes after a storm decide where the house can sit; a site visit is usually worth it.
• Floodplains. The Ohio, Hocking and Muskingum rivers and their creeks have wide floodplains. Floodplain rules apply even where there are no building permits.
• Rentals. A cabin built to rent may fall under rules that a private house does not. Decide the use before the design and check with the county.
• Old mines. Parts of the region were mined underground for coal. Ask about mine subsidence when you buy land, check whether the county is covered by Ohio's mine subsidence insurance program, and tell your architect.

How do we work together?

Remotely first, from your survey or parcel map and photos, with a site visit when the land calls for it. See new custom homes, pole barn drawings, zoning and site plans and permit drawings for additions.