Building Department
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To contact the Building Department, call 513-271-3315 or e-mail Building Commissioner Dennis Malone at dmalone@mariemont.org. The fax number is 513-271-1655.
The Building Department is located within the Administration
Office on the second floor of the
The Building Department is staffed by the Building Commissioner, Dennis Malone and the Building Inspector, David Tensi. Both staff are certified by the State of Ohio Board of Building Standards.
The Village of Mariemont Building Department is NOT a part of the Hamilton County Building Department.
The Building Department’s hours of operation are as follows:
Monday – Friday – Saturday:
Tuesday & Thursday: 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Wednesday and Sunday: Closed
Appointment times can also be arranged
Answers
to Frequently Asked Questions:
When is a building permit required? In general, a building permit is
required for any construction work, except for painting, interior decorating,
planting and ordinary repairs costing under $500. Permits are required for window, roofing,
siding replacements, satellite dish antennas, sidewalks and new driveways, etc.
What are the fees for permits? Refer to the Schedule of Building and Zoning Fees by clicking on the tab above. Generally fees are computed on the basis of floor area for construction projects or are set as a fixed amount where area is not a factor. Fees are NOT based on cost.
What codes are in effect in the Village of
Mariemont? The
Is it necessary that plans be prepared by an
Architect or Engineer? It is not
required on residential projects (but highly recommended on complex
projects). Commercial plans are required
to be stamped, signed and sealed by an architect or engineer licensed in the
State of
What level of detail is necessary for plans submitted with the permit application? Please refer to Building Permit Supplement ‘A’ for a detailed list of required information. Please note that it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide complete and legible documents for review. The Building Department cannot, by law, function as a design/engineering resource.
How can I find out what zoning requirements may pertain to my property or proposed project? A copy of the Mariemont Zoning Code may be purchased from the Building Department for $15. Beginning January 2007, The Zoning Code will also be available on-line on the Village’s web site (mariemont.org). Xerox copies of individual pages can be provided in the Building for no charge.
How is a permit acquired? Permit application forms are available in the office of the Building Department, forms can be faxed, mailed, picked up and are available on-line. The applicant will submit to the Building Department 3 copies of required documents and the application form. Please note that in all cases, permits are issued in the name of the property owner of record – not the contractor.
What is the ‘turn around time’ for permit processing? Typically, plan reviews are completed in 2 working days and the applicant is a) notified that the permit can be picked up or b) modifications or corrections are required to the plans. Simple projects such as reroofing, patios, etc. can frequently be issued at the time of submission. All required fees are required to be paid prior to issuance of a permit.
Can the Building Department be contacted, prior to a permit application being submitted, for advice on zoning and building code matters? Absolutely! The Building Department is very amenable to discussing with residents, property owners, contractors and design professionals the various elements of the applicable codes and regulations that might pertain to a given project. The Building Department actively encourages applicants to initiate a dialogue early in the planning process in the hope that potentially expensive and frustrating mistakes can be avoided. Design professionals are also encouraged to contact the Building Department early in the planning process. Several guidelines are available that explain some of the more common concerns and requirements of the Village. These are available on-line by clicking on Building Permit Supplements listed above. The Building Department is totally committed to preserving the unique character of the Village while, at the same time, not imposing unnecessary obstacles to progress and modernization efforts.
What is the value of the plan review and resulting
building permit? A number of benefits accrue to the property
owners as a result of the permit and inspection process:
·
Assurance
that the requirements of the Mariemont zoning code are met, including setbacks,
height and area limitation, fencing, signage, parking requirements (for
commercial projects), and other regulations designed to preserve the unique
character and property values of all residents.
·
Assurance
that the requirements of the Mariemont and Ohio Building Codes are met in order
to provide residents with safe, sanitary and properly constructed and
maintained homes and businesses.
·
Assurance
that any changes proposed to Historic District structures are reviewed and
approved by the Architectural Review Board.
Does the plan review automatically guarantee that a permit
will be issued? Not necessarily.
Frequently additional information or corrections are required. Revised documents take precedence over new
applications.
Are there penalties for beginning construction before the
required permit(s) are issued? Yes.
Permit fees are doubled.
Are there appeals processes for rejections of zoning or
building code compliance? Yes. In the event that a proposed improvement is
not in conformance with Village regulations, the Building Commissioner is
required to deny the application. The
applicant can then appeal the matter to the Planning Commission who has the statutory authority
to grant property variances where appropriate.
Refer to the appeal form referenced above for detailed procedural
requirements.
What information is available to property owners vis-à-vis past building
activity? Each property is recorded in the Building
Department computerized database. The
database is furnished to the Building Department from the Hamilton County
Auditor’s database, which lists current owner, property ID number and other
information associated with each parcel in the Village’s 6 taxing
districts. This information if
automatically updated quarterly to account for property transfers. Each property’s file also contains the past
history of permits issued since the inception of the department in 1948.
Who is notified about pending Architectural Review Board
and Planning Commission hearings? The Building Department notifies
abutting property owners, Village Council members, Board and Commission
members, the Mayor, Eastern Hills Journal and Mariemont Preservation Foundation
5 days in advance of any scheduled hearing.
Additionally, the hearings are posted on the Village web site, a sign is
placed in the front yard of the affected property and the hearing notice is
posted on 5 Village posting boards.
How are decisions made at the Hearings? By majority vote of board/commission members at the hearing. The Building Commissioner does not vote. Minutes of all proceedings are posted on the Village web site. An adverse decision can be appealed to Council where a 5/6 vote is required to overturn a negative decision.
Are ‘blue prints” available for all properties in the
Village? Not necessarily. It
is estimated that blue prints are on file in the Building Department for
approximately ½ to ¾ of the construction projects for which permits have been
issued. The Building Department will
make every effort to provide past blue prints whenever possible on
request. Many, but not all, site surveys
are also on file and can be provided when requested if available. Please note that the location of property
lines is the sole responsibility of the property owner – not the Building
Department. Additionally, detailed
engineering maps are maintained that locate underground utilities such as
sanitary and storm sewers, water lines, electric distribution systems and
telephone distribution lines.
Will the Building Department intervene in property
disputes between abutting owners? No.
Does the
Are there other permits and inspections that are performed
by the
Are there other permits and inspections required that are
not performed by the
How are building inspections made and who schedules
inspections? The Village Building Inspector conducts inspections
after being notified by the contractor or resident that the work being done is
ready for inspection. Requests for
inspections need to be made 24 hours in advance by calling 271-3246. Detailed instructions are included in
Building Permit Supplement ‘A’ listed above.
Are there any special regulations of permit requirements
if my property is in a Historic Architectural District? Yes. Before any exterior changes
can be made to a property in the Historic District, the Architectural Review
Board must approve the plans. The ‘ARB’
was established in 1984 by Village Ordinance to review proposed construction,
alterations and additions and to review proposed repairs to fences, signs and
other exterior construction and to review colors of approved painting and roof
work within each historic district. The
issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness by the ‘ARB’ is required before
any work commences.
How are projects closed out? After the final
inspections are successfully completed, the Building Department issues a
‘Certificate of Occupancy/Completion’ which is documentation that all
regulations have been met. To expedite
occupancy, a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued for a fee of
$50.00 that lists minor incomplete items that do affect safety of occupants.