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Building FAQs
The information below is designed to address some of the questions that you may have when building, constructing, or remodeling in the City of Stow. If you have any questions or concerns please contact our office at 330-689-2729.
- What is code?
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A Code is a collection of requirements that pertain to a specific subject, to regulate specific practices. A Building Code is a collection of requirements (such as exit signs and smoke detectors) that pertain to specific subjects (such as exiting and fire protection systems) and regulate specific practices (such as designing, constructing, or remodeling a building.
- What is the purpose of code?
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No matter what the specific subject may be - construction property maintenance, fire prevention, electrical, or plumbing - all codes have the same purpose:
To protect public health, safety, and welfare by requiring safe construction.
- How are codes used?
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- Codes are adopted as laws or ordinances by Governments such as states, counties, townships, and cities. Once a jurisdiction adopts a code as law, the jurisdiction must enforce that law.
- Codes become part of the permit and inspection processes. Once a code has become law, Code Officials and Inspectors from the jurisdiction need the code to help their enforcement of the law. Inspections made during construction verify that code compliance has been achieved. Inspections are made during construction to verify electrical, sanitation, structural, fire, and life safety.
- Codes provide standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of homes and businesses.
- Codes are used by architects, contractors, builders, and materials manufacturers to ensure safety, economy, and consistency of construction. You, as a homeowner or business owner, have a substantial investment that can be seriously jeopardized through code violations.
- How do codes help you?
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- Codes are adopted as laws or ordinances by Governments such as states, counties, townships, and cities. Once a jurisdiction adopts a code as law, the jurisdiction must enforce that law.
- Codes become part of the permit and inspection processes. Once a code has become law, Code Officials and Inspectors from the jurisdiction need the code to help their enforcement of the law. Inspections made during construction verify that code compliance has been achieved. Inspections are made during construction to verify electrical, sanitation, structural, fire, and life safety.
- Codes provide standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of homes and businesses.
- Codes are used by architects, contractors, builders, and materials manufacturers to ensure safety, economy, and consistency of construction. You, as a homeowner or business owner, have a substantial investment that can be seriously jeopardized through code violations.
- What is a building permit?
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A building permit is a license that grants legal permission to start the construction of a building project. Permits allow the enforcement of the codes which have been adopted as law by a state, county, township or city. No matter what the specific project may be, enforcing codes to assure safe construction helps to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
Building Permits provide the means for Code Officials to protect us by reducing the potential hazard of unsafe construction and therefore ensuring public health, safety and welfare. The Building Permit process helps us understand what our local laws and ordinances are.
Before any construction or remodeling work begins, an application for a permit should be made. Building Permits provide the means for Code Officials to inspect construction to ensure that minimum standards are met and appropriate materials are used.
- What projects require a building permit?
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Building Permits are required for the following:
- New Buildings
- Electrical Systems
- Additions
- Plumbing Systems
- Renovations
- HVAC Systems
- Demolitions
- Temporary Buildings
- Prefabricated Structures
- Mobile Homes
- Miscellaneous for Residential (fireplace, pools, decks, fences, etc.).
- Miscellaneous for Commercial (parking, health, food handling, etc.
- How are permits used?
-
Building Permits are required for the following:
- New Buildings
- Electrical Systems
- Additions
- Plumbing Systems
- Renovations
- HVAC Systems
- Demolitions
- Temporary Buildings
- Prefabricated Structures
- Mobile Homes
- Miscellaneous for Residential (fireplace, pools, decks, fences, etc.).
- Miscellaneous for Commercial (parking, health, food handling, etc.
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Building & Engineering
Phone: 330-689-2729Fax: 330-689-2705