Canton, OH Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Canton adopts the current edition of the State of Ohio Plumbing Code, set out at Chapter 4101:3 of the Ohio Administrative Code, applying it to residential and commercial structures under Codified Ordinances Section 1315.03, with City-specific additions: minimum one-inch water service piping from curb box to meter horn, a floor drain required at wall-hung urinals, no underground drainage line smaller than two inches, and gas piping conforming to the utility's standards. Section 1315.11 requires a written permit application before plumbing installation begins, naming the plumbing contractor, the property owner, the building address, and the expected start date.

A contractor who begins work without the required permit, absent an emergency plumbing installation, must obtain and pay for the original permit plus a penalty double the original fee, and no other contractor may use the same permit. Permits are valid for twelve months and the Plumbing Inspector may revoke one obtained by misrepresentation. Section 1315.12 sets fees, including $35.00 for a residential water heater permit, $50.00 for water service, and $100.00 for other residential permits, plus a $50.00 reinspection fee for a code violation.

Section 1315.05 separately requires any person, firm or entity doing plumbing work connected to the City's water or sewer system to hold a City registration, with unauthorized transfer or unregistered work triggering a penalty of three times the required registration fee. Limited exceptions from permitting exist under Section 1315.13 for storm sewer work and certain fixture replacements in small residential buildings.