Springfield, OH Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- before any plumbing or water service work
- Building Official
- Clark County Combined Health District Health Commissioner
- Water supply piping
- copper tubing only at main/curb/meter
- Permit expiration
- 6 months if work not started
- Unpermitted-work charge
- $30-$50 plus 25% of fee
- Code penalty
- up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
In the City of Springfield, Ohio, no one may install plumbing, water service, or perform work requiring a permit on any premises without first obtaining a permit from the Plumbing Inspector under Springfield Codified Ordinances Chapter 1369. Applications route through Community Development, and every permit is tied to fees the City adopts from the Clark County Combined Health District.
1369.01 PLUMBING PERMITS. No person shall install plumbing, water service or do work for which a permit is required, on any premises in the City without first having obtained such a permit. ... 1369.02 PERMIT APPLICATION AND FEE.
(a) The City of Springfield adopts and utilizes the fees established by the Clark County Combined Health District for plumbing permits, inspections, and related services but reserves the right to set different fees when deemed necessary or appropriate.
Full Breakdown
Applications for a plumbing permit must use forms the Plumbing Inspector approves, and the City won't process or issue any permit until the required fee is paid in full under Section 1369.02(b). Fees are charged by category: plumbing permits, fixtures, water heater replacements (which also need a new T&P valve), water softeners, and sewer or water lines run between the curb and the building, priced per lineal foot for the first 100 feet and capped at $130 total for one-, two-, and three-family residential work or $150 for commercial work.
Commercial projects also draw an additional inspection fee once routine inspections exceed a sliding scale tied to the permit's cost (8 inspections up to $500, 10 for $501-$750, 12 for $751-$1,000, and 10 more per additional $1,000). A permit expires if the authorized work isn't started within six months of issuance under Section 1369.07, and no permit is required at all for repairs or replacements that don't need testing or inspection under Section 1369.04. Permits may only be issued to a holder of a valid master plumber's license, with narrow exceptions, under Section 1369.10.
If work begins before a permit is obtained, the Plumbing Inspector investigates under Section 1369.13 and adds a charge of $30 for a one-, two-, or three-family structure or $50 for any other structure, plus 25 percent of the required permit fee. The underlying 2007 Ohio Plumbing Code is adopted at Section 1361.02, enforced by the Clark County Combined Health District's Health Commissioner acting as Building Official, and Springfield requires copper tubing only for water distribution piping connecting the City's water main, curb stop, and meter box.
Violations & Fines
Doing plumbing work, altering piping, or connecting to the water main without a Plumbing Inspector-issued permit violates Springfield Codified Ordinances Sections 1369.01 and 1369.09. Unauthorized work triggers a mandatory investigation charge of $30 to $50 plus 25 percent of the permit fee under Section 1369.13, and any Plumbing Code violation is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail under Section 1361.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues plumbing permits in Springfield, Ohio?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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