City of Dayton, Ohio - Division of Building Inspection

City of Dayton, Ohio

city

371 W. Second St., Dayton, OH 45402

Not required

Not required

Dayton's Division of Building Inspection is at 371 W. Second St., Dayton, OH 45402 (One Stop Center, 2nd floor); general phone 937-333-3883, fax 937-333-4284; hours M-F 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Chief Building Official Scott Adams ([email protected]). Per the Division's own Permit-Process FAQ, "The Building Inspection Division strives to review and provide comments, as appropriate, no later than 30 calendar days following the date of application," and "Three copies of the site plan, construction documents, and supporting information are to be submitted with the application." Permit-fee cost estimates go through 937-333-6794; form-completion problems go through 937-333-3979. Online applications were not yet available as of this verification; the city stated it is upgrading its permitting software. The Division's own "Inspection Procedures Bulletin" (3/2021) instructs applicants to "CALL FOR THE REQUIRED INSPECTIONS" at least 24 hours in advance and lists dedicated phone lines by trade (e.g., Structural 333-3897, Electrical 333-3881, Plumbing/Water/Gas/Sewer 333-3892, Mechanical 333-3980).

SET BY STATE RULE, with Dayton's own codified local layer now read in full and disclosed because it disagrees with the city's current administrative practice. Ohio regulates one-, two-, and three-family dwelling construction through a single statewide code, the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO), adopted by the state Board of Building Standards under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3781 and codified in Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4101:8. The current edition is the "2019 Residential Code of Ohio," based on the 2018 International Residential Code, as subsequently amended effective March 1, 2024 and April 15, 2024. Ohio has NOT moved to a newer IRC base edition as of this verification date. Dayton's own city website (daytonohio.gov/194/Building-Codes) independently confirms the city currently enforces the "2019 Residential Code of Ohio (This version of the residential code became effective July 1, 2019.)" for residential structures and the "2024 Ohio Building Code" for commercial structures. Dayton's codified local building chapter -- Code of Ordinances Title XV, Chapter 153, "Unified Building Code" -- was fetched and read in full via the Municode API (Chapter 153 currency confirmed against the library's own banner text: codified through Ordinance No. 32180-26, passed April 1, 2026). That codified text disagrees with the city's own webpage above. Section 153.01(A)(2) reads, without amendment since Am. Ord. 30111-02 (passed June 5, 2002): "all of the provisions of the 1999 Ohio Residential Code For One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings, including all amendments effective as of the date of adoption of this chapter, are hereby adopted" -- so the codified text on its face names the 1999 edition of the state's residential code, frozen as of the 2002 amendment, for one-, two- and three-family dwellings, in contrast with the Ohio Building Code half of the same section, which the ordinance in the same sentence adopts "including all amendments hereafter adopted by the State of Ohio" (a floating reference, commercial structures only). The same subsection (A)(1) goes on to adopt "all rules and regulations now and hereafter adopted pursuant to state law"; the Residential Code of Ohio is itself a rule adopted under state law (Ohio Revised Code 3781.10), and whether that clause carries the current RCO into the codified text alongside the fixed (A)(2) reference is not decided here. Section 153.03, "Modifications to the 1999 Ohio Residential Code," was read in full: it replaces only Chapter 1 (Sections 101-119, all administrative -- title, scope, board of appeals, permits-and-inspections procedure, energy-conservation cross-reference) of that 1999 base "in their entirety," and touches nothing past Chapter 1. Across the whole of Chapter 153 (74 sections fetched and read in full): zero occurrences of "Chapter 9," "R905," "905.2," "1504," "UL 2218," "Class 4," "Class IV," "FM 4473," "hail," "shingle," "drip," or "sheath," and the one "roof" hit is inside the unrelated frame-inspection sequence (113.1.3). State framework, as context: Ohio Revised Code 3781.10(A)(2)(c), in its current text (effective September 30, 2025), provides that "In no case shall any local code or regulation differ from the state residential building code" for new residential construction or for the repair and alteration of existing residential buildings, unless the local rule addresses subject matter the state code does not address or is adopted under section 3781.01; whether that provision displaces the codified 1999 reference is a legal question this record does not answer. So Dayton's own codified ordinance adds no roofing-specific technical provision of its own. The field answers in this record state the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio: that is the code the state rule applies by its own terms to every one-, two- or three-family dwelling (RCO 101.2: "The provisions of the 'Residential Code of Ohio for One-, Two-, and Three-Family Dwellings' shall apply to ... every one-, two-, or three-family dwelling"), and the code the city's building codes webpage says it enforces. The codified 1999 reference in Section 153.01(A)(2) is disclosed above with its dates; this directory has not obtained the 1999 text, and whether that codified reference has any effect today is not decided here.

Not required — SET BY STATE RULE, and a genuine, non-obvious deviation from most other IRC-based states. Ohio's RCO does NOT carry forward the base IRC's prescriptive drip-edge provision. The entire content of RCO Section 905.2.8.5 is, verbatim: "905.2.8.5 Drip edge. Refer to Sections 903.1 and 905.1." Neither cross-referenced section imposes a drip edge: Section 903.1 (General) requires only that roof coverings be "secured to the building or structure" per the chapter's provisions and the "approved manufacturer's instructions," and Section 905.1 is a general wind-load-resistance provision. There is therefore no numbered Ohio provision requiring a drip edge at eaves and rakes with the usual dimensional and fastening specifications; where a drip edge is required in Ohio, it is required by the roof-covering manufacturer's approved installation instructions operating through Section 903.1, not by a freestanding code mandate. Dayton's codified Chapter 153 names the 1999 Ohio Residential Code for One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings (153.01(A)(2), unamended since 2002); this note states the 2019 RCO, which the state rule applies to every one-, two- or three-family dwelling (RCO 101.2) and which the city's own building codes page says it enforces; the 1999 text was not obtained (see adopted_code). About drip edge

Required — SET BY STATE RULE - required in Dayton exactly as everywhere else in Ohio, because Ohio makes the ice-damming determination statewide by rule rather than leaving it to local option. RCO Table 301.2(1) pre-fills "Ice Barrier Underlayment Required" as "Yes" for the whole state, with footnote (h) reciting that "all jurisdictions in Ohio have a history of local damage from the effects of ice damming." RCO Section 905.1.2 (Ice barriers) then requires an ice barrier for asphalt shingles and other listed coverings, consisting of not fewer than two layers of cemented underlayment or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet, extending not less than 24 inches inside the exterior wall line (36 inches on slopes of 8:12 or greater). Exception: "Detached accessory structures and roof assemblies terminating at a vertical wall over unconditioned floor areas." Dayton's codified Chapter 153 names the 1999 Ohio Residential Code for One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings (153.01(A)(2), unamended since 2002); this note states the 2019 RCO, which the state rule applies to every one-, two- or three-family dwelling (RCO 101.2) and which the city's own building codes page says it enforces; the 1999 text was not obtained (see adopted_code). About ice & water barrier

Not required — CITY-SOURCED negative. The Division of Building Inspection's own "Inspection Procedures Bulletin" (3/2021) lists the "GENERAL INSPECTION PROGRESSION" for permitted construction in Dayton, in order: Foundation excavation, Foundation & Waterproofing, Concrete Floors & Slabs, Crawlspace, Rough mechanical, Framing ("After the mechanical systems have been roughed-in and approved and building dried-in, the framing inspection is conducted"), Energy Conservation, and Final Inspections. No roof-covering-specific or mid-roof inspection step appears anywhere in that list; the bulletin was grepped for "roof" and "sheath" and returned no relevant hits beyond the word "roof" inside "waterproofing." Because Dayton additionally exempts a simple shingle-only re-roof from the building-permit requirement altogether (see repair_permit_threshold), a permit-triggered inspection would not even arise for the routine residential re-roof case in the first place.

Not required — Dayton's own codified building chapter (Code of Ordinances Chapter 153, "Unified Building Code," adopted by Ordinance 29119-95 and amended through Ordinance 32180-26, passed April 1, 2026) was read in full, all sections 153.01 through 153.99. Section 153.01 adopts the Ohio Building Code and the 1999 Ohio Residential Code for One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings "except as modified by Section 153.03." Section 153.03, the chapter's only set of modifications to that residential code, replaces just Chapter 1 (the administrative sections, Title through Energy Conservation) and does not touch the code's technical roof-covering chapter. Section 153.02's additional provisions cover parking lots and the appeals process, and Sections 153.04 through 153.99 cover general administrative matters (permits, fees, inspections, unsafe structures, definitions). No UL 2218 or Class 4 impact-resistance requirement, and no other impact-rating provision, appears anywhere in Chapter 153 or its amending ordinances. Dayton's codified Chapter 153 names the 1999 Ohio Residential Code for One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings (153.01(A)(2), unamended since 2002); this note states the 2019 RCO, which the state rule applies to every one-, two- or three-family dwelling (RCO 101.2) and which the city's own building codes page says it enforces; the 1999 text was not obtained (see adopted_code).

CITY-SPECIFIC, and unusually permissive, mirroring Cincinnati's pattern. The Division of Building Inspection's own FAQ, "Do I need a permit to install or re-roof my house?", states verbatim: "If you are simply applying a new layer of shingles you do not need a building permit. If you are replacing or repairing any portion of the wood sheathing supporting the shingles or structural members like rafters or trusses, a building permit is required." The same FAQ separately states the two-layer ceiling, verbatim: "when recovering an existing roof, the new roof covering cannot be installed without first removing all coverings when the existing roof has two or more layers of any type of roofing to keep from overloading the roof structure" - matching the two-layer trigger in Section 908.3.1.1 of the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio (see roof_layer_limit). The FAQ also notes a homeowner may need a Certificate of Appropriateness from Dayton's Landmarks Commission (937-333-3670) if the property is in a historic district. Practical effect: a routine shingle-only re-roof of a 1-, 2-, or 3-family dwelling needs no building permit in Dayton so long as it does not create a third roofing layer and does not touch the sheathing or structural framing; work reaching the deck or framing requires a permit.

SET BY STATE RULE. RCO Table 301.2(1) ("Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria"), as printed in the state rule itself, pre-fills a Wind Design Speed of 115 mph (ultimate design wind speed) for the entire state; the value is printed in the rule's own table rather than left blank for local fill-in. The same statewide table also pre-fills Weathering as "severe," Termite as "moderate to heavy," and Ice Barrier Underlayment Required as "Yes." Wind exposure category is determined site-specifically rather than by state or city rule. Ground snow load is the one geographically-varying input and is NOT a statewide constant: the rule leaves that cell blank, with footnote (o) directing: "The jurisdiction shall fill in this section of the table using the Ground Snow Loads in Figure 301.2(6)." No Montgomery County or City of Dayton source states a ground snow load figure in this record, so none is stated here. This record states the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio provision: that is the code the state rule applies by its own terms to every one-, two- or three-family dwelling (RCO 101.2) and the code Dayton's building codes webpage says the city enforces. Dayton's codified Chapter 153, Section 153.01(A)(2), unamended since 2002, names the 1999 Ohio Residential Code for One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings; this directory has not obtained that text, and whether the codified reference has any effect today is not decided here (see adopted_code). Any design wind speed in the 1999 Ohio Residential Code for One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings would also need its wind-speed basis stated before it could be compared with the 2019 ultimate value.

SET BY STATE RULE, and independently echoed in Dayton's own permit FAQ wording (see repair_permit_threshold). RCO Section 908.3 (Roof replacement) states: "Roof replacement shall include the removal of existing layers of roof coverings down to the roof deck. Exception: Where the existing roof assembly includes an ice barrier membrane that is adhered to the roof deck, the existing ice barrier membrane shall be permitted to remain in place and be covered with an additional layer of ice barrier membrane in accordance with Section 905." Section 908.3.1 (Roof recover) permits installing a new roof covering over an existing one where the manufacturer's approved instructions are followed (among other conditions). Section 908.3.1.1 (Roof recover not allowed) bars a recover where the existing roof is water-soaked/deteriorated, is slate, clay, cement, or asbestos-cement tile, or "has two or more applications of any type of roof covering." Net effect for the common asphalt-shingle case: one existing layer may be recovered over; once two or more layers already exist, full tear-off to the deck is mandatory. This record states the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio provision: that is the code the state rule applies by its own terms to every one-, two- or three-family dwelling (RCO 101.2) and the code Dayton's building codes webpage says the city enforces. Dayton's codified Chapter 153, Section 153.01(A)(2), unamended since 2002, names the 1999 Ohio Residential Code for One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings; this directory has not obtained that text, and whether the codified reference has any effect today is not decided here (see adopted_code).

SET BY STATE RULE. RCO Section 905.2.1 (Sheathing requirements) states: "Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks." Ohio carries this base IRC language through without amendment. Chapter 153 (read in full) adds no sheathing provision of its own. This record states the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio provision: that is the code the state rule applies by its own terms to every one-, two- or three-family dwelling (RCO 101.2) and the code Dayton's building codes webpage says the city enforces. Dayton's codified Chapter 153, Section 153.01(A)(2), unamended since 2002, names the 1999 Ohio Residential Code for One, Two, and Three Family Dwellings; this directory has not obtained that text, and whether the codified reference has any effect today is not decided here (see adopted_code).

Montgomery County's combined state-and-local sales and use tax rate is 7.50%, per the Ohio Department of Taxation's Sales and Use Tax Rate Map (dated March 31, 2026, reflecting rates in effect as of October 2025): a 5.75% state rate plus a 1.25% Montgomery County permissive rate plus a 0.50% transit permissive rate, printed in the map's own county table as "Montgomery 1.25% 0.50% 7.50%." The map's narrative separately lists Montgomery County among the counties with rates of 7.30 percent or higher, at "7.50 percent."