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Permitting Authorities / City of Kent - Building Division

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Adopted code

City of Kent - Building Division

The City of Kent Building Division, at 930 Overholt Road in Kent (Portage County), issues building permits and carries out plan reviews and inspections of residential, commercial and industrial construction in the city. The Residential Code of Ohio applies to one-, two- and three-family dwellings in Kent as it does statewide. This listing covers the office's contact details and the rules state law sets for every Ohio jurisdiction; it does not cover Kent's own codified building ordinances.

Jurisdiction
City of Kent, Ohio
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
930 Overholt Road, Kent, OH 44240
Contact
  • url: https://www.kentohio.gov/business-building-development/contractors-building-services/
  • phone: 330-678-8107
Permit portal
Permit portal
Adopted code
The Residential Code of Ohio (RCO), Ohio Administrative Code Division 4101:8, adopted by the Ohio Board of Building Standards, governs one-, two- and three-family dwellings statewide; its roof assemblies rule (OAC 4101:8-9-01) and administration rule (OAC 4101:8-1-01) carry an effective date of July 1, 2019. Ohio Rev. Code 3781.01(B) provides that the state residential building code "does not prevent a local governing authority from adopting additional regulations governing residential structures that do not conflict with the state residential building code". Under RCO 101.5, where no building department certified by the Board of Building Standards for residential buildings has jurisdiction, "the owner is not required to make submission of construction documents, seek approvals, request inspections, or obtain certificates of occupancy". In Kent, the Building Division administers the City's building approval and inspection program and provides plan reviews and inspections of all residential, commercial and industrial building construction. The city's page states that "The Building Division is certified by the State of Ohio." This record did not read Kent's own codified ordinances, so any additional local building regulation is not reflected here.
Ice & water shield
Required — SET BY STATE RULE. Table 301.2(1) of the Residential Code of Ohio (OAC 4101:8-3-01) marks ice barrier underlayment as required, and its footnote h states that "all jurisdictions in Ohio have a history of local damage from the effects of ice damming". RCO 905.1.2 then requires the ice barrier for asphalt shingles and the other listed coverings, consisting of "not fewer than two layers of underlayment cemented together, or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet", extending from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces "to a point not less than 24 inches (610 mm) inside the exterior wall line of the building", and on slopes of 8 in 12 or steeper not less than 36 inches measured along the slope from the eave edge. The section's own exception covers "Detached accessory structures and roof assemblies terminating at a vertical wall over unconditioned floor areas". Ohio Rev. Code 3781.01(B) lets a city add regulations that do not conflict with the state code; this record did not read Kent's own ordinances. About ice & water barrier
Deck & sheathing requirements
SET BY STATE RULE. RCO 905.2.1 (OAC 4101:8-9-01) provides: "Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks." RCO 905.6.1 sets the same rule for slate: "Slate shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed roofs." Ohio Rev. Code 3781.01(B) lets a city add regulations that do not conflict with the state code; this record did not read Kent's own ordinances.
Sales & use tax
Portage County: 7.00% combined state and local sales and use tax rate (5.75% state rate plus a 1.00% county permissive rate plus a 0.25% transit rate), per the Ohio Department of Taxation's Sales and Use Tax Rate Map dated September 9, 2026, for rates in effect as of October 2026.

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Roofing questions: Kent, OH

Is ice & water shield required in Kent, OH?

Yes. SET BY STATE RULE. Table 301.2(1) of the Residential Code of Ohio (OAC 4101:8-3-01) marks ice barrier underlayment as required, and its footnote h states that "all jurisdictions in Ohio have a history of local damage from the effects of ice damming". RCO 905.1.2 then requires the ice barrier for asphalt shingles and the other listed coverings, consisting of "not fewer than two layers of underlayment cemented together, or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet", extending from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces "to a point not less than 24 inches (610 mm) inside the exterior wall line of the building", and on slopes of 8 in 12 or steeper not less than 36 inches measured along the slope from the eave edge. The section's own exception covers "Detached accessory structures and roof assemblies terminating at a vertical wall over unconditioned floor areas". Ohio Rev. Code 3781.01(B) lets a city add regulations that do not conflict with the state code; this record did not read Kent's own ordinances.

What building code does Kent, OH use?

The Residential Code of Ohio (RCO), Ohio Administrative Code Division 4101:8, adopted by the Ohio Board of Building Standards, governs one-, two- and three-family dwellings statewide; its roof assemblies rule (OAC 4101:8-9-01) and administration rule (OAC 4101:8-1-01) carry an effective date of July 1, 2019. Ohio Rev. Code 3781.01(B) provides that the state residential building code "does not prevent a local governing authority from adopting additional regulations governing residential structures that do not conflict with the state residential building code". Under RCO 101.5, where no building department certified by the Board of Building Standards for residential buildings has jurisdiction, "the owner is not required to make submission of construction documents, seek approvals, request inspections, or obtain certificates of occupancy". In Kent, the Building Division administers the City's building approval and inspection program and provides plan reviews and inspections of all residential, commercial and industrial building construction. The city's page states that "The Building Division is certified by the State of Ohio." This record did not read Kent's own codified ordinances, so any additional local building regulation is not reflected here.