The Building Code (
Chapter 152
of The Forest Park Code of Ordinances) has been enacted to control all building activities. In so doing, different sets of regulations are included as indicated in this section.
(A) Application. All of the requirements of the 2017 Ohio Building Code (OBC) are hereby made a part of the Building Code, and all building work, except as exempted, shall comply therewith, per § 101.2 of that Code. All of the requirements of the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) are hereby made a part of the Building Code, and all one-, two- and three-family building work, except as exempted, shall comply therewith, per § 101.2 of that Code.
(B) Exceptions. Exceptions as to the applicability of the code are as indicated in § 101.2 of the OBC and RCO. Requirements not addressed by the OBC and RCO may be addressed by the Forest Park Miscellaneous Land Use Regulations (FPCO 154), the Forest Park Zoning Ordinance (FPCO 150), Sign Code (Chapter 90), Subdivision Rules and Regulations (FPCO 151), Minimum Housing Standards (FPCO 155), Vacant, Foreclosed and Abandoned Property (FPCO 153), Flood Damage Prevention (FPCO 157), and the Comprehensive Fee Schedule (FPCO 156).
(C) Existing buildings. The provisions of the OBC Chapter 34, and the RCO Section 113, shall apply to existing buildings as applicable. Other existing structures and features not regulated by the OBC or RCO shall be regulated in accordance with FPCO 154, Miscellaneous Land Usage Regulation or other applicable FPCO.
(D) Other regulations. The following is a list of other applicable and the agency responsible for the review and enforcement of those regulations:
(1) City Engineer
Public Works Building
1970 Waycross Road
Stormwater Management Code - Chapter 51
Subdivision Rules and Regulations - Chapter 151
(2) Department of Public Works
Public Works Building
1970 Waycross Road
Chapter 52, Rules and Regulations Governing Driveways, Pavements and Streets within the Right-of-Way.
Miscellaneous Land Use Regulations, Chapter 154.C
Streets and Sidewalks, Chapter 92
(3) Cincinnati Water Works
4747 Spring Grove Avenue
Cincinnati, OH
Rules and regulations enforced as the provider of water services.
(4) Duke Energy
139 E. 4th Street
PO Box 960
Cincinnati, OH
Rules and regulations enforced as the provider of gas and electric services.
(5) Metropolitan Sewer District
1600 Gest Street
Cincinnati, OH 45201
Rules and regulations governing the design, construction, maintenance, operation and use of sanitary and combined sewers.
(6) Inspection Bureau, Inc.
250 Court Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Electric plan review and enforcement of the National Electric Code.
(7) Community Development Department
City of Forest Park
1201 W Kemper Rd.
Forest Park, OH 45240
Forest Park Zoning Ordinances, Variances, Appeals, Chapter 150
Rules and Regulations for signs, Chapter 90
Minimum Housing Standards, Chapter 155
Subdivision Rules and Regulations, Chapter 151
Miscellaneous Land Use Regulations, Chapter 154.A
Fair Housing Code, Chapter 97, Vacant, Foreclosed and Abandoned
Property, Chapter 153
(8) Plumbing Division, Board of Health
250 William Howard Taft, 2nd Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45215
Ohio Plumbing Code
(9) Board of Health
250 William Howard Taft, 2nd Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45219
Environmental Sanitation Regulations No. 1-67
Mobile Home Park Laws and Rules
(10) Fire Department
City of Forest Park
1201 W Kemper Rd
Forest Park, OH 45240
Forest Park Fire Code, Chapter 95
(11) Building Department
City of Forest Park
1201 W Kemper Rd
Forest Park, OH 45240
Miscellaneous Land Use Regulations, Chapter 154.E
All documents must reflect compliance with the various elements of the codes which regulate the proposed project. Plan review will be based on the above schedule and the issuance of a permit indicates compliance as required.
(E) Administrative procedures and approvals.
(1) The application for a building permit cum plans approval certificate shall be processed, coordinated and expedited in a manner whereby all approvals, including of the various regulatory agencies, shall be recorded before the permit is issued. The Building Department shall approve construction documents in accordance with § 106 of the OBC and RCO as appropriate. The individual agencies shall review the documents submitted, enforce their regulations and, upon satisfactory completion of the review, they shall promptly provide written approval to the Building Official, who may then issue the proper permit. This procedure may be altered at the discretion of the Building Official. Matters not specifically covered by the Code shall be determined by the Building Official as provided in § 152.10.
(2) Applications and associated documents for building permits shall be submitted through the Community Development Department, except in the case of those agencies with their own permit facility. In such event, the applicant must convey the proper documentation to the other agencies, as indicated above. The applicant shall insure that all applicable permits are secured prior to the start of work.
(3) All work must comply as follows:
(a) Codes. Code provisions shall be reviewed and applied only by the agency having jurisdiction. All discrepancies must be fully resolved with the proper agency before approval for a building permit can be issued except that the Building Official may issue "foundation only", or "shell" or other fast track permits if, in his opinion, circumstances warrant.
(b) Interpretation. Interpretation, inspection and enforcement of all agency code provisions shall be by the agency having jurisdiction.
(c) Minimum Code standards. The appropriate building code shall be the minimum standard applicable and no other provisions shall be in conflict therewith.
(d) Fire Department review. All plans are forwarded to the Fire Department for review. Prior to issuance of a building permit, Fire Department comments are evaluated with respect to building code requirements.
(e) Approval. Formal approval of the completed project shall be transmitted to the Building Official by each agency involved. Such approval shall be required before the Certificate of Occupancy is issued for the project.
(f) Issuance of permit. Prior to the issuance of a permit for the creation or occupancy of any number of dwelling units utilizing HUD financing, the Forest Park Housing Commission shall determine compliance with FPCO 97.10.
(F) Electrical regulation. In order to further the cause of uniformity of design and installation an electrical work and equipment, Forest Park joins with the City of Cincinnati and other cities and villages in Hamilton County in using identical code provisions for such work and in using the services of the private company, Inspection Bureau, Inc. for electrical plan review, the issuance of electrical permits and electrical field inspection.
(G) Industrialized (modular) units. Such units shall be licensed and inspected by the State of Ohio, and no other inspection of the units is required. However, those portions of such buildings that are not produced by industrialized methods must follow normal review, permit and inspection procedures as prescribed by the Code. Drawings for the entire complex are required. Fees shall be as prescribed by this Code.
(1) Classification. Units classified as manufactured or "mobile homes" are not regulated by this Code, unless they are so constructed that they no longer function as a conveyance. In this instance, they must fully comply with the Building Code and be licensed and inspected by the State of Ohio.
(2) Certificate of Approval. Further regulations of the manufactured or "mobile home" are prescribed in the Board of Health rules and the Zoning Code (Chapter 150).
(H) Prefabricated assemblies.
(1) This Code shall permit prefabricated forms of building elements and assembled construction units intended for both structural and service equipment purposes. There shall be no distinction between these and conventional on-the-site assembled materials and both must meet the requirements of this Code.
(2) A certificate of approval by an approved agency shall be furnished with every prefabricated assembly, except where all elements of the assembly are readily accessible for inspection at the site. Placement of prefabricated assemblies at the building site shall be inspected by the Building Official to determine compliance with this Code and a final inspection shall be provided.
(I) Legal action and appeals. Since multiple separate sets of building regulations are required to control all construction within the jurisdiction of the city, the following procedures shall be observed:
(1) Administrative. The administrative section of the Building Code shall be considered supplementary and complementary to the provisions of OBC Chapter 1 and RCO Chapter 1, and no conflicts shall exist except in favor of the OBC and/or RCO. No provision of the Building Code is intended to be in conflict with the OBC or the RCO.
(2) Administrative matters. Appeals, orders, violations, penalties and other administrative matters for structures controlled by the Ohio Building Code shall be handled in accordance with the provisions set forth in Chapter 1 of the OBC and this Code. Appeals of Building Official actions are to the Ohio Board of Building Appeals.
(a) Procedures for one-, two- and three-family dwellings shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Ohio Residential Code and this Code. Appeals of Building Official actions are to the Forest Park Board of Building Appeals.
(Ord. 24-2019, passed 8-5-19)