Bolthole Index

Delaware County, Ohio

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Delaware, Ohio

Delaware, Ohio requires approved building applications before new construction, alterations, improvements and replacements; the city issues combined building and zoning permits.12 In Delaware County, the city handles building review and zoning, while Delaware Public Health District handles household septic systems where sewer connection is not feasible.123 Delaware prohibits living or sleeping in an RV parked or stored on a residential lot.4

At a glance

Building permits
City approval required before covered construction1
Zoning
City districts and combined building/zoning applications52
Septic
Delaware Public Health District where sanitary sewer is not feasible3
RV living
Living or sleeping in an RV on a residential lot prohibited4
Small homes
A-1 and R-SF primary structures: minimum 1,000-square-foot footprint67
Owner-builder
Required plan approval still applies to covered owner-built work8
Private wells
Board of health permit required for private water system construction, alteration or sealing9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Delaware Building Division

City building applications, plan review and inspections; plumbing applications go to the health district.

740-203-1600 option 3

[email protected]

1 South Sandusky Street

Building permits

City of Delaware Building and Zoning Applications

Combined city building and zoning applications and online application access.

(740) 203-1600

[email protected]

Zoning

City of Delaware Planning & Zoning

City zoning application review and land development questions.

740-203-1600 x 2

1 South Sandusky Street Delaware, OH 43015

Septic permits

Delaware Public Health District Residential Services

Household sewage treatment system reviews, inspections and operation permits; private water system review.

(740) 368-1700

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Delaware means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Delaware, Ohio?

Delaware’s Building Division is a state-certified building department, and the city requires approval of a building application before new construction, alterations, improvements and replacements begin.1 Delaware also lists fences, decks, sheds/garages and home additions as projects requiring building permits.1

An owner building a covered home must submit the required plans and obtain approval before starting construction; doing the work personally does not remove that plan-approval requirement.8 Ask the City Building Division which drawings and trade applications your project needs.1

Who issues building permits and zoning approval in Delaware?

The City of Delaware issues combined building and zoning permits, formally called Certificates of Building and Zoning Compliance.2 Reach the City Building Division at 740-203-1600 option 3 or [email protected]; the office is at 1 South Sandusky Street.1 City Planning & Zoning reviews zoning applications and coordinates land development projects; its contact number is 740-203-1600 x 2.10

Use the city’s application page for online access; applications unavailable in the portal use paper forms.2 Plumbing applications go to the Delaware County Health District rather than the City Building Division.1

Does Delaware have zoning, minimum home sizes and setbacks?

Delaware has city residential zoning districts, including the Agricultural District and Single-Family Residential District.5 In A-1 and R-SF, the minimum primary-structure footprint is 1,000 square feet; that is a footprint requirement, not a citywide statement about finished living area.67

A-1 primary-structure setbacks are 60 feet front, 30 feet side and 70 feet rear, subject to the code’s projection and other exceptions.11 R-SF primary-structure setbacks are 30 feet front, 8 feet side and 40 feet rear, with the applicable exceptions.12 On residential lots, impervious coverage includes buildings, pavement and gravel and may not exceed 50% of total lot area.13 Ask City Planning & Zoning to identify the parcel’s district before sizing a house or outbuilding.10

How do septic permits and private wells work inside Delaware?

Delaware Public Health District administers household sewage treatment systems where sanitary sewer connection is not feasible, reviewing parcels and designs, inspecting installation and issuing operation permits.3 For a proposed septic-served home in Delaware, a soil evaluation and a to-scale system design with a house floor plan are required before the installation-permit stage.14 The installation permit is valid for 1 year from issuance.14

Operation permits are required for the life of the sewage treatment system.15 Private water system construction, alteration or sealing requires a board of health permit, and the health district reviews plans, inspects installations and samples water.93 Ask Residential Services about the proposed parcel’s sewer feasibility and private-system approvals before committing to an off-grid design.3

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Delaware?

Delaware prohibits living or sleeping in a recreational vehicle parked or stored on a residential lot.4 Delaware permits no more than 2 recreational vehicles outside a fully enclosed building on a lot under this residential-lot rule, and utility connections are limited to maintenance purposes.4 RV storage therefore does not provide permission to occupy the vehicle while building a house.4

A small permanent house in A-1 or R-SF faces a minimum primary-structure footprint of 1,000 square feet.67 We could not confirm a separate tiny-home occupancy or accessory-dwelling permission for Delaware; ask City Planning & Zoning about the proposed dwelling type and district.10

Building a home in Delaware: what are the steps, in order?

Start with City Planning & Zoning to identify the district and discuss the site layout; setbacks differ between Delaware’s Agricultural and Single-Family Residential districts.101112 If sewer connection is not feasible, arrange the soil evaluation and sewage-system design with Delaware Public Health District before seeking septic installation approval.143

Submit the city’s combined building and zoning application, using a paper form if the project is unavailable in the portal, and obtain required plan approval before construction.216 Submit plumbing applications to the health district.1 City inspections follow building approval throughout construction and after completion.1 For land outside city limits, consult the Delaware County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area building requirements.17

Watch-outs

  • Delaware’s RV storage allowance does not allow living or sleeping in an RV on a residential lot.4
  • City building approval does not replace the health district’s plumbing review or septic installation approval.114
  • We could not confirm Delaware’s parcel-specific minimum lot area, driveway approval or floodplain development requirements; ask City Planning & Zoning and the City Building Division before buying.101

Sources

  1. City of Delaware Building Division (delawareohio.net)
  2. City of Delaware Building and Zoning Applications (delawareohio.net)
  3. Delaware Public Health District Residential Services (delawarehealth.org)
  4. 1311.14. Yard area maintenance (Delaware), quoted and re-checked
  5. 1111.06. Yard and lot requirements (Delaware), quoted and re-checked
  6. 1111.06. Yard and lot requirements (Delaware), quoted and re-checked
  7. 1111.06. Yard and lot requirements (Delaware), quoted and re-checked
  8. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Rule 3701-28-03: Permits, system approval and sampling requirements, quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Delaware Planning & Zoning (delawareohio.net)
  11. 1111.06. Yard and lot requirements (Delaware), quoted and re-checked
  12. 1111.06. Yard and lot requirements (Delaware), quoted and re-checked
  13. 1130.04. Supplemental accessory structure and fence regulations for residential uses (Delaware), quoted and re-checked
  14. Procedures for Obtaining a Permit to Install and Operate a Sewage Treatment System, quoted and re-checked
  15. Procedures for Obtaining a Permit to Install and Operate a Sewage Treatment System, quoted and re-checked
  16. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (Delaware), quoted and re-checked
  17. Delaware County Application for Plan Approval and Building Permit (2026 county census)

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Delaware

Delaware’s own rules

  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Residential zoning districts and district schedule inside Delaware city, including A-1, R-SF, R-NT, R-NX, and R-MF.

    • The cited schedule is the residential yard-and-lot schedule; additional districts and regulations may appear elsewhere in the Planning and Zoning Code.
    “For the purpose of this Zoning Ordinance, the City is hereby divided into zoning districts. Such districts are designated as follows: (a) Residential Districts. A-1 Agricultural District R-SF Single-Family Residential District R-NT Neighborhood Transition Residential District R-NX Neighborhood Mixed Residential District R-MF Multi-Family Residential District”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Primary structures in the A-1 Agricultural District inside Delaware city.

    • The cited value is the minimum primary-structure footprint in Schedule 1111.06.

    minimum primary-structure footprint: >= 1000 square feet

    “(b) Primary Structure Requirements (1) Minimum footprint 1,000 sf 1,000 sf 1,000 sf 1,000 sf 6 N/A 6”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Primary structures in the R-SF single-family residential district inside Delaware city.
      “(b) Primary Structure Requirements (1) Minimum footprint 1,000 sf 1,000 sf 1,000 sf 1,000 sf 6 N/A 6”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Primary structures in the A-1 Agricultural District inside Delaware city.

    • Architectural projections and other exceptions are governed by Section 1111.06(b)-(c).

    front setback: 60 feet · side setback: 30 feet · rear setback: 70 feet

    “(4) Setbacks 1 i. Front yard 60 ft. 30 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. ii. Side yard 2 30 ft. 8 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. 8 ft. iii. Rear yard 70 ft. 40 ft. 35 ft. 30 ft. 35 ft.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Primary structures in the R-SF single-family residential district inside Delaware city.
      “(4) Setbacks 1 i. Front yard 60 ft. 30 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. ii. Side yard 2 30 ft. 8 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. 8 ft. iii. Rear yard 70 ft. 40 ft. 35 ft. 30 ft. 35 ft.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residential lots inside Delaware city, including the principal structure, accessory structures, pavement, and gravel surfaces.

    • Front-yard lot coverage may not exceed fifty percent.
    • The section separately states that accessory-structure footprint has no maximum in the Agricultural District, but impervious-surface lot coverage is still addressed by the quoted rule.

    maximum impervious-surface lot coverage: <= 50 percent of total lot area

    “The sum of the footprint of all impervious surfaces on any lot, including the principal structure, accessory structures, pavement, and/or gravel surfaces, shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the square footage of the total lot. A. At no time shall the lot coverage in the front yard exceed fifty percent (50%).”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Primary structures in the A-1 Agricultural District inside Delaware city.

    • The schedule cross-references Section 1111.06(d) for exceptions.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Section 1111.06(d) exceptions)

    “(2) Maximum building height 3 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft./45 ft.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Primary structures in the R-SF single-family residential district inside Delaware city.
      “(2) Maximum building height 3 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft./45 ft.”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Use of a recreational vehicle for living or sleeping while parked or stored on a residential lot inside Delaware city.

    • The rule concerns recreational vehicles parked or stored on residential lots.
    • The code separately permits no more than two recreational vehicles outside a fully enclosed building and limits utility connections to maintenance purposes.

    maximum recreational vehicles outside fully enclosed building: <= 2 vehicles (Commercial storage districts may be governed differently.)

    “No recreational vehicle shall be used for living or sleeping when parked or stored on a residential lot. B. No more than two recreational vehicles are permitted to be located on a lot outside of a fully enclosed building. C. Recreational vehicles parked or stored shall not be connected to any utilities other than for maintenance purposes.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Mobile and manufactured home parks inside Delaware city.

    • The source applies specifically to mobile and manufactured home parks, not every new home in the city.
    • The park water supply must come from the municipally owned water system.
    • Sanitary waste disposal must use the municipally owned and operated sewerage system.
    • Installation and individual connections must comply with city standards.
    “Within each mobile or manufactured home park, the source of water supply shall be from the municipally owned water system. The installation of water lines and the connection of individual mobile homes to the mobile or manufactured home park water system shall be made in accordance with the standards of the City. (3) Sewage Disposal. Within each mobile or manufactured home park, sanitary waste disposal shall be by means of the municipally owned and operated sewerage system.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision activity inside Delaware city.

    • The residential-district code cross-references subdivision regulations in Chapter 1106; the detailed subdivision procedures were not separately opened.
    “If a proposed development includes the subdivision of land, the development shall be subject to the requirements of the plat approval process in accordance with Chapter 1106 of this Code.”

Rules another office applies inside Delaware

Delaware does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, erection, manufacture, alteration, addition, or equipment of buildings inside Delaware city that are subject to Ohio Revised Code section 3781.06.

    • Plans or drawings, specifications, and data must be submitted before work begins to the municipal, township, or county building department having jurisdiction.
    • If no certified nonresidential building department has jurisdiction, submission is to the superintendent of industrial compliance.
    • If no certified residential building department has jurisdiction, the owner is not required to make the submission described in division (A)(1).
    “Before beginning the construction, erection, or manufacture of any building to which section 3781.06 of the Revised Code applies, including all industrialized units, the owner of that building, in addition to any other submission required by law, shall submit plans or drawings, specifications, and data prepared for the construction, erection, equipment, alteration, or addition that indicate the portions that have been approved pursuant to section 3781.12 of the Revised Code and for which no further approval is required, to the municipal, township, or county building department having jurisdiction unless one of the following applies:”
  • Permit processPartial

    Plan-approval process for covered construction inside Delaware city.

    • The owner must submit covered plans before beginning construction.
    • Submission is to the building department having jurisdiction, subject to the certified-department exceptions in Section 3791.04(A)(1).
    • The official source also states that construction may not proceed until required plans and data have been approved.
    “No owner shall proceed with the construction, erection, alteration, or equipment of any building until the plans or drawings, specifications, and data have been approved as this section requires, or the industrialized unit inspected at the point of origin.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Delaware or Delaware County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions for construction inside Delaware city.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Delaware city.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Delaware city.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Delaware city.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Delaware city.
10 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Delaware publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Delaware County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Delaware County: county rules, score and offices