Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bainbridge Township, Ohio

Bainbridge Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New-home construction inside Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio; the Geauga County Building Department is the identified building-permit issuer.

  • The county guide applies to townships and states that all four identified county/township approvals are required before construction.
  • The guide says the Building Department generally requires zoning, septic, and other approvals before issuing the building permit, but may issue a building permit if its requirements are met even when the other approvals have not been secured.
  • Issuance of a building permit does not relieve the owner of the requirement to obtain the zoning certificate and other approvals; construction cannot commence until all four approvals are obtained.
  • The guide is a general guide and states that every situation is unique and not every scenario is addressed.

  “A building permit alone is not sufficient to begin construction as it is just one piece of the puzzle, as more fully described on the following pages.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Zoning approval for land and new-home construction inside Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio.

  • The county guide states that zoning regulations are adopted by the local township and that a township zoning inspector issues the zoning certificate after reviewing submitted plans.
  • The guide identifies Middlefield Township as the exception to its statement that Geauga County townships require zoning approval; that exception does not identify Bainbridge Township.

  “All townships, cities, and villages in Geauga County require zoning approval (except Middlefield Township) and you must contact your local zoning inspector to be advised of how to apply for the Zoning Certificate.”

Rules another office applies inside Bainbridge Township

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private household sewage treatment systems serving homes inside Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio.

  • This authority applies to homes served by a private household sewage treatment system and private water well; the county guide says township homes are primarily served this way.
  • Geauga Public Health review and approval are based on Ohio Department of Health regulations.
  • A lot evaluation, soil-scientist and septic-designer materials are required by the county guide for a proposed septic system; capacity is based on the number of bedrooms proposed.
  • Where public sanitary sewer or drinking water is provided, the system is county-owned and operated by the Geauga County Department of Water Resources; construction plans must be submitted to the County Sanitary Engineer before issuance of a sewer permit. Private subdivision systems and municipal infrastructure are exceptions noted by the guide.

  “Homes located within the townships of Geauga County are primarily served by household sewage treatment systems, AKA a "septic system" and private water wells, both of which require review and approval by Geauga Public Health ("GPH") based upon regulations adopted by the Ohio Department of Health.”

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.