Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Steubenville, Ohio

Steubenville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, additions and alterations inside Steubenville city

  • Maintenance and repairs without structural, mechanical or electrical work or nonstructural wall changes need no permit; cosmetic work needs none.
  • State/federal government projects on government land and agricultural buildings are exempt from local enforcement.
  • Zoning approval is also required for all new work.

  “maintenance and repairs may be made without building permits, but such repairs cannot include any structural work, mechanical or electrical work or construction or removal of nonstructural walls or partitions.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowners working on their own primary residence inside Steubenville city

  • Exemption is from contractor registration only; permits still apply.
  • Work on non-primary residences or hired-out work requires contractor registration.

  “they may do their own work on their primary residence with their own labor without being registered.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Steubenville city; city building inspection division enforces Ohio building codes

  • Residential (1-3 family) under Ohio Residential Code; commercial and 4+ unit multi-family under Ohio Building Code.

  “the steubenville planning & zoning commission's building inspection division is certified by the state of ohio to administer and enforce ohio building codes.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted residential and commercial work inside Steubenville city

  • Sub-trade inspections must be approved before the main inspection; footings, slabs and trenches inspected before concrete or backfill.

  “both commercial and residential work mush have rough inspections of construction progress before work is covered up, and final inspections after work is complete.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  New construction and new uses of buildings inside Steubenville city

  • No new certificate is needed for continuation of a legally approved existing use; space vacant over 30 days is treated as a new use.

  “certificates of occupancy (c/o's) are issued after all work has been completed and inspections (including inspections by other agencies such as county health and city fire department)”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Steubenville city limits

  • Zoning map is on file at the zoning administrator's office (1135.02).

  “the city of steubenville is hereby divided into the classes of districts as listed below:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Steubenville city

  • Districts include R-A, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-4, B-1 to B-5, I-1 to I-3, C-1, C-2, P, H, FH, NC (1135.01, ord. 2014-52, passed 7-8-14); chapter list also shows UR.

  “the city of steubenville is hereby divided into the classes of districts as listed below:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district inside Steubenville city

  • Minimum lot width 50 ft measured 25 ft back from street right-of-way; corner lots 65 ft.
  • R-A residential agricultural district (ch. 1136) not examined.

  minimum lot area: >= 5000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 50 ft (65 ft for corner lots)

  “the minimum area of any lot shall be five thousand (5,000) square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district inside Steubenville city

  • Where an established front setback line exists in the block it is followed, but never less than 15 ft nor more than 35 ft.
  • Two side yards each 10% of lot width, not less than 5 ft; corner lot side-street side yard 15 ft.
  • Rear yard 25 ft.

  front yard: >= 25 ft (established block line, 15-35 ft) · side yard: >= 5 ft (10% of lot width if greater) · rear yard: >= 25 ft

  “the minimum front yard setback shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet from the street right- of-way line.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district inside Steubenville city

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft (also limited to 2.5 stories)

  “the maximum building height shall be two and one-half stories, not exceeding thirty-five (35) feet in height.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings: exemption from local building code enforcement inside Steubenville city

  • Buildings used for agricultural purposes; city says to check with the building inspection division if unsure.

  “other buildings such as those used for agricultural purposes are also exempt.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Steubenville city

  • Title Three chapters 1111-1125 (general provisions, application procedures, plat requirements, design standards, improvements, enforcement).

  “title three - subdivision regulations chap. 1111. general provisions. chap. 1113. definitions.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications inside Steubenville city

  • Most residential permits processed within 14 working days; commercial within 30 working days.
  • Fee schedule not located.

  “residential permit applications must include three copies of drawings that describe the proposed work and how it will meet applicable code requirements, along with a completed application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Steubenville city
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Steubenville city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Steubenville city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Steubenville city
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Steubenville city

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.