Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Wadsworth, Ohio

Wadsworth’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential one-, two- and three-family dwellings inside Wadsworth city; non-residential uses the Ohio Building Code

  • Residential Code of Ohio adopted as modified and supplemented by Chapter 150.
  • Ohio Building Code adopted for non-residential buildings (public, multi-family of four or more units, commercial, industrial).

  “the ohio building code as adopted by the board of building standards pursuant to r.c. § 3781.10(a)(1) is hereby adopted as the non-residential building regulations for the incorporated areas of the city pursuant to r.c. §§ 715.26, 715.29, and 731.231.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Non-residential construction inside Wadsworth city; the city code assigns regulation and inspection to the Medina County Building Department

  • Applies to non-residential structures as defined in R.C. chapter 3781; residential inspection by the city building department was not confirmed.

  “shall be regulated by the medina county building department who shall exercise enforcement authority, accept and approve plans and specifications, and make inspections”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Wadsworth city limits (Medina County); the city adopts and administers its own Zoning Code, Chapter 154

  • Administered by a zoning inspector, planning commission and zoning certificate process per the chapter index.

  “154.581 zoning inspector 154.582 powers of planning commission 154.583 zoning certificate applications 154.584 violations”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Wadsworth city

  • Code includes R-1 and other district chapters; district map is referenced at § 154.017.

  “154.015 establishment of districts; list 154.016 prohibited use class 154.017 zoning districts map”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 Residential District, single-family dwellings, inside Wadsworth city

  • Other districts (e.g. the districts at § 154.112 and § 154.127) have different minimums.

  minimum living floor area, one story: >= 1200 square feet · minimum living floor area, more than one story: >= 1500 square feet

  “(g) minimum living floor area per family, one story, single unit: 1,200 square feet. (h) minimum living floor area per family, more than one story, single unit: 1,500 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Residential District, single-family dwellings, inside Wadsworth city

  • Maximum lot depth is three times the lot width at the minimum building setback line.

  minimum lot area: >= 11250 square feet · minimum lot width at building setback line: >= 75 feet

  “(a) minimum lot area: single-family residential dwellings: 11,250 square feet. (b) minimum lot width at minimum building setback line: 75 feet. (c) maximum lot depth: three times the lot width at the minimum building setback line.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Residential District inside Wadsworth city

  • Other districts have different yards.

  minimum front yard depth: >= 50 feet · minimum rear yard depth: >= 25 feet · minimum side yard width: >= 10 feet

  “(d) minimum front yard depth: 50 feet. (e) minimum rear yard depth: 25 feet. (f) minimum side yard width: 10 feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Residential District inside Wadsworth city

  maximum structure height: <= 40 feet

  “(i) height regulations: no structure shall exceed 40 feet in height.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New home construction inside Wadsworth city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Wadsworth city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new homes inside Wadsworth city
• Lot coverage — R-1 Residential District inside Wadsworth city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Wadsworth 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.