Frequently Asked Questions

Registration is required from the Summit County Building Department (330) 630-7280, if a contractor is performing commercial work or is an HVAC, plumbing or electrical contractor. All others do not require registration from the City of Fairlawn.

A building permit gives you the legal permission to start construction of a building project in accordance with approved drawings and specifications. By obtaining a permit, you authorize licensed building inspectors to inspect the construction performed at intervals during construction. By doing this, the Building Department ensures that minimum code requirements are met, thereby causing the construction to be less likely to cause injury to you, your family, your friends or future owners.

Any new structures including, but not limited to, residences swimming pools over 24" deep, reroofing more than 20% of roof area, residing, decks, retaining walls over four feet in height and building additions.

A permit is required if you intend to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or change the occupancy of a residential building or structure, or portion thereof or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing system, other residential building service equipment, or piping system. Some examples include: any new structures including, but not limited to residences, commercial structures, swimming pools over 24" deep, accessory buildings, walls and fences over 3 feet high, and building additions. Additionally, any chance of occupancy in a commercial structure requires a zoning use certificate even if no construction is required.

Fairlawn City Council enacted Part Fifteen: Property Maintenance Code in which is Title II: Housing Maintenance Code requiring the implementation of a Neighborhood Inspection Program. The purpose of the Neighborhood Inspection Program is: 1. To enhance public welfare by establishing minimum standards governing the maintenance, appearance, and exterior condition of all residential dwelling units throughout the City in order to ensure that all dwelling units are suitable for habitation and beneficial to the public welfare. 2. To establish minimum standards for exterior property areas so that these areas do not constitute a negative influence on the neighborhood. 3. To protect property values and to maintain the character and appearance of the community. This program is administered by the Zoning, Housing, and Residential Building Department. Housing inspectors will conduct inspections from the city streets by walking down each street within the program area for that particular year. If an inspection reveals any violation of the Property Management Code, a Housing Inspector will present the owner with a violation order. The order will list the violations and will provide a reasonable time frame to make corrections. Orders will either be delivered in person or by certified mail but will always be in writing. Follow-up inspections will be conducted by the Housing Department to determine compliance.

Summit County Building Department issues commercial building permits and performs commercial inspections. They can be reached at (330) 630-7280.