103.2.2 Building Department Certification Requirements

To qualify for certification, a municipal, township, or county shall comply with the following:

1. Conformity with law. The residential department shall submit an application and shall have been created in conformity with the law, shall have adopted ordinances or resolutions, and shall have entered into any agreements or contracts necessary to comply with the rules of the board and Section 103.2.3.

1.1. A political subdivision with a nonresidential building department certified pursuant to OBC Section 103.1, qualifies for certification to enforce the Residential Code of Ohio. The political subdivision must submit an application for additional certification in accordance with Section 103.2.1. Personnel shall be qualified pursuant to and the department shall comply with the requirements of this section.

2. Required personnel. A certified residential building department or residential sub-building department shall have the following personnel qualified to execute the duties required for the exercise of enforcement authority, the review and approval of construction documents, and the performance of inspections under the rules of the board. All personnel of municipal, township, or county residential building departments, and persons and employees of persons, firms, or corporations whose responsibilities include the exercise of enforcement authority shall be certified by the board of building standards pursuant to Section 103.3 prior to performing such duties;

2.1. Residential building official. The residential building department shall have in its employ or under contract one person appointed by the municipality, township, or county holding a certification as a residential building official.

2.2. Residential plans examiner. The residential building department shall have in its employ or under contract at least one person holding a certification as the residential plans examiner.

2.3. Residential building inspector. The residential building department shall have in its employ or under contract at least one person holding a certification as a residential building inspector.

2.4. Residential plumbing inspector. If the residential department is certified to enforce plumbing provisions, then the residential department shall have in its employ or under contract at least one person holding the appropriate certification as a residential plumbing inspector.

2.5. Electrical safety inspector. The residential building department shall have in its employ or under contract at least one person holding certification as an electrical safety inspector.

2.6. Backup personnel. The residential department shall have in its employ or under contract, alternate personnel meeting the requirements of this rule, to serve in the event of a conflict of interest or the unavailability of the residential building official, residential plans examiner or residential inspectors.

2.7. Replacement personnel. When required personnel leave the employ of the residential department, permanent replacement personnel shall be designated in accordance with the rules of the Board within one hundred twenty days.

3. Elective personnel. The residential department may elect to have the following personnel certified by the board of building standards pursuant to Section 103.3 prior to performing such duties;

3.1. Residential mechanical inspector. The residential department may also have in its employ or under contract persons holding a residential mechanical inspector certification.

3.4. Electrical plans examiner. The residential department may have in its employ or under contract persons holding a certification as an electrical plans examiner.

4. Contract employees.
A municipal corporation, township, or county may contract with a certified residential building department, health district, or with persons, firms, or corporations under contract to furnish services, and meeting the requirements of this rule, to exercise enforcement authority, administer these rules, approve plans and specifications and perform inspections on behalf of such municipal corporation, township, or county, providing such authority is exercised pursuant to such contract and upon application to and approval by the board of building standards;

5. Residential building department office.
The certified residential building department shall have an office conveniently located within the area it serves. The office shall be open and staffed to serve the public need and office hours shall be conspicuously posted. If the residential department contracts for its enforcement services, or is certified as a residential sub-building department, information shall be provided to the public explaining how residential building department services shall be provided;

6. Availability of inspectors.
The residential building department shall be staffed so that all residential inspectors are available for requested inspections as required in Section 108.1; and

7. Residential building department certification, to be posted.
The certificate issued by the board of building standards to a municipal, township, or county residential building department shall be posted in a conspicuous place within the jurisdiction.