Civil Engineering in Sheffield, OH

Civil Engineering in Ohio: what governs your project

Construction stormwater discharges are regulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency through its NPDES construction stormwater general permit. Driveway access to state highways requires permits from the Ohio Department of Transportation. Older cities including Cleveland and Cincinnati operate combined sewer systems with long-term control requirements that affect stormwater detention design, and earthwork must account for freeze-thaw and the state's glacial soils.

Permitting & plan check

Ohio uses a certified building department system: the Ohio Board of Building Standards certifies local departments to perform non-residential plan review and inspection. Where no certified local department exists, the state Division of Industrial Compliance handles review. Building permits are issued locally under the Ohio Building Code.

Good to know

• Northeast Ohio's snow belt, downwind of Lake Erie, produces some of the highest snow loads in the state due to lake-effect snow.
• Western Ohio has experienced notable historic earthquakes near Anna, and the state carries low-to-moderate seismic design requirements.
• Ohio's building code is administered by the Ohio Board of Building Standards, with plan review performed by state-certified local building departments.

Every discipline, one team