Ohio Board of Building Standards Adopts New Certification Rules Effective July 1, 2025

COLUMBUS, Ohio - It will soon be easier for individuals in the state of Ohio to become certified code enforcement inspectors and grow their careers. When they take effect July 1, 2025, rules recently approved by the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance's Board of Building Standards (BBS) will streamline and enhance professional building code enforcement throughout the state. This includes improving the certification process for both building departments and personnel.

The BBS officially adopted the rules at its Dec. 20, 2024 meeting. The rule changes are the result of a review that happens every five years as required by Ohio law, at which time it is determined whether any rules need to be added, removed or amended to meet new or emerging needs. These new changes reflect the Board's commitment to aligning regulations with industry best practices while respecting the needs of stakeholders.

The changes were in part informed by a recent study conducted by the International Code Council (ICC) to understand national industry trends and best practices related to code enforcement, building department fees, as well as compensation and qualifications for building department personnel. Building code enforcement personnel include plans examiners as well as structural, electrical, and plumbing inspectors, all of whom play a critical role in helping to ensure residential, commercial, and public buildings are built safely and are in compliance with state building code.

The study found that, when compared to other states, Ohio has more rigorous education and work experience requirements for certification, meaning it takes longer than the national average for them to sit for the exam and become certified.

The new rules remove barriers for inspectors to become certified, as the number of certification classes will be reduced from 49 to seven. This allows for a more efficient certification process and will permit certified personnel to receive cross-training, education and supervision in other areas to obtain skills required to inspect an entire building.

Additional changes enhance the areas of compliance, accountability, and professional standards for building inspections, and provide more opportunities for career development and growth. Additional details on these changes can be found on the BBS's official 2025 Certification Rules page.

In addition to the ICC study, the rule package was developed with extensive stakeholder engagement. The Board also solicited feedback and input from the business community and public through the Common Sense Initiative (CSI) process.

"The result is simplified certification levels and will allow for individuals to start code enforcement careers as a permit tech and progress through education, training and testing all the way up to a comprehensive code official if they wish," said BBS Chairman Timothy Galvin. "It also recognizes traditional entry into the code enforcement profession through the trades or construction design. Part of this new approach to certification will also be an online portal for application and renewal, which we have been working on for years."

Questions related to the certification changes can be sent to [email protected].

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About the Division of Industrial Compliance
The Division of Industrial Compliance is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.