Delaware County Review

State Representative Brian Lorenz has expressed support for new legislation aimed at expediting the appeals process with the Ohio Board of Building Appeals and local boards. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 6, seeks to streamline procedures related to the enforcement of various building codes in Ohio.

The Ohio Board of Appeals deals with cases involving the Ohio Building Code, Residential Code of Ohio, and several other specialized codes. Local boards focus on the enforcement of the Ohio Building Code and Residential Code.

Lorenz highlighted the importance of professionals in architecture and engineering in his remarks: “This bill respects and recognizes the important roles that licensed architects and engineers play in the development process. These are highly trained professionals who spend their careers ensuring our structures are safe, functional, and built to last. Senate Bill 6 empowers them to operate within their full scope of expertise while maintaining oversight and accountability.”

Under current regulations, an appeal hearing must be scheduled within seven to 15 days after a request is made. Senate Bill 6 introduces an expedited process requiring hearings to begin one business day after an appeal request, with hearings held within five business days.

Applicants can request this expedited service for a fee. Presently, fees for traditional appeals are capped at $200 by state boards and $100 by local boards. For expedited hearings under Senate Bill 6, fees will not exceed $500 per day or $1,000 total.

Senate Bill 6 now awaits consideration by the Governor.