Permit Scope Confirmed at Your First Consultation — No Surprises Mid-Project
Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Upper Arlington, and Hilliard each have different permit thresholds — we know all of them.
STEP 01 OF 08 • THE SHORT ANSWER
Does Your Columbus Concrete Project Require a Permit? Here's the Short Answer
Whether you need a permit depends on three things: project type, location relative to public right-of-way, and which municipality you’re in.
- Most residential concrete (patios, shed slabs, garage floors) does not require a permit
- The moment your project touches a curb, a sidewalk, or a retaining wall over four feet — rules change fast
- Permit scope is confirmed at scoping — before any proposal is written
Here’s what most homeowners don’t realize about Columbus concrete permits: the requirement often depends less on the project itself and more on where it sits. A driveway that stays entirely on private property may not require a permit. That same driveway with a new curb cut? That’s a Columbus Public Service permit — no exceptions.
This page covers every situation. Project type. Issuing authority. What the process involves. If something here applies to your project, Columbus Concrete Solutions confirms it at the scoping stage — before a proposal is written.
STEP 02 OF 08 • LOCATION MATTERS
Columbus, Franklin County, and the Suburbs — Why Permit Requirements Vary by Location
Columbus’s service area includes over a dozen municipalities — and each one sets its own permit thresholds.
Columbus proper is governed by Columbus Building & Zoning Services and Columbus Public Service. Dublin, Westerville, Upper Arlington, Hilliard, Worthington, Gahanna, and the other Franklin County suburbs each maintain independent permit offices. A project that clears Columbus’s threshold may require a formal application in Upper Arlington. A retaining wall that meets Dublin’s requirements may trigger an engineer-stamped permit in Worthington.
Central Ohio’s growth is making this more complex, not less. New Albany and Pickerington — the two fastest-growing eastern suburbs — are expanding their permit programs as development density increases. HOA communities in Dublin and Lewis Center add an approval layer on top of municipal permits.
Columbus Concrete Solutions operates from 100 East Campus View Blvd — inside Franklin County. That means direct familiarity with Columbus Public Service workflows and the specific thresholds that apply in each suburb we serve.
STEP 03 OF 08 • PERMIT REFERENCE TABLE
Every Permit Type Columbus Concrete Projects Can Trigger — in One Reference Table
Every common Columbus concrete project maps to a specific permit type, issuing authority, and trigger condition.
Use this table as a starting reference. The sections that follow give detail on each row.
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Issuing Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Residential backyard patio |
Permit Required
×Generally no
|
Issuing AuthorityN/A |
| Garage slab (no curb alteration) |
Permit Required
×Generally no
|
Issuing AuthorityN/A |
| New driveway — curb cut unchanged |
Permit Required
?Verify by municipality
|
Issuing AuthorityColumbus Public Service or suburb |
| New driveway — new or altered curb cut |
Permit Required
✓Yes
|
Issuing AuthorityColumbus Public Service (curb cut permit) |
| Driveway replacement — curb cut unchanged |
Permit Required
?Verify by municipality
|
Issuing AuthorityColumbus Public Service or suburb |
| Residential sidewalk on private property |
Permit Required
×Generally no
|
Issuing AuthorityN/A |
| Sidewalk in public right-of-way |
Permit Required
✓Yes
|
Issuing AuthorityColumbus Public Service |
| Retaining wall under 4 feet |
Permit Required
×Generally no — setback rules still apply
|
Issuing AuthorityN/A |
| Retaining wall 4 feet or over |
Permit Required
✓Yes — engineered permit
|
Issuing AuthorityColumbus Building & Zoning / suburb |
| Commercial flatwork (parking, loading, ramps) |
Permit Required
✓Yes
|
Issuing AuthorityColumbus Building & Zoning |
| Any project requiring excavation |
Permit Required
iOUPS/811 locating required
|
Issuing AuthorityOhio Utility Protection Service |
The strip of land between your property line and the street curb is public right-of-way — but Ohio law places maintenance responsibility on the adjacent property owner. That’s why sidewalk repair in front of your house requires a Columbus Public Service permit even though it’s not technically your land.
STEP 04 OF 08 • PERMIT TYPES IN DETAIL
Driveway, Sidewalk, Retaining Wall, Commercial Flatwork — What Each One Typically Requires
Each project type triggers a different permit pathway — here’s what each one actually involves.
Curb Cut Permit — Columbus Public Service
A curb cut permit is required from Columbus Public Service when a new or modified driveway changes the width, location, or elevation of the opening at the street curb. This is one of the most commonly required permits for residential concrete work in Columbus.
Installing a new driveway, widening an existing one, or relocating the entry point.
Replacing an existing driveway slab with no change to the curb opening. Even so, confirm with the local permit office in suburbs like Dublin or Upper Arlington — thresholds vary.
The curb cut permit covers the opening geometry and ensures drainage and traffic safety standards are met at the street interface.
Right-of-Way Concrete Work
Any concrete work within the public right-of-way — the strip between the property line and the curb face — requires a Columbus Public Service permit. This covers sidewalk panels adjacent to the street, curb and gutter sections, and any concrete surface in that zone.
Homeowners are often surprised to learn they are legally responsible for right-of-way sidewalk maintenance and that repairing or replacing those panels requires a permit even though the land is technically public.
Franklin County Retaining Wall Permit
Retaining walls exceeding four feet in height require a building permit in Franklin County. At this height, most Columbus-area municipalities also require an engineer-stamped design submitted with the permit application.
Generally don’t require a permit, but must comply with local setback requirements — how far from the property line the wall can be placed. Setbacks vary by municipality.
Commercial Flatwork — Columbus Building & Zoning Plan Review
Commercial concrete projects in Columbus that include accessible routes, curb ramps, or public-facing sidewalks are reviewed for ADA compliance (Americans with Disabilities Act) as part of the Columbus Building & Zoning plan review process.
This applies to parking lots, loading docks, restaurant entries, retail frontage, and any concrete surface serving as an accessible route.
STEP 05 OF 08 • PERMIT COORDINATION
How We Handle Permit Coordination on Every Applicable Columbus Project
Permit requirements are confirmed at the scoping stage — before any proposal is written.
At Columbus Concrete Solutions, permit determination happens during the first project conversation — not after you’ve signed anything. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
When a project comes in like this, the first question is whether the curb cut changes. If it does, that’s a Westerville permit through their development department, coordinated before the estimate is finalized.
The permit application, the documentation, the inspection scheduling — all of that is managed as part of the project scope.
- ✓Submit the permit application
- ✓Coordinate the utility locates
- ✓Schedule the inspection window
- ✓Communicate the timeline to you
- 1Be present for the inspection
That’s it. The rest is on us.
The same process applies to right-of-way sidewalk work, retaining walls over four feet, and commercial flatwork. Each project type has a known permit pathway. You receive a written estimate that includes permit coordination in the scope — no surprise line items added later.
Municipality variation matters here. A project in Dublin goes through Dublin’s permit office. A project in Upper Arlington follows Upper Arlington’s setback rules and inspection schedule. We track those differences across Franklin County so you don’t have to.
STEP 06 OF 08 • OHIO 811 LAW
Call 811 Before Any Excavation — and Here's Why It's Ohio Law
Ohio law requires every contractor to contact OUPS at least 48 hours before any ground excavation — no exceptions.
OUPS stands for Ohio Utility Protection Service. Calling 811 initiates a utility locate request. Within 48 hours, utility companies mark the location of underground gas lines, electric conduits, water mains, and telecommunications cables at your project site. The marking is free.
This requirement applies to every concrete project that involves excavation — driveway demolition, patio sub-base prep, retaining wall footings, and any situation where a machine or tool breaks the ground surface.
Columbus Concrete Solutions initiates the OUPS locate request on every applicable project. The 48-hour window is built into the project schedule. When excavation day arrives, the utility flags are in the ground and the crew knows exactly what’s marked and where.
This step is Ohio law — and it’s built into our standard project timeline, not treated as a separate task.
STEP 07 OF 08 • PERMIT-READY SERVICE AREA
Permit-Ready Concrete Work Across Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, and More
Columbus Concrete Solutions serves the full Columbus metro and surrounding Franklin County municipalities.
We handle permit coordination across Columbus proper, Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Gahanna, Grove City, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, and Pickerington. Each municipality has its own permit office and thresholds — we work with all of them.
ColumbusDublinWestervilleHilliardUpper ArlingtonWorthingtonGahannaGrove CityNew AlbanyReynoldsburgPickerington
Commercial permit projects in the New Albany industrial corridor, the Short North, and Franklinton are also within our service area. Contact us at (614) 227-8000 to confirm coverage for your specific location and project type.
STEP 08 OF 08 • ASK AT FIRST CONSULTATION
Ask Us About Permit Requirements at Your First Consultation — No Extra Step Required
Permit scope is part of every project conversation — you don’t have to research it separately.
If your project requires a permit, you’ll know that before you receive a proposal. If it doesn’t, you’ll know that too. Either way, the permit question is answered at the first consultation — not surfaced as a problem after work has started.
- 1Project type — driveway, patio, sidewalk, retaining wall, garage floor, or commercial flatwork
- 2Location — address or at minimum the municipality (Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, etc.)
Email info@ColumbusConcretesolutions.com. We’ll confirm what applies before anything else moves forward.