Dear ABC members:
As a member of the Northern Ohio Chapter of ABC, you also have representation from our staff with ABC of Ohio. ABC of Ohio is our government relations arm that advocates for ABC members on a daily basis. On behalf of ABC members, ABC of Ohio president, Bryan Williams, met with Ohio Board of Building Standards officials to clarify the role of local building officials and the protocol for inspections during the COVID-19 outbreak while construction firms continue work as Essential Businesses. Below was Bryan’s question, and the answers and remedies proposed by the OBBS.
Question:
Some building departments are significantly modifying their operations. Will inspections be available? If not, what should a builder do?
Answer:
I spoke with Regina Henshaw and Steven Regoli of the Ohio Board of Building Standards (BBS). They contacted every local building department and instructed them of their obligation to remain available for inspections and plan approvals.
They advised me of the following:
- 1) If a local building department is unsure of their responsibility to inspect, have that building department call Steven Regoli at the BBS and he will advise the local building department of their ongoing duty to continue inspections and plan approvals. (614) 855-5750 or Steven.Regoli@com.state.oh.us
- 2) The Ohio BBS communicated to all local building departments they should use video inspections and other technologies to safely expedite remote inspections.
- 3) The Ohio BBS considers all inspections conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic as “other inspections” identified in Ohio Administrative Code 108.2.10 (cited below). The Administrative Code allows local building departments to use extraordinary methods to timely complete inspections.
- 4) The BBS considers every inspection requested at this time “for projects of unusual magnitude of construction” due to the limited personnel working.
