Middletown is one of Butler County’s largest cities with an active residential improvement market. The City’s Building Inspection Division handles building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits all in-house — simplifying the process compared to township jurisdictions where permits are split between multiple authorities. This guide walks through everything you need to know before submitting your deck permit application.
Important: Current Email Communications Update
The City of Middletown Building Inspections Division experienced a cybersecurity incident in August 2025 that disrupted email communications. As of December 2025, verify current contact information at the Building Inspections page at cityofmiddletown.org.
- For building permits: Email bzpermits@cityofmiddletown.org
- Do NOT use contractorlicense@cityofmiddletown.org — this address is no longer active
- Do NOT use dept_planning@cityofmiddletown.org — this address is no longer active
- For contractor license renewal: Email contractorrenewal@cityofmiddletown.org
- For planning and zoning: Email City Planner Claire Fetters Binegar at claire.binegar@cityofmiddletown.org
Where to Apply
| Detail | Information |
| Department | Building Inspection Division, Community & Economic Development |
| Address | One Donham Plaza, Middletown, OH 45042 |
| Building Inspections Phone | (513) 425-7973 |
| City Hall Main | (513) 425-7766 |
| Permits Email | bzpermits@cityofmiddletown.org |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Applications & Fee Schedules | cityofmiddletown.org — Applications & Fees |
Does My Deck Project Require a Permit in Middletown?
Yes. The City of Middletown explicitly lists decks among projects requiring a building permit. Permits are required for new construction, additions, alterations, and remodeling — including decks and sheds. The Residential Code of Ohio (2019 RCO) regulates one-, two-, and three-family residential dwellings and accessory structures including decks.
Middletown’s Building Inspection Division handles building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits all in-house. If your deck project includes electrical work (lighting, outlets) or a gas line for an outdoor kitchen, you’ll need additional permits from the same division — not a separate county agency. All permit applications are available for download on the Applications & Fees page.
Who Can Apply: Contractor vs. Homeowner Requirements
Middletown has specific requirements depending on who is submitting the permit application and who is doing the work:
| Situation | What’s Required |
| Licensed contractor doing the work and applying | Copy of contractor’s license + certificate of liability insurance with workers compensation + check for permit fee. Applications will NOT be reviewed until all three are received. |
| Homeowner doing the work themselves | Notarized 7B Form (from Applications & Fees page) + check for permit fee |
| Homeowner applying on behalf of a contractor | 7A Form (from Applications & Fees page) + check for permit fee |
Applications are submitted with a check — Middletown requires the check for the permit fee to accompany the application. Call Building Inspections at (513) 425-7973 with your project scope to get a fee estimate before submitting.
Building Codes in Middletown
The City of Middletown enforces the Residential Code of Ohio (2019 RCO) for all residential construction. The 2019 RCO governs footing depth (32″ minimum in Ohio), framing member sizing, ledger attachment, guardrail height, handrail geometry, and stair dimensions. A 3% State mandated surcharge is added to the total cost of all permit fees — this is an Ohio statewide requirement, not Middletown-specific.
What to Submit with Your Residential Building Permit Application
Download the Residential Building Permit application (PDF) from the Applications & Fees page. For a deck project, the standard submittal package includes:
- Completed Residential Building Permit Application signed by the property owner or authorized agent
- Required contractor documentation or homeowner form (7A or 7B, as applicable) — see table above
- Check for permit fee (amount confirmed against Building Permit Fees and Estimated Valuation Fees schedules)
- Site plan showing property boundaries, existing structures, and proposed deck location with dimensions and setback distances to all property lines
- Framing plan showing joist and beam sizes, spacing, span direction, and ledger attachment method
- Footing plan showing pier locations, diameter, and depth (32″ minimum)
- Elevation drawing showing deck height above grade, stair location, and guardrail/handrail details
Contact Building Inspections at (513) 425-7973 before preparing drawings to confirm the current number of plan sets required and any plan-specific requirements for your project scope.
Additional Permits for Deck Projects
If your deck project includes any of the following, additional permits are required from the same Building Inspection Division:
- Electrical work (outlets, lighting, ceiling fan wiring): submit the Electrical Permit application
- Plumbing work (outdoor sink, water line for outdoor kitchen): submit the Plumbing Permit application
- Gas line (built-in grill or outdoor fire feature): submit the HVAC Permit application or Flammable Liquid and Gas Install Permit as applicable
Required Inspections
Inspections are required for all building permits. Schedule by calling (513) 425-7973 — emailed inspection requests are not scheduled. If you reach voicemail, leave your name, phone number, address, and inspection type. Inspections cannot be scheduled until the permit is fully paid and issued.
- Footing inspection — after post holes are excavated to 32″ frost depth minimum, before concrete is placed and before framing begins.
- Framing inspection — after installation of all structural framing (posts, beams, ledger, floor joists); all structural connectors and fasteners must be exposed. Decking boards cannot be installed until this passes.
- Final inspection — when all construction is complete including stairs, handrails, guardrails, and decking. Certificate of occupancy issued. Deck cannot be used before this passes.
Before You Dig: Ohio Utility Notification
Ohio law requires calling 1-800-362-2764 or dialing 811 at least 48 hours — and no more than 10 days — before any excavation. The Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) marks buried utility lines at no charge. Mandatory and applies to all footing excavation.
Zoning Compliance
Before finalizing your deck design, confirm setbacks and lot coverage requirements. A Zoning Compliance Form is available on the Applications & Fees page. For planning and zoning questions, contact City Planner Claire Fetters Binegar at claire.binegar@cityofmiddletown.org.
Quick Reference: Middletown Deck Permit Checklist
- Confirm setback and zoning requirements — email claire.binegar@cityofmiddletown.org or call (513) 425-7973
- Determine whether project includes electrical, plumbing, or gas (additional permits required from same division)
- Download the Residential Building Permit application from cityofmiddletown.org/178
- Prepare site plan, framing plan, footing plan, elevation drawing, and stair/railing details
- Prepare required contractor documentation (license + liability/workers comp insurance) OR homeowner form (7B if doing work yourself; 7A if applying for a contractor)
- Determine permit fee using Building Permit Fees and Estimated Valuation Fees schedules; call (513) 425-7973 for confirmation
- Submit application with check for permit fee; email to bzpermits@cityofmiddletown.org or in person at One Donham Plaza
- Pay permit — inspections cannot be scheduled until permit is fully paid and issued
- Call 811 or 1-800-362-2764 between 48 hours and 10 days before digging
- Schedule Footing inspection before pouring concrete — call (513) 425-7973 (no email scheduling)
- Schedule Framing inspection before installing decking boards
- Schedule Final inspection before using the deck; retain certificate of occupancy
Middletown’s in-house permit structure makes the process more straightforward than township jurisdictions where permits are split across multiple offices. For a direct comparison, our guide on how the deck permit process works in West Chester Township covers the two-track Township/Butler County split that applies just south of Middletown’s city limits.
For how another nearby city structures its building and zoning permit process, our guide to deck permits in neighboring Franklin, OH shows how Warren County’s second city approaches the same permit types — useful context for contractors working across both Butler and Warren County markets.
Building a Deck in Middletown? Talk to Deck Builders Cincinnati.
Deck Builders Cincinnati builds decks and outdoor living spaces throughout Butler County and the greater Cincinnati area. Call us at (513) 586-3107 to talk through your project.