Bolthole Index

Franklin County, Ohio

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bexley, Ohio

Bexley, Ohio, a city in Franklin County, adopts and enforces its own Planning and Zoning Code1 and has adopted the Residential Building Code of Ohio for one-, two- and three-family homes2. A driveway entrance needs its own city permit3. We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside the city limits.

At a glance

Zoning
Bexley's own Planning and Zoning Code applies inside city limits1
Building code
Residential Building Code of Ohio adopted for one-, two- and three-family dwellings, with city amendments2
R-1 minimum lot
36,000 sq ft, 150 ft wide, 240 ft deep4
R-1 setbacks
Front 30 ft (or the average setback, whichever is greater), rear 60 ft, side 20 ft5
R-1 coverage and height
25% building, 40% overall; 2-1/2 stories and no more than 40 ft67
Driveway permit
Required for a private driveway entrance3

Who to call

Building permits

City of Bexley Building and Zoning Department

Building permits and code enforcement for homes inside Bexley city limits

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bexley means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Bexley, Ohio have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Land inside Bexley city limits is subject to the city's Planning and Zoning Code and its district regulations1. The residential districts include R-1, R-2, R-3, R-6 and R-128.

The rules depend on the district. In the R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District, a lot needs at least 36,000 square feet, 150 feet of width and 240 feet of depth4. R-1 yards are 30 feet in front (or the average setback, whichever is greater), 60 feet in the rear and 20 feet on each side, with extra requirements for corner lots5. Buildings in R-1 may cover 25% of the lot, with 40% overall coverage6, and may rise 2-1/2 stories but no more than 40 feet7.

We could not confirm a minimum home size for R-17, and we found nothing in Bexley's code on living in an RV, camping or tiny-home occupancy on a lot. Ask the Bexley Building and Zoning Department before planning any of those.

Do you need a building permit in Bexley, and who issues it?

Bexley has adopted the Residential Building Code of Ohio for one-, two- and three-family dwellings inside city limits, with the city's own amendments and exceptions2. The9 is the office to contact for building permits in the city, not the Franklin County Building Department, whose permit rules cover unincorporated Franklin County10.

Ohio law requires an owner to have plans approved by the building department that has jurisdiction before construction starts11. Permit fees at a certified Ohio building department follow that department's locally adopted fee schedule12; we could not confirm Bexley's fee amounts.

Pre-existing accessory dwelling units must pass a building code inspection by the Chief Building Official or designee to get a certificate of continued occupancy13.

How do septic permits work inside Bexley?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside Bexley, or whether any address in the city is allowed an on-site system. In Ohio, installing or altering a sewage treatment system requires a permit from the local board of health14, and the board of health in the district approves, inspects and enforces those rules15.

Ohio rules also require connection to a public sanitary sewer when one is accessible and available, generally when an existing structure is within 300 feet of the sewer right-of-way16. In a dense city, that usually points to the sewer. Ask the Bexley Building and Zoning Department whether a sewer tap is available at your address, and ask Franklin County Public Health whether it has any role at that address. Private wells are in the same position: we found no Bexley rule, and the state requires a board of health permit to construct a private water system17.

What other permits does building in Bexley involve?

A private driveway entrance in Bexley needs a city permit, applied for in writing by the owner or construction contractor, with a fee under Section 244.01; when the driveway is part of building work, the application can go on the building-permit form3.

Development in an area of special flood hazard inside Bexley needs a Development Permit from the Bexley Service Director before work begins. Maintenance such as roofing, painting and basement sealing is exempt, as is small nonstructural development valued below $1,000, but not filling or grading18.

Dividing land inside the city goes through the subdivision chapters of Bexley's Planning and Zoning Code19.

Building a home in Bexley: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your zoning district and its lot, setback, coverage and height limits in Bexley's Planning and Zoning Code8.
  2. If you are dividing a lot, follow the city's subdivision approval chapters first19.
  3. Submit plans to the9 for review under the Residential Building Code of Ohio2.
  4. Check whether the lot is in an area of special flood hazard and, if so, get the Development Permit from the Service Director18.
  5. Apply for the driveway permit, on the building-permit form if you like3.
  6. Confirm sewer or septic and water with the city and Franklin County Public Health before you buy; we could not confirm these rules for Bexley.

What stays with Franklin County, and what to check before you buy in Bexley

Bexley's city rules apply only inside the city. For land outside city limits, see the Franklin County page: the county's building permit and zoning rules cover only its unincorporated territory10.

Franklin County Public Health reviews and regulates sewage systems and approves private water system permits within its jurisdiction2021; we could not confirm that it covers a Bexley address, so ask.

Costs are county-level figures: Franklin County's effective property tax rate is about 1.5%22, and a typical home is valued around $301,34023. Confirm any lot-specific limits with the city before you offer.

Watch-outs

  • Zoning limits differ by district; the lot, setback and height numbers above are for R-1 only, so check the district of the exact parcel8.
  • Bexley's fee amounts are not confirmed; the code points to Section 244.01, so ask the Bexley Building and Zoning Department for the schedule before you budget3.
  • Septic and well authority, and rules on RV, tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy, are not confirmed inside Bexley, so ask the Bexley Building and Zoning Department before relying on any of them1.

Sources

  1. PART TWELVE - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  2. 1410.01 ADOPTION BY REFERENCE. (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  3. 1024.03 PERMIT REQUIRED; FEE. (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  4. 1252.09 DISTRICT REGULATIONS. (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  5. 1252.09 DISTRICT REGULATIONS. (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  6. 1252.09 DISTRICT REGULATIONS. (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  7. 1252.09 DISTRICT REGULATIONS. (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  8. 1252.09 DISTRICT REGULATIONS. (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Bexley Building and Zoning Department (codelibrary.amlegal.com)
  10. Building FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  11. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 4101:7-7 | Fees (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. 1266.24 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (ADUS). (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  14. Rule 3701-29-09 | Site review and permits for STS installation and operation (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Section 3718.023 | Approval of installation, operation or alteration of sewage treatment systems (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Rule 3745-42-07 | Best available technology for connection into sanitary sewers and centralized collection and treatment (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 3701-28 | Private water systems (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  19. PART TWELVE - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE (Bexley), quoted and re-checked
  20. Water Quality, quoted and re-checked
  21. Water Quality, quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Bexley

Bexley’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    One-, two-, and three-family dwellings inside Bexley city limits.

    • The adoption includes amendments to the Residential Building Code of Ohio and exceptions adopted by the City.
    “there is hereby adopted by and for the City the Residential Building Code of Ohio”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Pre-existing accessory dwelling units inside Bexley city limits seeking certification of continued occupancy.

    • The inspection is by the Chief Building Official or designee.
    • Resultant recommended code corrections must be remedied before certification of continued occupancy.
    “must successfully complete a building code inspection”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Bexley city limits.

    • Land use is subject to Bexley's Planning and Zoning Code and district regulations.
    “The following district regulations are hereby adopted as minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land, except as hereinafter provided:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Bexley city limits.

    • Residential district controls include R-1, R-2, R-3, R-6, and R-12 districts.
    “R-1 [...] R-2 [...] R-3 [...] R-6 [...] R-12”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Bexley city limits.

    • Subdivision approval and subdivision regulations are codified in Bexley's Planning and Zoning Code.
    “TITLE THREE - Subdivision Approval TITLE THREE - Subdivision Approval Chap. 1234. Subdivision Regulations. Chap. 1236. Subdivision Review and Approval.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction of a private driveway entrance inside Bexley city limits.

    • The permit requires a written application signed by the owner or construction contractor.
    • The application must show location, dimensions, and construction method.
    • When associated with building improvements, the application may be made on the building-permit form.
    • A fee under Section 244.01 is charged.
    “without first obtaining a permit therefor.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or development in an area of special flood hazard inside Bexley city limits.

    • A Development Permit must be obtained from the Bexley Service Director before construction or development begins.
    • Maintenance work such as roofing, painting, and basement sealing is exempt.
    • Small nonstructural development activities, other than filling and grading, valued below $1,000 are exempt.

    small nonstructural-development exemption value: < 1000 USD (Does not apply to filling or grading.)

    “A Development Permit shall be obtained from the Bexley Service Director”

Rules another office applies inside Bexley

Bexley does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District inside Bexley city limits.

    • District regulations apply uniformly except as otherwise provided.
    • Corner lots must meet additional requirements stated in Section 1252.10.

    minimum lot area: >= 36000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 150 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 240 feet

    “R-1 | Area - 36,000 square feet Width - 150 feet Depth - 240 feet | Front - 30 feet or average setback as defined in Section 1230.07, whichever is greater Rear - 60 feet Side - 20 feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District inside Bexley city limits.

    • Front yard is 30 feet or the average setback under Section 1230.07, whichever is greater.
    • Corner lots must meet additional requirements under Section 1252.10.

    front yard: >= 30 feet (Or average setback under Section 1230.07, whichever is greater.) · rear yard: >= 60 feet · side yard: >= 20 feet

    “R-1 | Area - 36,000 square feet Width - 150 feet Depth - 240 feet | Front - 30 feet or average setback as defined in Section 1230.07, whichever is greater Rear - 60 feet Side - 20 feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District inside Bexley city limits.

    maximum building coverage: <= 25 percent · maximum overall coverage: <= 40 percent

    “R-1 | Area - 36,000 square feet Width - 150 feet Depth - 240 feet | Front - 30 feet or average setback as defined in Section 1230.07, whichever is greater Rear - 60 feet Side - 20 feet. However, corner lots must meet additional requirements as stated in Section 1252.10 | 25% building 40% overall | 2-1/2 stories, and shall not exceed 40 feet”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District inside Bexley city limits.

    maximum principal-building height: <= 40 feet (Also limited to 2-1/2 stories.)

    “R-1 | Area - 36,000 square feet Width - 150 feet Depth - 240 feet | Front - 30 feet or average setback as defined in Section 1230.07, whichever is greater Rear - 60 feet Side - 20 feet. However, corner lots must meet additional requirements as stated in Section 1252.10 | 25% building 40% overall | 2-1/2 stories, and shall not exceed 40 feet”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bexley or Franklin County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Bexley city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — New residential construction inside Bexley city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District inside Bexley city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Bexley city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bexley city limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Bexley publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Franklin County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Franklin County: county rules, score and offices