Columbus Building Permit Search & History
Look up 228 recent Columbus building permits — addresses, permit types, contractors, and valuations, updated multiple times a day from the city's official records, with history back to January 1, 2026. Free email alerts when new permits match your filters.
Recent Columbus Permits
Showing 20 of 228 recent permits.
Sign up to see all permits and set alertsColumbus Permit Filing Trends
Weekly filing volume from the last 12 weeks of Columbus permit data:
| Week | Permits filed | Declared value |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2026 | 5 | — |
| July 6, 2026 | 182 | — |
| June 29, 2026 | 30 | — |
| June 22, 2026 | 11 | — |
| June 15, 2026 | 10 | — |
| June 8, 2026 | 22 | — |
| June 1, 2026 | 30 | — |
| May 25, 2026 | 29 | — |
| May 18, 2026 | 36 | — |
| May 11, 2026 | 33 | — |
| May 4, 2026 | 17 | — |
| April 27, 2026 | 23 | — |
Busiest ZIP codes: 43230 (173 permits) · 43211 (33 permits) · 43119 (30 permits) · 43219 (29 permits) · 43110 (29 permits) · 43207 (27 permits)
Columbus Building Permit History
Building permits are public records: every filing leaves a permanent paper trail of what was built, altered, or repaired at an address. The Permit Sheet's Columbus feed currently covers 861 permits going back to January 1, 2026, refreshed multiple times a day from the city's official database.
The city does not publish a firm start year; BZS says "most" public records are on the Citizen Access Portal (the search defaults to roughly the last three years until you remove the start date), but various historical records — such as approved building plans that were submitted on paper, maximum capacity cards, and zoning text prior to 1986 — are only available by records request.
For older or historical records not on the portal — paper-submitted approved plans, maximum capacity cards, pre-1986 zoning text — submit the BZS Record Request Form to bzsrecords@columbus.gov, in person or by mail to BZS Records, 111 N. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215, or call the records line at (614) 645-6082. Most requests are free and take 7–10 business days (up to 14 for larger requests).
To research a specific property, start with the address search on Citizen Access Portal (Accela), then use our free permit lookup to see recent filings, contractors, and valuations side by side.
Each weekly Columbus digest also lists the biggest projects filed that week by address.
Columbus Building Department
City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS)
Go to portal.columbus.gov/permits (no account needed), click "Search" at the top of the page, and choose the Building section (permits are split into Building, Engineering, and Zoning). Search using just ONE criterion — the street number and name only, a permit number, or a parcel number without dashes — and remove the start date if you need records older than three years. Click any record number in the results to see permit details, processing status, inspections, and downloadable attachments like the issued permit, approved plans, and certificates of occupancy; you can also export all results to a CSV file.
Which Columbus permit tool do I use?
The city runs several official tools; each answers a different question:
Weekly Columbus Permit Digests
Free weekly reports on the biggest Columbus projects filed, with addresses and valuations:
About Columbus Building Permits
Building permits in Columbus are public records administered by the City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS). They cover new construction, renovations, demolitions, electrical work, plumbing, roofing, solar installations, and more. Every permit includes the property address, type of work, estimated valuation, and the applicant and contractor on record.
The Permit Sheet monitors Columbus's official permit records multiple times per day, so you can search recent filings on this page without paging through the city portal — and get an email the moment a new permit matches your trade, neighborhood, or valuation filters. Contractors use it to be first to new projects; investors and neighbors use it to see what's being built nearby.
How to search Columbus permits
- Browse the live feed above — the 20 newest filings with addresses, types, and valuations, refreshed all day.
- Look up a specific address — use the free permit lookup or the city's official Citizen Access Portal (Accela) to pull filings for one property.
- Set an alert — create a free account and get new Columbus permits matching your filters by email within minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up building permits in Columbus?
Two ways: search the city's official portal, Citizen Access Portal (Accela) (Go to portal.columbus.gov/permits (no account needed), click "Search" at the top of the page, and choose the Building section (permits are split into Building, Engineering, and Zoning). Search using just ONE criterion — the street number and name only, a permit number, or a parcel number without dashes — and remove the start date if you need records older than three years. Click any record number in the results to see permit details, processing status, inspections, and downloadable attachments like the issued permit, approved plans, and certificates of occupancy; you can also export all results to a CSV file.) — or browse the live feed on this page, which tracks Columbus filings continuously and adds contractor and valuation details.
How do I find the permit history of a Columbus address?
Search the address on Citizen Access Portal (Accela) for the city's official record. The Permit Sheet's Columbus feed goes back to January 1, 2026 with 861 permits tracked — each weekly digest also lists the biggest filings by address. For older or historical records not on the portal — paper-submitted approved plans, maximum capacity cards, pre-1986 zoning text — submit the BZS Record Request Form to bzsrecords@columbus.gov, in person or by mail to BZS Records, 111 N. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215, or call the records line at (614) 645-6082. Most requests are free and take 7–10 business days (up to 14 for larger requests).
How many building permits were filed in Columbus this month?
228 building permits appear in our Columbus feed for the last 30 days.
Can I get email alerts for new Columbus building permits?
Yes. The Permit Sheet sends real-time email alerts within minutes of new permits being filed. Filter by permit type (roofing, electrical, solar, HVAC), valuation range, and neighborhood. Free tier available.
Where is the Columbus building department?
City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS), 111 North Front Street, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 645-7433. Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; closed weekends and city-observed holidays (Zoning Review room closed the second Tuesday of each month, 9:00–10:30 AM).