North Ridgeville committee reviews new tent-permit chapter after state code change; ordinance sent back to council

North Ridgeville City Council’s Committee of the Whole on April 7, 2025 discussed a proposed ordinance (2025-548) to add Chapter 1470 to the city’s Building and Housing Code that would require permits and plan review for temporary tents and membrane structures used at city parks and commercial events; the committee voted to send the ordinance back to council for further consideration.

Planning and Economic Development Director Kim Lieber said the proposed chapter was prompted by a recent update to the Ohio Building Code and by the city’s desire to align local permit requirements with state rules and fire-safety guidance. "We felt like we really need to create a separate application because temporary tents are very different than other types of permanent structures," Lieber said, describing the city’s intent to streamline information sent to building and fire reviewers.

The proposed ordinance would require an application and permit review for certain temporary structures, circulate applications to the fire department, and include fire-safety provisions suggested by the fire department such as nonflammable…