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 materials and limits on cooking under tents. Assistant Fire Chief Mike Unack said he was particularly concerned about cooking tents at large events, citing the recent Corn Festival: "My big concern... was the corn festival with all the tents that we had and pretty much eliminated all but the kettle corn tent," he said, and warned that approving specific appliances can create liability for the city.

City staff told the committee that typical plan-review thresholds remain relevant: stamp-required drawings and a higher fee are required once a tent reaches a size that triggers structural review (discussed in the meeting at about 400 square feet). The draft ordinance includes a $25 permit for smaller reviewed tents; staff said larger tents that require stamped drawings would pay a higher fee. The ordinance also includes an exemption for recreational camping tents and accessory residential tents under 400 square feet.

Councilmembers asked for clarifications on several points. Councilmember Swank voiced concern about criminal penalties in the draft, noting the ordinance states that a violation "shall constitute a minor misdemeanor" and asked how residents would be informed so that private backyard users would not unknowingly face enforcement. Councilmember Winkle and others questioned the interplay between the building code and the Ohio Fire Code and recommended clearer text to avoid unintended enforcement against private residential uses.

Committee members and staff discussed practical options for large events such as the Corn Festival and ongoing programming at Victory Park: staff said the city could either require individual permits from each vendor or work through the event organizer under a memorandum of understanding to gather vendor information and ensure compliance. Lieber said the city will need to decide whether to require individual vendor permits or to shift some responsibility to event organizers.

Two durations were discussed. Lieber noted that the Ohio building code defines a temporary structure as lasting less than 180 days, while the draft local provision would limit any single tent erection to 30 consecutive days locally and require a new permit if re-erected. Councilmember Schaefer asked whether multiple short re-erections would require separate permits; staff replied that a new permit would be required.

At the end of the meeting, Councilmember Jacobs moved and Councilmember Swank seconded a motion to send ordinance 2025-548 back to council for further consideration. The clerk called the roll and each attending member voted yes; the motion passed. The committee asked that an amended draft clarifying exemptions, the interaction with the Ohio Fire Code, fee structure for large events, and the misdemeanor language be circulated before further action.

The committee and staff said additional review will be needed after the Ohio Fire Code is published so the city can ensure local ordinance language aligns with both state building and fire requirements and with guidance from the Board of Building Standards.

Votes at a glance: The committee voted unanimously to send Ordinance 2025-548 (new Chapter 1470, tent/membrane-structure permitting) back to council for additional revision. The motion to return the ordinance was moved by Councilmember Jacobs and seconded by Councilmember Swank; roll-call votes recorded as "Yes" by all present members.