The Richland County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 5 voted to adopt updated building‑codes fee schedules for residential, county commercial and contract‑jurisdiction commercial work, the county announced during its regular session. The board moved to adopt the schedule after two public hearings and presentations by the county’s building‑codes staff.

Steve Risser, introduced by the board as the building‑codes presenter, told commissioners the revisions are intended to “bridge the gap between revenue and expense” and follow requirements in the Ohio Revised Code. He also said the county had provided notice and structured three fee schedules to reflect work inside the county and for contract jurisdictions in Crawford and Wyandotte Counties. “Any action the board takes regarding fees today will become effective on the 30 first calendar day following adoption, which puts us at 01/02/2026,” Risser said during the presentation.

Commissioners discussed policy choices embedded in the schedule, including the county’s decision not to add a separate charge for expedited service. Risser said expedited service will remain available on request and that the county will issue clearer expedited‑service guidelines when the fee schedules roll out.

The board approved the motion to adopt the schedules in a roll‑call vote. The adoption triggers the effective date described by Risser, giving contractors and property owners the stated advance notice ahead of the new year.

The action followed two public hearings the county held earlier in the process; commissioners said those hearings informed the final language and timing. There was no recorded amendment to the fee tables discussed at the meeting and no appeal or protest recorded at the Dec. 5 session. The board did not announce any further implementation steps beyond issuing the effective date and guidance for expedited requests.

The board discussed related matters during the same agenda block, including ensuring consistent communications to contractors and ensuring that the contract jurisdictions’ surcharge structure remains modest relative to base fees.