Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Appeals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senator proposes expedited building-inspection appeals to curb construction delays
Summary
At an Ohio House Development Committee hearing, a senator testified for Senate Bill 6, which would require expedited appeals for building-inspection disputes (appeal commenced within 1 day; hearing within 5 business days), allow virtual hearings and charge additional fees to petitioners to cover costs.
A senator told the Ohio House Development Committee on 2025-12-05 that Senate Bill 6 would speed up appeals of building-inspection disputes by requiring boards to begin an appeal within one business day and hold a hearing within five business days.
The bill, the senator said in sponsor testimony, would also allow follow-up hearings within five business days if a request for expedited appeal is made during an ongoing appeal, permit virtual meetings and allow the person requesting expedited treatment to pay additional fees capped at $500 per day or $1,000 total. "When a request for an expedited appeal is made, they have to commence appeal within 1 day," the senator said, adding that the provision excludes Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
Supporters say the change would reduce costly delays that affect contractors and the businesses that rely on timely completion of construction projects. The senator argued the measure is a practical fix after several sessions: "This expedited inspection appeals process for contractors at the state and local level at the contractor's expense is a workable solution to keep projects on track," they said.
Committee members pressed the sponsor on scope and history. Representative Lorenz asked whether the proposal applies to residential and commercial projects; the senator replied the bill covers "any project where you would have an inspection and it would go through this process." Representative Abdulahi asked why past efforts stalled; the senator said prior sessions simply ran out of time and that the House made changes the Senate did not concur with.
The senator told the committee that proponents include ABC of Ohio, the Associated General Contractors (AGC), the Commercial Real Estate Development Association and chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association; the senator said no opponents were recorded in the Senate. The sponsor also said the Ohio Board of Building Appeals participated in early negotiations on earlier versions of the legislation nearly eight years ago.
The committee took no formal vote on the bill at this hearing. With committee members expressing support for the bill's aim to speed projects without "skirting life safety," the sponsor said they would be happy to provide additional answers as the bill moves through the legislative process. The meeting approved prior minutes and was then adjourned.
