What permits do you need to open a contractor or trade in Mahoning County?

Master and Journeyman Plumber Registration

Plumbers working in Mahoning County register with the health district, not the county building department: the county Building Regulations note at §4.1.1 states 'Mahoning County Board of Health registers Plumbing Contractors separately'. The figures are as published in the 'MAHONING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH FEE SCHEDULE 2026', MCPH's county fee schedule linked from its Current Fees page, under 'Registrations (Effective 1/1/20)': 'Master Plumber 1st Time Registration 150.00', 'Master Plumber Registration Renewal 125.00' and 'Journeyman Plumber Registration 25.00'. The state plumbing license is a separate state credential. Scope: Youngstown has its own health district. MCPH's food page states that 'Mahoning County businesses (except in the city of Youngstown) selling, preparing and/or serving food must meet the requirements of the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code and be licensed by Mahoning County Public Health', and its tattoo page states that 'all facilities and artists located within Youngstown city limits fall under the authority of the Youngstown City Health District and are not subject to Mahoning County's regulations.' A business inside Youngstown city limits deals with the Youngstown City Health District, and the MCPH figures here do not apply there.

Commercial Specialty Trade Contractor Registration (HVAC, Electrical, Hydronics, Refrigeration)

A commercial HVAC, electrical, hydronics or refrigeration contractor working in Mahoning County registers with the Mahoning County Building Inspection Department. Building Regulations §4.1.1 states that no person shall engage in those commercial trades 'within Mahoning County without first becoming registered', and that these contractors 'must be licensed by the State of Ohio by testing and are therefore exempt from licensing in the County but required to be registered only in Mahoning County.' The fee is as printed in the Building Department Fee Schedule under 'SPECIALTY TRADE REGISTRATION AND LICENSURE: (Chapter 4 fees)': $100.00 for the non-refundable registration application and for 'Electrical, HVAC, Hydronics, Refrigeration contractor renewals', with 'Late filing for renewal: (required after Dec 31st thru Jan 31st) 25.00 + renewal fee'. Under §4.10, registrations expire on December 31 and renewal needs proof of insurance and 'five (5) hours per year of continuing education (CE) in the National Electrical Code (NEC)'. The schedule sets a first violation at up to $500.00. Plumbing contractors register with the health district instead. The Building Regulations apply to work 'within the jurisdictional area of the Mahoning County Building Department'; contact the department at 330-270-2894 to confirm that a site falls in that area.

Commercial Trade Contractor License

Ohio does not license general contractors. The state board covers five commercial trades only — electrical, HVAC, hydronics, plumbing and refrigeration — and everything else, including residential and general contracting, is regulated by the local building department, which may nonetheless insist on this state license for residential work. The license is a master license held by a person, not a company: it must be assigned to one contracting company, cannot be used under a trading name, and requires $500,000 of liability cover plus five years' trade experience and a passing exam. Fees are per trade, so a contractor holding two pays twice. Continuing education is eight hours a year, or twenty-four across a three-year cycle, and half the electrical hours must be code courses. Let it lapse more than a year and you reapply and retest.

Shared with other businesses in Mahoning County

• Commercial Plumbing Permit — Mahoning County Public Health, Per the MCPH 2026 fee schedule, 'Plumbing Permits – Commercial (Effective 1/1/20)': $14.00 per fixture or item (including closets, lavatories, sinks, floor drains, water heaters, interceptors (grease, garage), sewage lift pumps, water lines and backflow); inside downspouts $15.00; modular inspection $30.00; partial, rough and finish inspections $35.00 each; re-inspection $50.00; clearwater inspection $60.00; walk thru inspection $50.00; field consultation (commercial) $75.00; plan review fee 30% of total permit., per project. Also required for restaurants and auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.