Plumbing Division

The duties of the Plumbing Division of the Warren County Health District include plan review for new plumbing in commercial and residential buildings, inspection of the plumbing work through all phases of construction, and final approval of the plumbing work prior to occupancy.

The Plumbing Division is responsible for protecting the water supply by ensuring, through plan review and inspections, that the plumbing has no cross-connections or possibility of backflow. The plumbing inspectors are also responsible for ensuring the waste plumbing is properly vented and trapped so the plumbing safely carries waste away while causing no health problems.

The Warren County Health District employs five State of Ohio Certified Plumbing Inspectors. By law, only State Certified Plumbing Inspectors can inspect plumbing work. The plumbing inspectors are responsible for plan review and inspection of all residential commercial plumbing work whether it is a remodel or new construction in Warren County.

In addition, to the aforementioned duties, the five plumbing inspectors provide technical consulting services to homeowners installing their own plumbing. They also work closely with the Environmental Health Division on plumbing related problems in restaurants and grocery stores.

Permit Applications

WCHD has transitioned over to iWorQ for all Plumbing Permits and Registration. All forms must be submitted in to the iWorQ Portal and proper payment be made to ensure all applications are processed in a timely fashion. When filling out your permit application and/or homeowner’s permits, please fill in ALL information.

Backflow Devices

Warren County Health District has contracted with Backflow Solutions, Inc., also known as BSI Online, to assist with State required cross-connection/backflow tracking regulations. BSI Online has partnered with over 550 water purveyors to develop and manage effective cross-connection control programs to help protect all our water resources. BSI helps water purveyors by sending notifications, assists with customer service inquiries, and manages required data on behalf of Warren County Health District.  BSI Online will serve as the primary point of contact for the program and can be contacted below:

• Testing Company Support:
  • Phone: 800-414-4990
  • Fax: 888-414-4990
  • Email: bsionline@backflow.com
  • Website: https://bsionline.com
  • Water Customer Website Guide
• Water Customer Support:
  • Phone: 888-966-6050
  • Email: support@backflow.com

A backflow prevention device is used to protect water supplies from contamination caused by a backflow situation which may be caused by a loss of water pressure.

In municipal water supply systems, water is normally maintained at a significant pressure to enable water to flow to and out of the plumbing fixtures in your home or business. When the pressure drops for some reason such as may occur when the fire department connects to a fire hydrant to fight a fire or a water main breaks or some other situation happens, contaminated water may be drawn into the system. To prevent such an occurrence, there needs to be some type of backflow prevention method utilized. The best and safest type of backflow prevention is an air gap ( a physical separation between the water outlet and the rim of the fixture). If an air gap is not possible, then the proper backflow prevention device is required. This backflow device is considered a “containment” backflow preventer and is regulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and your water supplier.

Section 312.10 of the Ohio Plumbing Code covers the installation, repairs and testing of isolation backflow preventers (BFP) and Section 608 of the Ohio Plumbing Code addresses protection of the potable water supply within a building these devices are known as “isolation” BFP. Again, the best type of backflow prevention is an air gap, such as the outlet of a faucet and where water would flow over the rim of a sink or bathtub. The Warren County Plumbing Department checks to ensure there is an air gap, if there is no way to provide one, then we check to see that the proper BFP device is installed. These BFP’s, if testable,  are required to be tested (by a certified backflow preventer tester) upon installation and at least every twelve months thereafter.

The simplest and most effective way to provide backflow prevention is to provide an air gap. An air gap is simply a space between any device that opens to a plumbing system (like a valve or faucet) and any place where water can collect or pool. Some cities and municipalities do their own testing of backflow devices for their area. Please contact the appropriate office with any questions or concerns you may have for testing your device:

Call 513-695-1475 between 7:00 – 8:30 AM, Monday-Friday, to Schedule Inspections. Office Hours are from 07:00 to 09:00 Monday-Friday.

Food Service Fees**	Total Fee
Commercial Risk Classification
Level 1 – less than 25000 ft2	$228.00
Level 2 – less than 25000 ft2	$253.00
Level 3 – less than 25000 ft2	$453.00
Level 4 – less than 25000 ft2	$578.00
Level 1 – greater than 25000 ft2	$303.00
Level 2 – greater than 25000 ft2	$328.00
Level 3 – greater than 25000 ft2	$1,128.00
Level 4 – greater than 25000 ft2	$1,203.00
Non-Commercial Risk Classification
Level 1 – less than 25000 ft2	$114.00
Level 2 – less than 25000 ft2	$126.50
Level 3 – less than 25000 ft2	$226.50
Level 4 – less than 25000 ft2	$289.00
Level 1 – greater than 25000 ft2	$151.50
Level 2 – greater than 25000 ft2	$164.00
Level 3 – greater than 25000 ft2	$564.00
Level 4 – greater than 25000 ft2	$601.50
Other Food Service
Temporary FSO/RFE	$100.00
Non-Commercial Temporary FSO/RFE (50% of fee)	$50.00
High-Risk Mobile FSO/RFE	$178.00
Low-Risk Mobile FSO/RFE	$103.00
Vending (per location)*	$17.65
New Commercial or Non-Commercial Facility Plan Review	$300.00
NOTES: FSO = Food Service Operation RFE = Retail Food Establishment
*Fee cannot be increased more than the Consumer Price Index which is 2.9% for 2025
**A late fee of 25% of the local fee is assessed on facilities that do not submit application and payment postmarked by March 1st. Seasonal and mobile facilities must make payment prior to the start of their operational period.
Public Swimming Pool Fees**
Individual Pool, Spa, or Special Use Pool – First License	$355.00
Additional Pool, Spa, or Special Use Pool Same Location	$330.00
**A late fee of 25% of the local fee is assessed on facilities that do not submit application and payment postmarked by due date.
Vital Statistics Fees:
Burial Permits	$10.00
Certified Copy of Birth or Death Record	$22.00
Plumbing Fees*
Plumbing Registration Fees
Contractor’s Registration Fee	$100.00
Installer’s Registration Fee	$50.00
Plumbing Permit Fees:
Permit Fee (includes 1 fixture)*	$60.00 + $20.00 per additional fixture
New and Replacement First Fixture	$60.00
Water Heater Only	$50.00
Additional Fixtures	$20.00 per fixture
Reinspection Fee**	$75.00
Late Fee for Additional Fixtures Found During Finalizing	$20.00 per fixture x 25%
Air Admittance Valve	Additional $20.00 per valve
Commercial Plan Review Fee	1-10 Fixtures = $55.00 11-25 Fixtures = $70.00 26-50 Fixtures = $95.00 51-200 Fixtures = $150.00 200+ Fixtures = $150.00 +$1.00 per additional
Backflow Recertification	$25.00
City of Mason Residential Water Service Permit Under 100 Feet	$60.00
City of Mason Residential Water Service Permit Over 100 Feet	$75.00
City of Mason Residential Water Service Permit Add’l Inspection Fee	$30.00 per additional visit/inspection
City of Mason Commercial Water Service Plan Review Fee	$50.00
City of Mason Commercial Water Service Permit Fee	$150.00 (including up to 3 inspections)
City of Mason Commercial Water Service Additional Inspection Fee	$60.00 per additional inspection
*Plumbing permit fees are doubled if any work has been completed prior to submitting permit application.
**A re-inspection fee shall be assessed for each inspection conducted following the initial six (6) inspections, which allows for two (2) inspections for each stage of the permit (1st rough, 2nd rough, and final). The number of inspections permitted prior to the assessment of a re-inspection fee may be increased if a request is submitted in writing explaining why such an increase is warranted (for example: large projects where separate sections will be completed at different, specified time intervals).
Private Water System Fees**
New Installation (Well):
Single Family Dwelling***	$482.45
Non-Single Family Dwelling**	$432.45
Existing System Alteration:
Single Family Dwelling***	$338.45
Non-Single Family Dwelling***	$438.45
PWS Abandonment (Decomissioning) Permit
Single Family Dwelling	$60.00
Non-Single Family Dwelling	$65.00
Conversion Well Permit:
Single Family Dwelling***	$462.45
Non-Single Family Dwelling***	$512.45
Test Well Permit:
Single Family Dwelling	$194.00
Non-Single Family Dwelling	$204.00
Water Hauler’s Inspection Fee	$32.00
Variance Application Fee	$50.00
Alteration Disconnection for Connection to Public Water	$50.00
Installation of Temporary HWST	$100.00
New Installation (HWST, Cistern, Spring):
Single Family Dwelling	$462.45
Non-Single Family Dwelling	$512.45
Existing System Alteration:
Single Family Dwelling	$388.45
Non-Single Family Dwelling	$438.45
Water Samples (Non-Permit):
Water Sample Fees	$88.45
***Lab Fee to be added for water sample
RV/Recreational Camp Program Fees**
Campgrounds (Other than Temporary Campgrounds)
Campgrounds with 50 or less sites	$360.00
More than 50 sites	$360.00
Temporary Campground
50 or less sites	$150.00
More than 50 sites	$150.00 + $1.00 per site over 50
**A late fee of 25% of the local fee is assessed on facilities that do not submit application and payment postmarked by due date.
Body Art (Tattoo/Piercing) Fees**
Body Art Establishment	$250.00
Time-Limited Approval for a Specific Event (Temporary Event)	$100.00
**A late fee of 25% of the local fee is assessed on facilities that do not submit application and payment postmarked by due date.
Rabies Test:
Animals not paid for by Ohio Department of Health	$30.00 + shipping
Include: Ohio Department of Health will not pay for pets and wild rodents including: gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, shrews, and moles.
Sewage Treatment System Program Fees**
Site Review for HSTS, SMOSTS, or GWRS	$160.00
HSTS = Household Sewage Treatment System SFOSTS = Small Flow Onsite Sewage Treatment System GWRS = Gray Water Recycling System
Installation Permit for HSTS and GWRS	$524.00
Alteration Permit for HSTS and GWRS	$460.00
Installation Permit SFOSTS	$554.00
Alteration Permit for SFOSTS	$515.00
Minor Alteration Permit for Sewage Treatment System**	$135.00
Operational Maintenance Permit for HSTS and SFOSTS	$30.00 per year
Operation and Maintenance Inspection Fee	$15.00
Property Addition (garage, pool, & bedroom)	$100.00
Subdivision (Lot Split) – First Two Lots	$160.00
Subdivision – Each Additional Lot	$50.00
711 Land Transfer Review (When Site Visit is Required)	$80.00
Re-Inspection Fee	$80.00
STS Installer Registration	$100.00
Sewage System Service Provider Registration	$100.00
Septage Hauler Registration	$100.00
Septage Hauler Vehicle Registration (Per Vehicle)	$25.00
Septage Disposal/Land Application Permit	$200.00
Septic Tank Abandonment Permit	$50.00
Collection of Effluent Samples	$50.00 + lab cost
Variance Application Fee	$50.00
**A late fee of 25% of the local fee is assessed for HSTS permit or registration work done prior to issuance.