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Land Clearing Permits in Pike County, Ohio: Who to Call

There's no single land clearing permit in Pike County. What you need depends on what you're doing and where. This page sorts it by job, gives the office and number, and says plainly where we couldn't confirm something, so you can ask instead of guess.

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Black silt fence staked along the bottom of a cleared slope, with straw spread over the bare soil above it
Silt fence along the foot of a cleared slope, with straw spread over the bare soil.

By what you are doing

If you areThe ruleWho to call
Clearing or grading an acre or more for constructionOhio Construction General Permit. File at least 21 days ahead; $200 fee for one to five acresOhio EPA Southeast District, (740) 385-8501; stormwater (614) 644-2001
Burning land clearing brushWritten Ohio EPA permission, 1,000 feet, air curtain device or approved equalOhio EPA Southeast District; open burning coordinator (614) 644-2270
Burning anything near woods in spring or fallNo open burning 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in March, April, May, October, NovemberODNR Forestry, 877-247-8733
Working in or near wetlandsMechanical clearing can be regulated, on private landOhio EPA, 614-644-2001; Army Corps, Huntington District
Grading or filling low groundLocal floodplain rules likely applyPlanning Commission, (740) 947-9573, to find the right office
Planning septicA soil evaluator visits the site; new lots go to the board of healthPike County General Health District, (740) 947-7721
Planning a wellSet distances from septic, streams and lot lines; 100-year floodplain limitsPike County General Health District, (740) 947-7721
Digging, grinding below grade or grubbingNotice to OHIO811 at least two working days ahead, no more than 16 calendar days8-1-1 or 800-362-2764
Cutting a drive onto a county roadPike's rule wasn't readable onlineCounty Engineer & Highway Department, (740) 947-4259 (closed Fridays)
Cutting a drive onto a state routeODOT permit authority, ORC 5515.01ODOT District 9
Selling timberOhio forestry pollution rulePike Soil and Water Conservation District, 740-947-5353

County offices

  • Planning Commission: land use planning and subdivision review. 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 1400, Waverly. (740) 947-9573, Monday to Friday, 8 to 4.
  • Engineer & Highway Department: county roads and bridges. 502 S Pike St, Waverly. (740) 947-4259, Monday to Thursday, closed Fridays.
  • General Health District: 116 S. Market St., Waverly. Environmental Health, (740) 947-7721.
  • Property Map Office: (740) 941-1906.
  • Sewer District: (740) 947-5474.
  • Soil and Water Conservation District: 11752 SR 104, Waverly, 740-947-5353 (from a directory listing).

What we couldn't settle: whether Pike County or your township has zoning, and which office issues residential building permits in unincorporated Pike. The Ross County Building Department says it handles commercial permits in Pike County and residential permits in Waverly. For a house out in the county, call the Planning Commission and your township before you start. It's a short call.

Towns

  • Piketon: village office, 411 West Street, 740-289-4424. Building & Zoning, 740-289-2581. The zoning officer is at (740) 289-4424, and a hard copy of the zoning ordinance is $25.
  • Waverly: zoning permits come from the Mayor's office, 201 W. North Street, 740-947-5162. Waverly's site says "Building permits are obtained through the Ross County Building Department," at 740-773-7200.
  • Chillicothe (Ross County): a directory lists the Building Department at 35 S. Paint Street, 740-773-8980. Floodplain questions go to the City Safety & Service Director, 740-773-2700.
  • Portsmouth (Scioto County): a directory lists the Building Department / City Engineer at 728 2nd St, 740-354-8807. The Engineering Department handles flood questions at (740) 354-7557.

Stormwater in more detail

Clearing counts: the permit covers "clearing, grading, excavating, grubbing and/or filling activities." An acre is the line, and smaller lots can be covered as part of a larger common plan of development or sale. Quote: "Coverage under this permit is not effective until an approval letter" is received. Stabilize within seven days at final grade, and within two days if you're within 50 feet of surface water. The permit also asks for a 50-foot natural stream buffer "if feasible." We haven't confirmed any exclusions for farm or timber work, so ask.

Bats and trees

Both the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat are federally endangered. Ohio's guidance recommends cutting "October 1 – March 31" within capture-record buffers, and says that "applies to state recommendations only." We found no permit triggered by tree clearing alone on private land, but the federal ban on take still applies, and a federal permit or federal money brings consultation. A law firm's summary says unpermitted take can bring civil or criminal penalties. Ohio's U.S. Fish and Wildlife contact, as of a 2024 document, was Ohio@fws.gov.

A neighbor's trees

There's no permit for this, only liability. Ohio law says a person who recklessly cuts another person's trees "is liable in treble damages for the injury caused." Flag the boundary.

Common questions

How much ground can I clear before a state permit applies?

Ohio's construction stormwater permit starts at one acre, or less if the lot is part of a larger plan. Other rules, such as wetlands, have no one-acre floor.

Who do I call before cutting in a driveway?

The County Engineer at (740) 947-4259 for a county road, and ODOT for a state route. Township roads: ask your township.

Does Pike County have zoning?

We couldn't confirm it from a government source. Ask the Planning Commission at (740) 947-9573 and your township.

Does the contractor get the permits?

It depends on the job and your contract. The stormwater fact sheet says the owner and primary contractor are typically permittees. Put who does what in writing.

How this site can help

Tell us the road and what you're planning. One independent contractor who serves your part of Pike County gets the request and can walk through the job with you. The permit decisions stay with the offices above.

Related pages

Sources

Read November 2026. Rules change, so check the office that decides before you rely on any of this.

Got ground that needs clearing?

Call, or send a few details online.

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