Settle three things before the first pipe goes in
Every install starts with where the water comes from, where it drains and whether the city needs to know. A new fixture beside an existing one is simple. A new fixture across the house means running line, and that changes the time, the permit and the price.
We walk the space with you and look at the basement ceiling, the panel of shutoffs and the nearest drain. Then we tell you what the job involves in plain terms. If something should be fixed first, such as a tired supply line, we say so before you spend money on top of it.
What Solon says needs a permit and what does not
The city lists its permit rules in the Required Residential Permits Guide, updated in October 2024. Here is how common jobs line up with it.
| Job | Permit per Solon's guide | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Replacing a faucet, toilet or fixture | No permit listed | Usually a same-visit job |
| Running or extending a plumbing line | Plumbing permit required | We pull it and schedule inspections |
| Replacing a water heater | Plumbing permit required | Add time for the permit step |
| Kitchen or bath remodel that moves plumbing | Permit required | Plan the layout before demolition |
| Irrigation system backflow device | Permit required | Ask us about annual testing too |
For your exact job, confirm with the city building department. Rules change, and a quick call can spare you a stop-work notice. If a water heater is part of the plan, see our water heater installation page.
Installs we handle most
Toilets, sinks and faucets
New or replacement fixtures set level, sealed and tested for leaks before we go.
Dishwasher and ice maker lines
Supply and drain connections for appliances, with shutoff valves you can reach.
Showers and tubs
Rough-in for valves, drains and supply when you remodel or add a bath.
Outdoor spigots
Frost-resistant hose bibs so an outside line is not a winter risk.
Water softener hookups
Cleveland Water rates its supply at about 7 grains per gallon, so we plumb bypass valves for owners who add a softener.
Basement bathrooms
New drains, vents and sometimes an ejector, covered in the local note below.
Bring a sketch, a photo or just an idea
You do not need drawings to call. Tell us what you want installed and where, and we will set a time to walk the space. Call (440) 468-0237 and ask about a same-day visit when the schedule allows.
From first visit to final test
- 1
Walk the space
We measure, check the nearest supply and drain and flag anything that limits the layout.
- 2
Price and permit
You get a clear price in writing before work starts, and we pull the permit when Solon requires one.
- 3
Rough in and inspect
Lines go in first and stay accessible until any required inspection is done. Solon asks that inspections be called in as listed on your permit.
- 4
Set fixtures and test
We set the fixtures, run every one under pressure and show you the shutoff for each.
Basement bathrooms and Solon's sewer rules
Solon's code, Chapter 1042, says foundation drains may not be tied into the sanitary sewer, and sanitary sewers are not meant to carry ground or storm water. If you finish a basement, your new bathroom drain and your foundation drain are separate systems. Mixing them up can mean a failed inspection and a costly redo.
The same chapter puts the cost of building sewer work on the owner, and it limits permits for opening or altering sewers to registered sewer installers. Many homes sit lower than the street sewer, so a basement bath may need an ejector pump. We tell you which applies to your house before you buy fixtures. If the real trouble is the lateral outside, that is a sewer line repair conversation.
Check who is working in your house
Solon requires contractors to register with the city each year and, for plumbers, to show a current Ohio license. The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board runs a free online look-up, so you can confirm any plumber in a few minutes. We encourage you to look us up.
The 2024 Ohio Plumbing Code took effect on March 1, 2024, and Solon has adopted the Ohio Plumbing Code in its city code. If you plan to dig outside for a new line, call 811 at least two working days before. Ohio811 is free and applies even to hand digging.
What moves the price of a plumbing install
Homeowners policies cover sudden, accidental damage, not planned upgrades or remodels. Check with your insurer before assuming a new install is covered.
Install questions for Solon homeowners
Solon's Required Residential Permits Guide says replacing fixtures does not need a plumbing permit. Running or extending a line does. When your job mixes the two, we sort out which parts need a permit.
Yes, after we check the drain height, the venting and where the foundation drain runs. Solon's code keeps foundation drains out of the sanitary sewer, so the layout matters. We explain whether you need an ejector pump before you commit.
A fixture swap is often one visit. Running new lines or adding a bath takes several visits because of rough-in, inspection and fixture setting. We give you a realistic schedule when we walk the space.
Yes, in most cases. Bring the model number or the box so we can check the connections and any missing parts. We will tell you if the fixture needs something the installation does not include.
We install outdoor spigots. Solon requires a permit for irrigation backflow devices, and Cleveland Water says these devices must be tested every year, so we cover the permit and the testing schedule when you ask.
We stop and show you. If the issue is a failing supply line, we explain the repair and the price before going further, and for larger problems we may recommend repiping before the wall is closed.
Sources and standards behind this page
Local facts and rules on this page come from these public sources. Check the current version before relying on a permit or code detail.