Methodology
How we calculate closure rates and which permits we count for Columbus.
What is a closure rate?
When a contractor pulls a building permit in Columbus, an inspector needs to verify the work was completed correctly before the permit can be closed. A closure rate measures the percentage of an applicant’s permits that have been properly closed:
The 365-day eligibility rule
A contractor who pulled a permit last month hasn’t had time to complete the work yet. To avoid penalizing recent activity, we only count permits issued more than 365 days ago when calculating closure rates.
Permits issued within the last year still appear in the data but are dimmed in the table and not factored into the rate.
Which permits are included?
Columbus publishes building permits with a broad taxonomy. We include permits that represent inspectable construction work in these building classes:
| Building Class | Classification |
|---|---|
| 1,2,3 Family | Included |
| Residential | Included |
| Commercial | Included |
| Multi Family | Included |
| Demolition | Included |
What is excluded?
We exclude non-construction and temporary categories where closure rates reflect systemic workflow rather than contractor follow-through.
| Excluded Type | Reason |
|---|---|
| Graphics / Graphics Building * | Sign permits and related graphics workflows |
| Tent | Temporary event structure |
| Festival | Temporary event permitting |
| Void statuses | Duplicate / entered-in-error / voided records |
Deduplication
Columbus permit IDs are unique in the source dataset, so no city-specific deduplication adjustments are needed beyond the shared nightly process.
Status classification
Columbus uses a small, consistent status vocabulary. We classify statuses as follows:
| Status | Classification |
|---|---|
| Final Inspection Approved | Counted as closed — permit finalized |
| Certificate of Occupancy Issued | Counted as closed — occupancy completion |
| Permit Issued | Counted as open — active permit |
| Expired Permit | Counted as open — permit not finalized before expiry |
Leaderboard criteria
The leaderboard applies two additional filters:
- Minimum 20 rated permits — avoids surfacing statistically insignificant data.
- Active in the last 3 years — prevents the list from being populated by defunct companies.
The leaderboard can be filtered by permit type (e.g., Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire Protection, Structural). When filtered, both thresholds apply only to permits of the selected type.
Median comparison
On applicant detail pages, each closure rate is compared to the median closure rate across all leaderboard-eligible applicants in the same category. This gives context — a 50% closure rate means something different in a category where the median is 40% versus one where it’s 80%.
Medians are calculated from the same pool of applicants who meet the 20-permit minimum threshold.
Data source
Data comes from the Building Permits dataset on City of Columbus Open Data. The dataset is refreshed nightly.
Limitations
This site shows permit closure data. It does not evaluate the quality of anyone’s work. There are legitimate reasons a permit may remain open:
- Client non-cooperation — the property owner may fail to schedule the final inspection or grant access.
- Administrative backlog — work may be inspected and approved but not yet updated in the system.
- Project delays — financing, design changes, supply chain issues, or other factors outside the applicant’s control.
- Multi-phase projects — large commercial projects may legitimately take years to complete.
- Permit holder vs. contractor — the applicant may be a GC, architect, or owner — not necessarily the person scheduling the inspection.
If you believe there are inaccuracies in the underlying permit data, contact the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services at [email protected].