Who will perform the work comes before choosing a Middleburg Heights application channel. An owner doing the work uses the homeowner-affidavit route; hiring a contractor is different. MyGov’s availability does not erase that distinction or establish that paper submissions ended.
Owner work is a personal undertaking
The Building FAQ says an owner may obtain a permit to do the work personally and should not apply on behalf of a hired contractor. The currently linked homeowner affidavit makes that commitment explicit.
Signing it means accepting responsibility for required approvals, code compliance, inspections and correcting deficiencies. It is not simply proof that you own the property, and it does not waive the permit.
Before signing, use this task split:
| Actual arrangement | Question to settle with Building |
|---|---|
| You will personally perform the described work | Which permits and homeowner affidavit apply to that scope? |
| A hired firm will perform it | Is that firm registered for the relevant trade, and who must submit the project application? |
| You and hired firms will split the work | How should the separate scopes, applicants and permits be identified? |
The third row is LSL’s clarification question, not a City ruling that one affidavit can cover everybody’s work.
Contractor registration is separate from the project application
The City’s registration instructions describe annual renewal and separate fees for multiple trades. Its currently linked registration application requests a $25,000 original bond, insurance identifying the City, workers’ compensation information when there are employees and applicable State trade-license documentation.
The form lists $100 per trade. That is a registration charge, not a complete project-permit quote. It directs the RITA material to that agency separately rather than including it with the City application.
Ask Building to confirm the firm’s relevant trade and document expiration dates. We have not checked any individual contractor’s credentials, and being on a registration list is not a quality endorsement.
Online is available; it is not documented as the only route
The City announcement says online applications became available January 1, 2026 for permits, contractor registration and boards/commissions. Follow its official MyGov link rather than choosing a similarly named jurisdiction from a search result.
But the current registration form still offers walk-in or mail submission as well as MyGov. The original LSL online article overstated what the announcement established. An online option alone does not prove that every older filing channel is invalid.
Use the application index for current files. For a deck, the separate drawing and approval guide explains the project-specific package.
If your arrangement or submission option is unclear, ask Building at 440-234-2218:
For this address and described work, I will perform ___ and hire ___ for ___. Who should apply for each scope, which current forms are required, and which submission methods are accepted?
This gives the department the missing facts without treating a generic portal account as project authorization.
LSL compared the City FAQ, announcement, registration instructions and currently linked forms on September 20, 2026. The two earlier trade-category templates are consolidated here. The official MyGov destination exposed a general login; we did not create an account, test private screens, submit documents or verify an individual approval.