OBOA · SWOBOA · Knowledge 2026

The Joint Conference

Three days of classes for Ohio’s code professionals, taught by people who hold the same jobs you do. Bring the questions your jurisdiction needs answered.

Dates Nov 15–17 Sunday–Tuesday, 2026

Early rate $465 through October 16

Attendees 500+ code professionals

Venue Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

The Carew Tower seen from Fountain Square, the Art Deco skyscraper that houses the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. The Genius of Water fountain stands at street level.

Three days 15 classes 42 sessions Hall of Mirrors reception

Why attend

Three days built for code professionals

Three days is enough time to fix something. Come with the plan-review backlog, the enforcement question, or the code adoption you have to explain to a council, and take back an answer.

Grow your knowledge

Forty-two sessions across building codes, enforcement, plan review, and inspection. National trainers teach some of them. Working code officials teach the rest.

Expand your network

500+ code professionals attend. Shared meals, two receptions, and the Hall of Mirrors banquet are where the useful conversations happen.

Shape the standards

Contribute to the codes and practices that keep Ohio’s communities safe. Then take the answers back to your jurisdiction.

Education partners

Knowledge shared across the code community

The codes, curricula, and instructors behind this year’s program come from these organizations.

The venue

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

A 1931 French Art Deco landmark, steps from Fountain Square. The Hall of Mirrors, where the reception is held, is one of the finest surviving Deco interiors in the Americas.

The conference block includes complimentary garage parking (one space per room), twenty-four-hour fitness, and full on-site dining at the 1931 Restaurant, Lounge, and Grille.

Conference rate: $159per room, per night; average per night, in the Knowledge 2026 room block
Front desk: (513) 421-9100
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Book by October 17, 2026. After that the block releases and the rate goes with it.

Book your room Explore the venue

Partner with us

Four tiers, $2,000 to $10,000. A vendor table puts you on the main hall floor; a Platinum banner puts your name over the awards banquet.

Vendor $2k Main-hall table

Silver $3.5k Sponsored classroom

Gold $5k Banquet presence

Platinum $10k Headline billing

See all package details

November 15–17, 2026

Schedule at a glance

Classes run in half-day blocks, morning and afternoon. Most repeat, so you can build the three days around what your jurisdiction actually needs.

Day One · Sunday

Nov 15

The conference opens at 8:00 AM. Three classes in the afternoon: AFSA Suppression, Fire Code OBBS, and Ohio Code Academy.

Day Two · Monday

Nov 16

The heaviest day. Eight classes in the morning and fourteen in the afternoon, including When Disaster Strikes.

Day Three · Tuesday

Nov 17

Ten classes in the morning, eight after lunch. DART runs Tuesday morning and nowhere else on the program.

Registration

Rates and deadlines

Early rates hold through October 16, 2026. After that every option reprices, and two of them close for good.

Knowledge 2026 registration rates, early and standard
Registration	Through Oct 16	After Oct 16
Full Conference & Banquet	$465	$525
Full Conference, Banquet & When Disaster Strikes	$525	Closes Oct 16
Mike Holt Seminar, two days with lunches	$450	$500
Mike Holt Book	$50	$50
Monday When Disaster Strikes	$349	Closes Oct 16
Sunday Education	$150	$175
Monday Education & Lunch	$240	$275
Tuesday Education & Lunch	$240	$275
Lunch, Monday or Tuesday	$60	$70
Banquet only	$100	$115
Companion Program	$200	$225

Rooms in the conference block average $159 per night and must be reserved by October 17, 2026. Questions about registration go to the conference team at sara.spears@cincinnati-oh.gov.

Reserve your seat

Two deadlines, one day apart.

Early rates end October 16, 2026. The room block releases October 17.

The Joint Conference

Three days built for code professionals

Grow your knowledge

Expand your network

Shape the standards

Knowledge shared across the code community

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

Schedule at a glance

Rates and deadlines

Two deadlines, one day apart.

Ohio Building Officials Association

Connect

Membership

Important Links