Explanation
Columbus and Central Ohio are growing. The city and its partners are working to embrace the opportunities of growth while also addressing the challenges it brings. Zoning is one of the most effective tools cities can use to manage change. It influences where we live, where we work and how we get around. In 2021, an assessment of the Columbus zoning code found that the current Title 33 zoning code does not support our community’s aspirations to be an equitable, thriving city. Built around dated ideas of what people and businesses want, the current code inhibits the creation of much-needed housing and high-quality jobs. It is also difficult to use, creating a heavy reliance on project-by-project negotiations, variances, and rezonings.
With the anticipated growth of Columbus and central Ohio, the City has undertaken the Zone In Initiative - the first comprehensive update of its zoning code in 70 years. The goal of Zone In is to create a more effective, equitable, and sustainable framework for guiding land use, development, and growth. This effort is led by City staff from the departments of Building and Zoning Services and Development and is supported by consultant teams focused on code development, led by Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc.
This process has also benefited from the active engagement of the Zone In Advisory Committee, which began its Phase Two work in May 2025 with a charge from Mayor Ginther. Their mission is to help shape a comprehensive, community responsive update fostering economic and housing opportunities for all Columbus residents. Six meetings were held throughout the last year. Summaries and presentations were posted on the Zone In project website. Topics of discussion included public engagement strategies, project background and technical analysis, land use category creation, mapping activities, and draft code analysis. Members provided a diverse cross-section of expertise in community issues, zoning, and development.
In 2024, Phase One of the Zone In Initiative laid the groundwork for expanding access to housing and removing barriers to new construction by creating the Title 34 2024 Zoning Code which included six new mixed-use zoning districts along major corridors. While this was a crucial first step in increasing housing opportunities across the city, affordability remains one of our biggest challenges as we continue to grow. To make housing truly accessible and affordable for all, Phase Two focuses on expanding economic and housing opportunities for all Columbus residents. It continues to modernize the zoning code to support job growth, build more housing, and foster prosperity citywide by updating zoning regulations for areas that have been identified as being well-suited for enhanced mixed-use development, industrial and warehouse operations, and business and institutional campuses.
On June 30, 2025, City council passed resolution 0163x-2025, wherein Council reaffirmed the Zone In project goals and resolved to adopt and support the Phase Two priorities, which focused on additional corridor housing, growing the local economy to support neighborhood investment, promoting high quality development, and connecting housing, jobs, and transportation. The resolution further directed the Project Team to apply the goals and priorities in the development of recommendations for updated zoning during Phase Two of the effort. The goals and priorities drew on extensive community engagement, technical analysis, and adopted land use plans.
Before the work of Phase Two could begin, the City undertook the project of amending the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (“C2P2”) in order to establish a clear, comprehensive citywide land use policy to provide the strategic foundation for future rezonings. To achieve this, the city engaged in extensive community engagement which took place throughout 2025. Residents, businesses, property owners, community groups, and others were able to follow the effort and share their thoughts as new policy strategies were formulated. Thousands of people engaged through one-on-one conversations, workshops, community presentations, multiple digital surveys, webinars and social media. Over 80 presentations were made to community groups, 4 community workshops were hosted throughout the city, 28 community events were attended, 2 walking tours were held, and one open house was hosted Downtown. A total of 3,384 completed surveys were received, the project website saw 20,000 unique visits, and over 19,000 changes were made to the proposal based on community input.
On January 26, 2026, City council passed ordinance 0134-2026, wherein Council adopted the amendment to C2P2 which resulted in the Columbus Growth Strategy. This amendment resulted in a comprehensive growth strategy with a citywide land use plan that prioritized equitable access to housing, economic and housing opportunity, and neighborhood vitality for Columbus residents. The Columbus Growth Strategy provided a universal policy foundation for Zone In by creating Mixed-use, Industrial & Warehouse, and Business & Institutional Campus land use policies.
With the adoption of these policies, the Zone In team spent 2026 working on developing zoning districts which achieve the goals and priorities of Zone In and the Columbus Growth Strategy. The community has been regularly engaged during 2026. 100 presentations were made to over 30 community groups, 31 meetings were held with Area Commission and Major Civic chairs and zoning chairs, bimonthly newsletters were released, and social media and digital outreach was conducted.
On August 20th, 2026, Mayor Andrew Ginther presented, for City Council’s consideration, the Zone In Columbus Phase Two proposal to enact additional provisions of the Title 34 2024 Zoning Code. Based on the adopted neighborhood and area plans, the Columbus Growth Strategy, citywide policy priorities, and almost two years of technical analysis and engagement with thousands of residents, the proposal includes new Mixed-Use, Industrial, and Office and Institutional zoning districts. Each new district includes rules and standards for things such as land use, building height and setbacks, and form-based design elements.
The Zone In Phase Two proposal provided to City Council includes a new version of the Title 34 2024 Zoning Code as well as maps and a parcel list depicting allocation of approximately 70,654 parcels of land to a Mixed-Use, Industrial, or Office and Institutional zoning district. It will include 15 zoning districts and two sub-districts, covering more than 40% of the city. This includes the six districts and one sub-district adopted in 2024 and nine new districts and one new sub-district. Supporting documentation includes summaries of engagement and technical processes.
With passage of this resolution, City Council states its intention to rezone the identified parcels to the Title 34 zoning districts. This action initiates a 60-day public review process outlined in City Codes Section 3310.07. During this period, Area Commissions, the Historic Resources Commission, the Development Commission, and other applicable reviewing bodies will be provided with the Zone In Phase Two proposal and supporting documentation. The proposal will be made available to the public on the website and featured in an interactive Zone In Gallery space at 141 North Front Street. Mailing of notices to owners and tenants of impacted properties and owners and tenants of property within 125’ of impacted properties will coincide with the review period. City Council will hold two public hearings during the comment period and two more after its conclusion to review submitted comments prior to any further action.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: This resolution is being considered for emergency action in order to allow community review and comment on the draft Zone In Initiative Phase Two proposal to proceed without delay. Emergency consideration responds to the significant interest this initiative has generated and the need to pursue solutions to the housing crisis currently facing Central Ohio.
Title
To declare this Council’s intention to amend the Zoning Map by rezoning certain properties from Title 33 Zoning Code district designations to the Title 34 2024 Zoning Code district designations; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, a 2021 assessment found that the Title 33 Zoning Code contains standards that are not tailored to local conditions, inhibits the creation of much-needed housing and transit-supportive development, is difficult to use, creates a heavy reliance on project-by-project negotiations; and results in a complex review process that creates uncertainty; and
WHEREAS, Columbus embarked on the Zone In Initiative several years ago with the goal of overhauling the current Zoning Code and creating a more effective, equitable, and sustainable framework for guiding land use, development, and growth; and
WHEREAS, the Zone In Advisory Committee was formed and met throughout the process, with members providing valuable advice and a diverse cross-section of expertise in community issues, zoning, and development; and
WHEREAS, City staff from the departments of Building and Zoning Services and Development worked with Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc. to undertake Phase Two of the Zone In Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the goals and priorities of the Phase Two proposal were approved by City Council through Resolution 0163x-2025 and focused on additional corridor housing, growing the local economy to support neighborhood investment, promoting high quality development, and connecting housing, jobs, and transportation; and
WHEREAS, Phase Two also focuses on expanding economic and housing opportunities for all Columbus residents by modernizing the zoning code to support job growth, building more housing, and fostering prosperity citywide by updating zoning regulations for areas that have been identified as being well-suited for enhanced mixed-use development, industrial and warehouse operations, and business and institutional campuses; and
WHEREAS, City Council passed ordinance 0134-2026, wherein they adopted the amendment to the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies ("C2P2") which resulted in the Columbus Growth Strategy, a universal policy foundation for Zone In; and
WHEREAS, the Zone In team conducted extensive analysis of existing conditions, development patterns, area and community plans, and the Columbus Growth Strategy; and
WHEREAS, the resulting Phase Two proposal expands on Phase One for a total of 15 zoning districts and two sub-districts for application in over 40% of the city was informed by wide-ranging public engagement involving thousands of participants; and
WHEREAS, City Council has received from Mayor Ginther updated revisions of the Title 34 2024 Zoning Code, as well as maps and a parcel list of over 70,000 parcels depicting allocation of the zones and supporting documentation, attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, City Council accepts this submission and intends to amend the Zoning Map to rezone the listed properties as depicted from Title 33 Zoning Code district designations to Title 34 2024 Zoning Code district designations; and
WHEREAS, passage of this resolution initiates a 60-day public comment period, during which Area Commissions, the Historic Resources Commission, the Development Commission, and applicable reviewing bodies, property owners, and the public, will have the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed changes; and
WHEREAS, City Council will hold two public meetings during the comment period and two more after its conclusion to review submitted comments prior to any further action; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Departments of Building & Zoning Services and Development such that it is necessary to immediately state the intention of this Council to resolve to initiate the rezoning of identified parcels in accordance with the Zone In Initiative Phase Two proposal received in order to proceed with community review and comment on this proposal without delay, thereby responding to the significant interest this initiative has generated and the need to pursue solutions to the housing crisis currently facing Central Ohio; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That this Council hereby acknowledges receipt of the Zone In Initiative Phase Two proposal and expresses its intent to amend the Zoning Map by rezoning certain properties from the Title 33 Zoning Code district designations to new and existing Title 34 2024 Zoning Code district designations all as further described in the parcel lists attached to this Resolution.
SECTION 2: That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure, and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.