Title
Notice/Advertisement Title: Affordable Height Bonus Rules and Regulations
Contact Name: Shannon Pine
Contact Telephone Number: (614) 645-2208
Contact Email Address: spine@columbus.gov
Body
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND ZONING SERVICES
CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO
Height Bonus Program - Review Process Rules and Regulations:
A. A Development Project that is seeking to participate in the Affordable Housing Height Bonus Program
must submit a preliminary site compliance plan to the Department of Building and Zoning Services
(BZS). A statement that the Applicant desires a Height Bonus shall be included thereon with a data table
showing the proposed total number of units, proposed number of affordable units with bedroom counts,
and proposed number of bonus stories. BZS will contact the Applicant to schedule a meeting to review
the plan.
1. Zoning Clearance staff will direct applicant to the following link to apply for Residential Tax
Incentive with the Department of Development:
https://www.columbus.gov/Services/Housing-Assistance-Programs/Apply-for-Residential-Tax-Incentives
2. Zoning Clearance staff will direct applicant to the Planning Division of the Department of
Development to apply for any applicable design review required under Title 31 or Title 33 in
accordance with the 2024 Zoning Code.
B. The Applicant shall include the Letter of Eligibility from the Department of Development and a
Certificate of Appropriateness or Approval by any applicable historic, architectural review, or design
review body with its engineering documents as part of the final site compliance plan submission for the
Development Project. Building and site plans will be reviewed by BZS under its normal review authority.
C. Upon building permit issuance of the Development Project, BZS will complete applicable inspections
during the construction process and will issue a Certificate of Occupancy upon final approval.
D. Upon Certificate of Occupancy issuance for the Development Project, the Applicant will submit the
Phase II application to the Department of Development who will process the application in accordance
with the Director of the Department of Development Rules Pursuant to Chapter 4565 - Affordable
Housing and Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Incentive Policy, and assemble the County Auditor’s
packet, and issue the final approval letter to the Applicant that states that the Development Project has
been accepted into the CRA and the Height Bonus programs.
E. The Department of Development will provide a copy of the final approval letter to BZS to be attached
to the approved final site compliance plan record in Accela or other applicable permitting software
program.