Housing remains a top priority in Ohio, and across the country. The Ohio Legislature established the Senate Select Committee on Housing, and held 35 hours of listening testimony through hearings from 200 witnesses from across the state. Overwhelming, in each conversation about housing, zoning reform was identified as an avenue that cities should undertake to modernize and update their zoning code to encourage the development and rehab of all types of housing.

Many communities in Ohio operate under zoning codes that are outdated, and reforming code can help to reduce labor, paperwork, and time in building housing that addresses community needs. GOPC’s 2023-2024 public policy agenda advocated for the state to invest in a pilot program to provide grant dollars for communities to update and modernize their zoning codes. While a state investment is not presently available, the Senate Select Committee’s report released in April 2024 did identify a recommendation to provide technical assistance to help local governments modernize their zoning code. Additionally, House Bill 315 was recently amended to include up-to $3 million in technical assistance funding to help local governments update zoning and land use regulations. The bill could be passed by the House this month before moving on to the Senate for consideration.

In this blog, GOPC highlights the zoning reforms underway in a few of Ohio’s cities. Cities have identified zoning reforms as integral to fostering development and increasing housing.

Columbus

The City of Columbus is undertaking Zone In, a zoning code modernization process to update the zoning code for the first time in seventy years. The process intends to address community and future community needs, especially as Columbus continues to grow, ensure economic and environmental sustainability are part of the update, and engage residents in the process to ensure community goals are met.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati’s Connected Communities Zoning Reform is a series of proposed land use and zoning policy changes to help Cincinnati grow into a more accessible, people-focused, diverse, healthy, and connected community for all. City Council has released draft legislation and continues to engage residents to solicit input in the process. The Connected Communities legislation passed through the planning commission in May 2024, and will head to city council this Summer.

Cuyahoga County

Cuyahoga County is completing a few studies related to zoning, including the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Zoning Study to assess and improve zoning regulations and governmental policies in order to attract more transit-oriented development to key corridors in the county. The study is four-part: a review of current TOD in the County, an analysis of TOD zoning, a guide for best practices and models that cities can use, and finally, financing strategies to achieve.

Additionally, the County is completing a Single-Family Zoning Analysis to identify how zoning currently hinders, and can be adjusted to advance, construction of desired infill housing. The analysis will review current zoning, provide resources, and pilot a program in Euclid and South Euclid.

Other cities are addressing zoning reform as a means to increase housing, including Toledo with the Forward Toledo comprehensive land-use plan, the City of Findlay, with an update to its zoning code in 2023, and the City of Portsmouth, with an update to its zoning code in 2022.

To stay up to date on what is happening with Zoning Reform at both the local and state level, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter, follow our blog, and check-out our bill tracker here on our website.