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Zoning and site plans in Ohio
James Kehl Architects draws zoning site plans for houses, additions, barns, garages and other buildings anywhere in Ohio: a scaled plan of the lot that shows the zoning inspector what you are building, where, and how far it sits from every line. The firm also checks your project against the zoning rules before you apply.
What does a zoning site plan show?
A zoning site plan is a drawing of your whole lot, to scale, that shows:
- the property lines with their lengths, and the road frontage;
- every existing building and the new one, with their sizes;
- the distance from each building to each property line (the setbacks);
- the drive, the well, the septic system and leach field, and easements;
- floodplain, wetlands or steep slopes when they are on the lot;
- a north arrow, the scale, the parcel number and the address.
Who issues the zoning permit?
In Ohio, zoning is local. Inside a city or village, the city or village zoning office issues it. Outside them, it is the township zoning inspector where the township has zoning, or the county where the county zones for the townships. Some rural areas have no zoning at all. The zoning certificate usually comes before the building permit.
Do I need a professional to draw it?
Many townships accept an owner's own scaled sketch for a shed or a fence. Others ask for more: Franklin County, for example, requires the site plan for new construction to be prepared by a design professional such as a surveyor, engineer or architect. If you are not sure, JKA can check what your office asks for.
Can you check whether my project is allowed?
Yes. Before drawing, James reads the zoning rules for your district: what uses are allowed, the setbacks, the height limit, lot coverage, and any limit on the size or number of accessory buildings. If something does not fit, you hear it before you apply, along with the options, such as moving the building or asking for a variance.
How does a job run?
- First call. The parcel, what you want to build and where on the lot.
- Agreement. A short written agreement with the scope.
- Research. The zoning rules, the parcel map, your survey and any recorded easements.
- Drawing. The site plan, with your review and changes.
- Application. You submit it; James answers the zoning inspector's questions.
What should I have ready?
The address or parcel number, your survey or deed if you have one, and the size and location of what you want to build. The guide What does a zoning site plan need in Ohio? has more detail.
Where do you work?
Anywhere in Ohio. The firm works most often in Central Ohio, Columbus suburbs, Northeast Ohio, Eastern Ohio and the Ohio Valley, Southwest Ohio, Northwest Ohio and Southeast Ohio.
Short answers
What is a zoning site plan?
A scaled drawing of the whole lot showing property lines, existing and new buildings, setbacks to each line, the drive, well, septic and easements, used to apply for a zoning certificate.
Who issues zoning permits in Ohio?
Zoning is local: a city or village zoning office inside its limits, and the township or county zoning office outside them where zoning has been adopted.
Can an architect check whether my building is allowed before I apply?
Yes. James Kehl Architects reads the zoning rules for the district and checks use, setbacks, height and accessory building limits before drawing the site plan.