Permitted, prohibited and uses permitted only by certificate of appropriateness.
Columbus City Codes § 3359.17
in effect3359.17 - Permitted, prohibited and uses permitted only by certificate of appropriateness.
A) Permitted Uses. A permitted use within the downtown district shall be any use permitted in any residential, institutional, commercial, manufacturing, or parking district, except uses listed in subsection (B) of this section and uses which are permitted only by certificate of appropriateness as listed in subsection (C) of this section.
B) Prohibited Uses. The following uses are prohibited within the downtown district, including public rights-of-way:
1. Adult uses (entertainment establishments and stores)
2. Amusement park
3. Animal hide storage or processing
4. Billboards
5. Cemetery
6. Compost facility
7. Drive-in outdoor movie theaters
8. Free-standing communications towers, including but not limited to radio, television, and telephone
9. Impound lots
10. Indoor firing range
11. Incinerators
12. Landing field
13. Manufacturing facilities, specific nature, as identified in Section 3389.083
14. Material recycling
15. Salvage dealers and salvage yards (including automobile, but not including architectural salvage
16. Slaughterhouse or stockyard
C) Uses Permitted Only by Certificate of Appropriateness. In granting a certificate of appropriateness to allow a use listed in this section, the commission shall consider whether such approval can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good, without substantial impairment of the general purpose and intent of the downtown district, and without significant incompatibility with the general character of the neighborhood. The commission shall evaluate such uses using adopted design guidelines and applicable provisions of Chapter 3389, Special Permit Uses. The commission may impose such requirements and conditions regarding the location, character, and other features of the proposed uses or structures as the commission deems necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of the downtown district and to otherwise safeguard the public safety and welfare.
The following uses are permitted provided a certificate of appropriateness is granted by the downtown commission. For those uses listed in Chapter 3389, Special Permit Uses, a certificate of appropriateness serves in lieu of a special permit.
1. Pickup unit (drive-thru window)
2. Automobile sales
3. Retail filling station or service station
4. Automobile repair shop or installation facility
5. Manufacturing use permitted in M, M-1, or M-2 Manufacturing District - unless otherwise addressed in this chapter
6. Skywalk
7. Animal kennel or shelter
8. Helipad
9. Portable building unless associated with an approved construction project
10. Uses listed in Chapter 3389, Special Permit Uses, not otherwise addressed in this chapter.
(Ord. No. 1532-2013, § 1, 7-15-2013)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT33ZOCO_CH3359DODI_3359.17PEPRUSPEONCEAPFetched: 10/27/2026