Vessel and operations in O'Shaughnessy Reservoir.
Columbus City Codes § 921.01-5
in effect921.01-5 - Vessel and operations in O'Shaughnessy Reservoir.
(A) Unless otherwise authorized by this chapter, no person shall operate in O'Shaughnessy Reservoir any vessel of:
(1) Less than eight (8) feet or more than twenty-two (22) feet.
(2) Less than thirty-six (36) inches in beam or;
(3) Less than fifty (50) pounds in weight.
(B) Exceptions:
Canoes, kayaks, rowing shells, pedal boats and inflatable watercraft bearing a Hull Identification Number (HIN) and recognized by the United States Coast Guard as vessels and watercraft are permitted and are specifically exempted from the length, beam and weight requirements;
(C) The above exempted vessels are permitted provided that:
(1) Rowing shells are permitted during the months of May through September on weekends and holidays from one (1) hour before sunrise until 10:00 a.m. Rowing shells are permitted on all other days of the year from sunrise until sunset. Rowing shells will be operated parallel to the shoreline at a distance no greater than one hundred (100) feet except that between buoy number four (4) and buoy number five (5) rowing shells will be operated no greater than fifty (50) feet from the shoreline except for the safe operation around a navigational hazard. Rowing shells will utilize only those areas designated for crossing.
(2) Crossing areas will be:
(a) The No Wake areas.
(b) Just south of buoy number four (4).
(3) Canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and inflatable watercraft shall operate parallel to the shoreline at a distance not greater than fifty (50) feet from the shoreline in all areas parallel and adjacent to an open zone, except for the safe operation around navigational hazards.
(4) Canoes, kayaks, rowing shells, pedal boats and inflatable watercraft will not operate on the east side of the river between buoy number four (4) and buoy number five (5) "Tournament Water-ski Zone".
(5) Canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and inflatable watercraft may operate anywhere within the posted no wake zones.
(6) The designated canoe, kayak, pedal boat and inflatable watercraft crossing shall be between buoy number two (2) and buoy number three (3).
(D) Board type sailboats without rigidly affixed masts, referred to as "sailboards" are permitted in the area from the safety cable at the dam north to buoy number one (1).
(E) The waterway north of the safety cable north of the dam shall be open to boating at all times.
(F) Vessel operations, zones, and speed limits shall be:
(1) From the safety cable north of the dam north to buoy number one (1) is a designated sailboat area and all sailboats shall stay south of buoy number one (1) on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
(a) Exception: Sailboats launching or docked south of Home Road may sail in a path as direct as possible to and from the designated sailing area south of buoy number one (1).
(Ord. 805-05 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2278-2021, § 8, 12-13-2021)
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=TIT9STPAPUPRCO_CH921WARE_921.01-5VEOPOSHREFetched: 10/27/2026