Development and Design Guidelines Residential Zoning Districts
Columbus City Codes § 3325.703
in effect3325.703 - Development and Design Guidelines Residential Zoning Districts
To further the objective of compatible development within the University Impact District (UID), an application for a certificate of approval is subject to and evaluated upon the guidelines herein and any amplifications thereto adopted by the Review Board. Though the following guidelines assist the applicant and the Review Board to arrive at an appropriate proposal, they may not address or be applicable to every situation, and therefore, special circumstances may suggest variations that could yield an equally compatible project. These guidelines are to be used in addition to those found within the University District Plan (2015) and any subsequent revisions or amendments thereto.
Specific guidelines for dwellings within residential zoning districts:
A. The overall length of a building shall be no more than two and one-half (2.5) times the building's overall width.
B. The first floor above grade shall be no less than two and one-half (2.5) feet and no more than three and one-half (3.5) feet above the finished grade line; or the facade should be designed to give the appearance of a first floor height within these limits. This requirement is not intended to preclude gentle grade changes or ramping to permit accessibility for disabled persons.
C. The pitch of a principal building's main roof shall be no shallower than eight (8) units vertical to twelve (12) units horizontal. A gambrel, mansard, or variation thereof shall not be permitted.
D. At least one-third (1/3) of the front facade area (width times the height of the exposed wall area enclosing any living space-excluding gable) shall be visually and physically unobstructed by any porch or portion thereof. The width of a front porch shall not exceed ninety percent (90%) of the width of the building's front facade. No porch shall be permitted above the second story. A porch roof shall give the appearance of being separate and secondary to the main roof.
E. Exclusive of any roof overhang, no portion of a front porch or terrace may extend into the front setback more than eight (8) feet. A balcony may extend into the front setback no more than four (4) feet. Exterior stairs to any floor other than the first floor shall not be permitted within the front setback area. A first floor deck shall not be permitted in the front yard.
F. Window and window elements, excluding basement windows, shall have vertical proportions of three units vertical to two units horizontal, or greater. Windows and doors shall constitute no less than twenty percent (20%) of the building's front facade.
G. No more than two (2) predominant wall materials, excluding foundations, gables, and windows/doors with associated trim, shall be used on a building. The same material treatment shall be used around the entire building. Horizontal lap siding shall have a narrow exposure. Natural wood tones are uncharacteristic and any exposed wood elements, other than flooring, shall be either painted or stained opaquely with a coordinated color.
H. A rear deck, rear patio, or combination thereof, shall cover no more than 200 square feet of lot area.
(Ord. No. 1003-2017, § 1, 5-1-2017; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)
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=TIT33ZOCO_CH3325UNDIZOOV_GEREREZODI_3325.703DEDEGUREZODIFetched: 10/27/2026