DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT*

Columbus City Codes tit. 2, ch. 215

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 215.01 Department of development established.

215.01 - Department of development established. There is established a department of development. The department of development shall consist of a director, department deputy directors and the following divisions: economic development, planning, housing, real estate and land redevelopment, and housing stability. Within the director's office there shall be an administrative office. The department of development shall have as its primary duty the coordination, management, implementation and promotion of programs to encourage business expansion and attraction; planned growth, creation of housing opportunities; a lively downtown; the acquisition, sale, licensing, easements, and leasing of real property for city operations except for right-of-way and utility easements and as otherwise provided in the Columbus City Codes; land reutilization and redevelopment of properties; and healthy, safe and revitalized neighborhoods. The department of development shall perform all other lawful functions as directed by the mayor or ordinance of council. (Ord. 1113-01 § 2 (part); Ord. 1102-05 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0359-2009, § 1, 4-6-2009; Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 1, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2880-2016, § 1, 12-12-2016; Ord. No. 2328-2021, § 1, 9-20-2021; Ord. No. 1282-2025, § 1, 6-2-2025; Ord. No. 1687-2025, §§ 1, 2, 6-30-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 215.02 Duties of director and deputy directors.

215.02 - Duties of director and deputy directors. The director of the department shall be appointed by the mayor and shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor with a salary fixed by ordinance of council. The director shall have all powers and duties connected with and incident to the appointment, regulation and government of the department of development. The deputy director shall serve in the absence of the director. (Ord. 1113-01 § 2 (part); Ord. 1741-2008 § 1; Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 2, 4-5-2010)

Columbus City Codes § 215.04 Division of housing.

215.04 - Division of housing. The division of housing is established as a division of the department of development. The division shall have as its primary duties the enhancement of neighborhoods through the creation of housing opportunities through finance, lead abatement, relocation, rehabilitation and community assistance programs and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council. (Ord. 1113-01 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 0359-2009, § 3, 4-6-2009)

Columbus City Codes § 215.05 Division of economic development.

215.05 - Division of economic development. The division of economic development is established as a division of the department of development. The division shall have as its primary duties the facilitation of economic and technology development through business and commercial strip incentives and financing infrastructure improvements, promoting a lively downtown, international trade and business development and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council. (Ord. 1113-01 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 0359-2009, § 4, 4-6-2009)

Columbus City Codes § 215.06 Division of planning.

215.06 - Division of planning. The division of planning is established as a division of the department of development. The division shall have as its primary duties the promotion of guided growth of the city through sound urban, regional and neighborhood planning practices, oversight of historic preservation, and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council. (Ord. 1113-01 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 0359-2009, § 5, 4-6-2009)

Columbus City Codes § 215.07 Reserved.

Columbus City Codes § 215.09 Division of real estate and land redevelopment.

215.09 - Division of real estate and land redevelopment. The division of real estate and land redevelopment is established as a division of the department of development. The division shall have as its primary duties the following: (a) Sale, lease, license, grants of easements, rights of entries, and other encumbrances upon city owned real property; the acquisition, lease, license, easement, and other agreements for the use of real property and buildings for city operations; except the following: (1) Right-of-way, including encroachment easements, sidewalks, and shared use paths in accordance with Title 9; (2) License agreements for periods of one (1) year or less including any renewals thereof, for licenses for recreation and parks purposes in accordance with Chapter 913; (3) Parkland, open space, and easements for the preservation of open space and floodplains in accordance with parkland dedication under Chapter 3318; (4) Easements and license agreements in accordance with Titles 11 and 43; and (5) Acquisitions by the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, as authorized by ordinance of council. (b) Termination, release, or modification of leases, licenses, easements (including conservation easements), and other encumbrances upon city owned real property or land used in city operations, except for licenses pursuant to Chapter 913, sidewalks, shared use paths, traffic and/or utility easements managed by the Departments of Public Service or Columbus Water & Power, as applicable; (c) Determination of space needs for city departments and agencies; (d) Maintaining custody of all deeds, abstracts, title insurance policies, and any other evidence of title to property belonging to the city; and (e) Implementation of the adopted land reutilization program, including the acquisition, sale, lease, management, and reuse of properties held under the land reutilization program; (f) Acquisition, management, lease, and sale of real property for redevelopment purposes to support housing and economic development programs; (g) Acquisition, leasing, installation, and management of vending and other equipment under Chapter 328; (h) Procurement and management of insurance, reinsurance, excess insurance policies, and other similar policies associated with real estate, liability, casualty, and personal property; and (i) Other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council. Ord. No. 2880-2016, § 3, 12-12-2016; Ord. No. 1687-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 215.10 Office of administration.

215.10 - Office of administration. The office of administration is established as an office of the department of development within the director's office. The office shall have as its primary duties the facilitation of human resources, public information, fiscal, legislative, contracts management, and other employee support functions of the department as needed and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council. (Ord. 1113-01 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 0359-2009, § 8, 4-6-2009; Ord. No. 1079-2016, §§ 4, 5, 6-6-2016)

Columbus City Codes § 215.11 Division of housing stability.

215.11 - Division of housing stability. The division of housing stability is established as a division of the department of development. The division shall have as its primary purpose collaborating with other city agencies to enhance and enforce current tenant protections; develop policies and long-term strategies to support and protect tenants and unsheltered residents; provide equitable access to information on federal, state, and local fair housing laws, rules, and regulations; eviction prevention and tenant support programs; and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council. (Ord. No. 1282-2025, § 3, 6-2-2025)

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=TIT2ADCO_CH215DEDEFetched: 10/27/2026