Certificate of Approval
Columbus City Codes § 3325.111
in effect3325.111 - Certificate of Approval
A. When Required. Within the University Impact District (UID), no person shall undertake any work, including the construction or exterior alteration of a building or structure, a change on or to the site, and the installation of a graphic or curb cut, that requires a certificate of zoning clearance, registration certificate, building permit, or installation permit without first obtaining a certificate of approval from the Review Board. A certificate of approval is not required for the razing of a building or for normal exterior maintenance or repair work that does not result in a change in material, design, dimensions, shape, or arrangement.
Note: Approval by the department of public service is required for encroachments and access points into the public right-of-way. A certificate of approval for these actions does not constitute city approval.
B. Application Procedures.
1. Any person seeking a certificate of approval in the University Impact District (UID) shall file an application with Review Board staff using the City's application form prepared for such use. Applications must be accompanied by required support materials, such as site plans, elevations and other information intended to describe the proposal. Review board staff will maintain submission requirements, including deadlines, prepared in consultation with the Review Board.
2. Applications shall include explanation of any variances necessitated by the proposed design.
3. The Review Board shall consider complete applications submitted by the established deadline at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
4. Applicants may request that the Review Board consider a conceptual proposal for which no certificate of approval is sought and no official action is taken.
5. At the public meeting, the Review Board shall approve, approve with conditions or deny the application. Applicants may also request that the application be tabled until a future meeting.
6. A certificate of approval is valid for one year from the date of issuance, unless other limits are stated as a condition of the certificate.
C. Basis of Review and Issuance. The Review Board shall hear and decide applications for certificate of approval. A certificate of approval is issued by the Review Board stating that the proposal is in compliance with the standards of this code and consistent with the design guidelines as outlined in this chapter and approved by city council. Project review may include preliminary consideration or conceptual or interim proposals. Design review shall be based on the following considerations:
1. Provisions and standards of this code.
2. Design guidelines as referenced in C.C. section 3325.121.
3. Other code and regulatory requirements as may be applicable.
D. Administrative Approvals. The Review Board may vote to delegate authority to review and approve certain actions or types of applications to staff. A certificate of approval shall be issued to the applicant upon such an administrative approval. Staff and/or the applicant shall have the option of referring any application to the Review Board. The Review Board shall adopt a list of the general categories for which administrative review is available. Staff shall report such approvals to the Review Board at its regularly scheduled meetings.
E. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the City of Columbus, its officials, agents, contractors, or any person acting under the direction or authorization of the City to obtain a certificate of approval for work being performed in the right-of-way by the City, its officials, agents, contractors, or any person acting under the direction or authorization of the City.
(Ord. No. 1003-2017, § 1, 5-1-2017; Ord. No. 3314-2025, § 1(Exh. A), 12-15-2025)
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=TIT33ZOCO_CH3325UNDIZOOV_UNIMDIREBOUI_3325.111CEAPFetched: 10/27/2026