Thoroughfares.
Columbus City Codes § 3320.15
in effect3320.15 - Thoroughfares.
A. General.
1. Thoroughfare types permitted by this article are described in detail in the Permitted Thoroughfare Types by District Table. The Thoroughfare Standards Table lists the requirements for each thoroughfare type. Thoroughfare types shall be designated on the regulating plan as specified herein.
2. The location of street trees may be altered to reflect specific site and building placement.
3. Plantings in the right-of-way are subject to city forester review and approval.
4. In the case of private thoroughfares, right-of-way provisions are intended as dimensional requirements to accommodate sidewalk, planter and other thoroughfare elements.
5. In the neighborhood center and town center districts the design of street, collector, commercial street, and close thoroughfare types may be modified such that the sidewalk is adjacent to the pavement and the planter located between the sidewalk and right-of-way edge. Sidewalk width must be increased to six feet and the public service department must approve the overall design.
6. All thoroughfares, public or private, must include provisions for appropriate signage such as no-parking signs in conformance with the uniform signage manual or other means approved by public safety director and public service director.
7. Refuse collection division must approve the layout of public or private thoroughfares intended for the use by refuse collection vehicles. Multifamily developments, condominium and homeowner association documents must include a provision that thoroughfares, refuse collection service methods, and other needed infrastructure will be upgraded, as needed, in the event that city refuse collection service is requested.
8. Multi-use paths, bikeways and bike paths must be publicly dedicated or be placed within a public easement.
B. Mandatory Elements:
1. Thoroughfare lighting fixtures on public and private thoroughfares are of traditional design and conform with the standards for Street Lights #1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 contained in Columbus Street Lighting Master Plan, Project 2020 Lighting Columbus. (3 pts.)
2. Lanes are provided for all lots less than 50 feet in width. (3 pts.)
3. Commercial lots in neighborhood center and town center districts have rear parking areas accessed by an alley, except the parking way frontage type may be used for commercial uses. No parking is permitted in the alley or lane right-of-way except for Al-86-60. (3 pts.)
4. Alleys and lanes are interconnected. (3 pts.)
5. All parking in a neighborhood center district is on-street, in parking lots, in parking structures/garages, or in a combination of the three. All parking lots are located mid-block or behind the buildings and accessed from an alley connected to other thoroughfares, except for the parking way frontage type may be used for commercial uses. Where a parcel contains one principal building with no more than eight dwelling units, the rear parking lot may be accessed through a driveway to the fronting thoroughfare. (No more than 16 dwelling units may be accessed by any one driveway.) No more than half the units located on any given thoroughfare can be accessed by a driveway. (3 pts.)
6. Vistas of 600 feet or longer are not terminated by parking lots. (3 pts.)
7. The thoroughfare network and thoroughfare types conform with the permitted thoroughfare types by District Table and the Thoroughfare Standards Table. (3 pts.)
8. The thoroughfare layout connects to all adjacent public stub streets and includes public stub streets to facilitate connections to adjacent future development sites. Substantial internal connections shall also exist within the site. The thoroughfares layout contains no cul-de-sacs or other unconnected thoroughfares, unless a determination is made by the director of the department of development or designee that the provision of connected streets is infeasible or inappropriate. (3 pts.)
9. Regulating plan shall include a bicycle network of trails, lanes, thoroughfares, and/or routes and connections to adjacent properties. (3 pts.)
10. The front of a building faces a civic space or a public or private vehicular thoroughfare, except a lane, alley, or passage, interconnected to other thoroughfares. (3 pts.)
11. Buildings do not back onto public or private vehicular thoroughfares, except limited access highways, lanes, alleys, or passages. (3 pts.)
12. All lots in neighborhood general are accessed from lanes. (3 pts.)
C. Desired Elements:
1. Neighborhood edge thoroughfares intersect in unconventional geometries. (0-2 pts.)
2. Landscaped medians are constructed in neighborhood center or neighborhood general districts. (0-3pts.)
3. Landscaped medians are constructed in town center districts. (0-3 pts.)
4. Medians are built up to the right-of-way of intersecting streets, rather than being set back for dedicated left turn lanes. (1 pts.)
5. Utilities other than sewer and water facilities are located at the rear of properties. (0-2 pts.)
6. In conjunction with on-street parking, parking is provided in the rear of commercial lots in neighborhood center and town center districts. This item is not applicable where on-street parking is prohibited. (0-2 pts.)
7. Bicycle parking is provided either in in either the streetscape or the adjacent front/side yard near commercial or civic spaces. (2 pts)
Permitted Thoroughfare Types By District
Neighborhood Edge (NE) | Neighborhood General (NG) | Neighborhood Center (NC) | Town Center (TC)
Maximum Block Length | 1000 ft max. | 900 ft. max. | 700 ft. max. | 600 ft. max.
Thoroughfare Types
PS-0-8 | * | *
PT-0-8 | * | * | *
LA-16-12O | * | * | *
AL-22-22 | * | *
AL-86-60 | * | *
CL-42-22 | * | * | * | *
ST-52-26 | * | * | *
ST-48-22 | * | *
CO-54-26 | * | * | *
CO-60-32 | * | * | *
BV-76-40 | * | * | * | *
BV-120-60 | * | *
BV-90-60 | * | *
CS-62-36 | * | *
CS-112-88 | * | *
CS-88-64 | * | *
CS-73-49 | *
CS-75-51 | * | *
Ω A modified version of LA-16-12 with 20′ of pavement, 20′ ROW, and 10′ rear setback for outbuildings may be used in the Neighborhood Edge and Neighborhood General districts in the back of single family dwelling units that front civic spaces.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Type | Path | Lane
Movement | Bicycles and Pedestrians Only | Yield Movement
R.O.W. Width | Varies | 16 ft.
Pavement Width | N/A | 12 ft.
Traffic Flow | N/A | Two Way
Number of Parking Lanes | N/A | None
Curb Type | N/A | Center Drain
Curb Radius | N/A | At intersection with ST 18′ with 20′ taper
At intersection with LA 22′ with 20′ taper
Planter Width | Varies | 2 ft.
Planter Type | Continuous | Continuous
Planting Pattern | Single and Cluster, avg. 1/30 ft. | Low shrubs (if provided), max. height 30″
Tree Type | See Landscape Standards | See Landscape Standards
-
-
Sidewalks | None | None
Sidewalk Width | N/A | N/A
Sidewalk Edge to R.O.W. | N/A | N/A
[image omitted; see the official code]
Type | Alley | Passage
Movement | Slow Movement | Pedestrian Only
R.O.W. Width | 22 ft. | 0
Pavement Width | 22 ft. | 8 to 18 ft.
Traffic Flow | Two Ways | N/A
Number of Parking Lanes | None | N/A
Curb Type | None | N/A
Planter Width | None | Varies
Planter Type | None | Individual
Planting Pattern | None | Occasional
[image omitted; see the official code]
Type | Residential Street | Residential Street
Movement | Yield Movement | Slow Movement
R.O.W. Width | 52 ft. | 48 ft.
Pavement Width | 26 ft. | 22 ft.
Traffic Flow | Two Ways | Two Ways
Number of Parking Lanes | Both Sides | One Side
Curb Type | Raised | Raised
Curb Radius | At intersection with ST 15′ | At intersection with ST 15′
Planter Width | 7 ft. | 7 ft.
Planter Type | Continuous | Continuous
Planting Pattern | Allee 30 ft. O.C. | Allee 30 ft. O.C.
Tree Type | See Landscape Standards | See Landscape Standards
-
-
Sidewalks | Both Sides | Both Sides
Sidewalk Width | 5 ft. | 5 ft.
Sidewalk Edge to R.O.W. | 1 ft. | 1 ft.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Type | Commercial Street | Commercial Street
Movement | Slow Movement | Slow Movement
R.O.W. Width | 88 ft. | 75 ft.
Pavement Width | 64 ft. | 51 ft.
Traffic | Two Ways | Two Ways
Flow | Two—diagonal (45 degree) | Two: 1—diagonal (45 degree); 2 - parallel
Number of Parking Lanes | Raised | Raised
Curb Type
Planter Width | 4 ft. in TC, 7 ft. in NC | 4 ft. in TC, 7 ft. in NC
Planter Type | Individual | Individual
Planting Pattern | Allee, 30 ft. O.C.—coordinate w/ parking | Allee, 30 ft. O.C.—coordinate w/ parking
[image omitted; see the official code]
Type | Collector Street | Collector Street
Movement | Free Movement | Free Movement
R.O.W. Width | 60 ft. | 54 ft.
Pavement Width | 32 ft. | 26 ft.
Traffic Flow | Two Ways | Two Ways
Number of Parking Lanes | Both Sides | One Side
Curb Type | Raised | Raised
Planter Width | 7 ft. | 7 ft.
Planter Type | Continuous | Continuous
Planting Pattern | Allee 30 ft. O.C. | Allee 30 ft. O.C.
Tree Type | See Landscape Standards | See Landscape Standards
-
-
Sidewalks | Both Sides | Both Sides
Sidewalk Width | 5 ft. | 5 ft.
Sidewalk Edge to R.O.W. | 2 ft. | 2 ft.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Type | Commercial Street | Commercial Avenue
Movement | Free Movement | Speed Movement
R.O.W. Width | 62 ft. | 73 ft.
Pavement Width | 36 ft. | 49 ft.
Traffic Flow | Two Ways | Two Way w/ shared center turn lane
Number of Parking Lanes | Both Sides | Both Sides
Curb Type | Raised | Raised
Planter Width | 7 ft. | 4 ft.
Planter Type | Continuous | Individual
Planting Pattern | Allee 30 ft. O.C. | Allee 30 ft. O.C.
Tree Type | See Landscape Standards | See Landscape Standards
Sidewalks | Both Sides | Both Sides
Sidewalk Width | 5 ft. | 12 ft.
Sidewalk Edge to R.O.W. | 1 ft. | None
[image omitted; see the official code]
Type | Boulevard | Boulevard
Movement | Speed Movement | Free Movement
R.O.W. Width | 120 ft. | 76 ft.
Pavement Width | 30 ft. and 30 ft. | 20 ft. and 20 ft.
Traffic Flow | One Way Each Side | One Way Each Side
Number of Parking Lanes | One Way Each Side | One Way Each Side
Curb Type | Raised | Raised
Planter Width | 4 ft. Sides, Variable Center | 7 ft. Sides, 10 ft. Center
Planter Type | Individual Sides, Continuous Center | Individual Sides, Continuous Center
Planting Pattern | Double Allee 30 ft. O.C. | Staggered Allee 30 ft. O.C.
Tree Type | See Landscape Standards | See Landscape Standards
-
-
Sidewalks | Both Sides | Both Sides
Sidewalk Width | 12 ft. at Sides, 8 ft. at Center | 5 ft.
Sidewalk Edge to R.O.W. | None | 1 ft.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Type | Commercial Street | Boulevard
Movement | Slow Movement | Free Movement
R.O.W. Width | 112 ft. | 90 ft.
Pavement Width | 88 ft. | 30 ft. and 30 ft.
Traffic Flow | Two Ways | One Way Each Side
Number of Parking Lanes | Two—diagonal (45 degree) | One Way Each Side
Curb Type | Raised | Raised
Planter Width | 4 ft. | 4 ft.
Planter Type | Individual | Individual Sides, Continuous Center
Planting Pattern | Allee, 30 ft. O.C.—coordinate w/ parking | Allee 30 ft. O.C.
[image omitted; see the official code]
(Ord. 1518-01 § 3 (part); Ord. 1627-02 § 5; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)
| Tree Type | None | See Landscape Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalks | None | N/A |
| Sidewalk Width | N/A | N/A |
| Sidewalk Edge to R.O.W. | N/A | N/A |
| Tree Type | See Landscape Standards | See Landscape Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalks | Both Sides | Both Sides |
| Sidewalk Width | 12 ft. in TC, 5 ft. in NC | 12 ft. in TC, 5 ft. in NC |
| Sidewalk Edge to R.O.W. | 0 | 1 ft. |
| Tree Type | See Landscape Standards | See Landscape Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalks | Both Sides | Both Sides |
| Sidewalk Width | 12 ft. | 12 ft. |
| Sidewalk Edge to R.O.W. | 0 | 0 |
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_CH3320TRNEDE_3320.15THFetched: 10/27/2026