Interpretation of zoning district boundaries.
Columbus City Codes § 3309.17
in effect3309.17 - Interpretation of zoning district boundaries.
Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any zoning district, the following rules shall apply:
A. Boundaries Follow Streets, Alleys or Highways. Where a district boundary is indicated as approximately following the right-of-way line of a highway, street, or alley, that line is deemed to be the district boundary.
B. Boundaries Parallel Street, Alley or Right-of-Way Lines. Where a district boundary is indicated as approximately parallel to the right-of-way line of a highway, street or alley, the district boundary shall be deemed as being parallel and at a distance as contained in the digital zoning map. If no distance is given, determination of dimensions will be made by reference to the appropriate zoning case file. If there is no file, the scale contained in the digital zoning map will determine the dimension.
C. Boundaries Follow Lot Lines. Where a district boundary is indicated as approximately following a lot line, the lot line is deemed to be the boundary.
D. Boundaries Follow Railroad Lines. Where the boundary of a district follows a railroad line, such boundary is deemed to be located midway between the right-of-way lines of the railroad line.
E. Boundaries Follow Waterways. Where the boundary of a district follows a stream, lake or other body of water, the boundary line is deemed to be at the limit of the jurisdiction of the city unless otherwise indicated.
F. Submerged Areas. All areas within the corporate limits which are under water and are not shown as included within any district are subject to all of the regulations of the district which immediately adjoins the water area. If the water area adjoins two or more districts, the boundaries of each district is deemed to extend into the water area in straight lines until they meet boundary lines or extended boundary lines of another district.
G. District Regulations Apply to All Other Uses. Any area shown on the zoning map as a park, playground, school, cemetery, or water is subject to the zoning regulations of the district in which it is located. In case of doubt, the zoning regulations of the most restrictive adjoining district shall govern.
H. Property Not Included in District. Premises not specifically included within a district, or which has become a part of the city by annexation, shall automatically be classified as lying and being in the R Rural District or as specified in C.C. 3310.09, Zoning of annexed territory, until the classification is changed by an amendment to the official zoning map as provided by law.
I. Vacation of Right-of-Way. Whenever any street, alley or other right-of-way is vacated in the manner authorized by law, the zoning district adjoining each side of the street, alley or right-of-way is automatically extended to the center of the vacated area, which is then subject to all regulations of the extended districts.
(Ord. 1738-84; Ord. 2564-00 § 1; Ord. 179-03 § 5.)
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_CH3309ZOMAZOMADI_3309.17INZODIBOFetched: 10/27/2026