PARKLAND DEDICATION

Columbus City Codes tit. 33, ch. 3318

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 3318.01 Purpose.

3318.01 - Purpose. This chapter creates a requirement for public parkland/open space dedication to assure that public parkland and open space is adequate and that development interests are treated equitably in a rezoning. The goal of the city is to provide 5.5 acres of appropriate public parkland/open space for every 1,000 residents. Use of this land for purposes other than park uses shall require approval of Columbus city council after notification of all property owners within 125 feet of the parcel in question, notification of any applicable area commission, and notification of the recreation and parks commission. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.03 Requirements.

3318.03 - Requirements. Upon the submission of an application for rezoning of land in excess of one acre, the recreation and parks commission or its designee and the applicant shall determine whether a land or monetary donation shall be required. If a land donation is required, then land to be dedicated for public parkland/open space shall be identified on a preliminary survey or site plan and deeded to the city at the time of final zoning clearance approval or plat approval by the department. Said dedication shall be exclusive of any street, road, highway, sidewalk or bikeway. However, the dedicated land may include areas incorporated into the overall development plan for aesthetic purposes, pedestrian bike paths or dedicated open space. One of two alternatives shall be used for all monetary payments made in lieu of land dedication or to meet the fee requirements of commercial and industrial development. Under the first alternative, payments shall be used exclusively for the purchase or development of public parkland/open space within the service area of a one mile radius when possible. If not possible, then purchase or development shall occur in the designated planning area as shown on the community planning areas map. Under the second alternative, payments shall be used for the purchase of shares in a community park land bank. This option shall be used in designated community planning areas, which are in need of community parks, as defined in the Columbus comprehensive plan, and have an established land bank. The applicant's property must be in a designated community planning area. Payment shall not be used for operating or maintenance purposes. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part); Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.05 Residential development.

3318.05 - Residential development. The land dedication requirement shall be computed as follows for residential development: (A) Determine the number of proposed dwelling units. (B) (1) Single-family: Multiply the number of proposed units by the "median household size for owner-occupied units" established by the most current U.S. Census data for the Columbus, OH MSA. (2) Multifamily: Multiply the number of proposed units by the "median household size for renter-occupied units" established by the most current U.S. Census data for the city of Columbus, OH MSA. (C) Divide the figure determined in step 2 by 1,000. (D) Multiply the figure determined in step 3 by 5.5. This figure is the amount of acreage that shall be dedicated for public parkland/open space. Dedicated areas that are disturbed during the development process shall be graded and seeded, resulting in a surface capable of being mowed. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.06 Extended Stay Hotels.

3318.06 - Extended Stay Hotels. For the purpose of this Parkland Dedication requirement, Hotels, Extended Stay, shall be subject to the same requirements as a multi-unit residential use. (Ord. No. 2342-2013, § 2, 3-3-2014)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.07 Residential development credits.

3318.07 - Residential development credits. Additional improvements made to the dedicated land by the applicant may result in credit toward the land dedication requirement. Such credit shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the recreation and parks commission or its designee. Credit may be given for private outdoor recreational facilities provided in residential developments. The maximum credit is 50 percent of the required land dedication. Such credit shall be reviewed by the recreation and parks commission or its designee. In the event that a wet storm water retention area is proposed to be dedicated, it shall constitute no more than 25 percent of the area dedication required. Maintenance shall be provided by Columbus Water & Power for wet storm water retention areas. Credit shall be given for previous land dedications for land to be rezoned from one residential classification to another residential classification based on the incremental increase in density. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026.)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.09 Residential development payment in lieu of dedication.

3318.09 - Residential development payment in lieu of dedication. To the extent that the proposed land dedication is not acceptable due to size, configuration, location or other characteristics to the recreation and parks commission, its designee or city council, then a monetary contribution shall be made. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.11 Residential development payment calculations.

3318.11 - Residential development payment calculations. Payment shall be computed as follows for parkland acquisition or development: (A) Determine the total amount of acreage required for parkland. (B) Subtract the total amount of acreage approved as appropriate land, including credits, by the recreation and parks commission or its designee. (C) Multiply the amount of acreage determined above by a dollar amount, which represents the fair market value of an acre of land as determined by an appraisal obtained by the city or by an acceptable appraisal. Payment shall be computed as follows for purchase of shares in a community park land bank: (A) Determine the total amount of acreage required for parkland. (B) Subtract the total amount of acreage approved as appropriate land, including credits, by the recreation and parks commission or its designee. (C) Multiply amount of acreage determined above by a dollar amount, which represents the value of the land when purchased by the recreation and parks department, including overhead costs associated with the administration of the land bank program and long-term monitoring of the area. Payment shall be made at the time of final zoning clearance approval or plat approval. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.13 Commercial, industrial, office, and nonresidential institutional development.

3318.13 - Commercial, industrial, office, and nonresidential institutional development. For all commercial, industrial, and nonresidential institutional and ARO development, a fee shall be assessed of $400.00 per acre of land rezoned, or fraction thereof. Payment shall be made at the time of final plan approval. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.15 Commercial, industrial, office, and nonresidential institutional development dedication in lieu of fees.

3318.15 - Commercial, industrial, office, and nonresidential institutional development dedication in lieu of fees. Land may be dedicated in lieu of fees. Land dedication shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the recreation and parks commission or its designee. If a land donation is made, then land to be dedicated for public parkland/open space shall be identified on a preliminary survey or site plan and deeded to the city at the time of final zoning clearance or plat approval. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.17 Approval.

3318.17 - Approval. The recreation and parks commission or its designee shall deem the dedicated land to be appropriate only if the proposed dedicated land is suitable for public parkland/open space. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 3318.19 Exemptions.

3318.19 - Exemptions. In the following cases, the dedication requirements shall be waived by the recreation and parks commission or its designee: (A) Rezoning from one residential classification to another residential classification that does not result in an increase in density. (B) Rezoning from one commercial or industrial classification to another commercial or industrial classification. (C) The applicant meets the total dedication requirements for rezoning in another rezoning application in the same planning area as identified on the community planning areas map. Requirements for all rezoning applications shall be met. (D) A comparable zoning is granted to an applicant when land is annexed to Columbus. (Ord. 1985-98 § 1 (part).)

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_CH3318PADEFetched: 10/27/2026