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DEFINITIONS

Columbus City Codes tit. 41, ch. 4101
in effect

Columbus City Codes § 4101.01 Letter A.

4101.01 - Letter A. "Aisle" means the clear width and length of an area which is provided for ingress or egress between rows of seats, or between rows of seats and a wall, or between desks, tables, counters, machines, or other equipment or materials, or between such articles or materials and a wall. "Aisle longitudinal" means an aisle approximately at right angles to the rows of seats served. "Aisle transverse" means an aisle approximately parallel to the rows of seats between which it passes. "Alcove" means a recessed portion of a room with an unobstructed opening into said room. "Alteration" as applied to one-, two-, and three-family dwellings and related accessory buildings means a permanent change or modification in construction, fixtures and/or equipment which does not include an addition to the building or structure. Approved. (a) "Approved" material, device, or mode of construction refers to the approval by the building inspector as the result of investigation and test conducted by the building inspector or by reason of accepted principles or tests by national authorities, technical or scientific organizations. (b) "Approved agency" means an established and recognized agency regularly engaged in conducting tests or furnishing inspection services, when such agency has been approved by the building inspector or the Ohio Board of Building Standards. (c) "Approved testing agency" means an established, nationally recognized business entity identified, in writing, by the director of the department which is regularly engaged in the promulgation and administration of examinations for, but not limited to, the construction industry and its related craft(s) and trade(s), used to decide the knowledge and skill of applicants for consideration of licensing by the city of Columbus. "Appurtenant structure" means a structure or device attached to the exterior of a building or erected on the roof thereof and designed to provide architectural ornamentation, to support service equipment or to be used in connection therewith, for advertising or display purposes, or for any other similar purpose. "Appurtenant structure" includes but is not necessarily limited to a cornice, parapet, architectural terra cotta, projecting and freestanding ornamentation, exterior fire escape, balcony, marquee, light fixture, chimney, or sign and its support structure. (Ord. 1306-99 § 10; Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. 1936-02 § 4; Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 103, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.02 Letter B.

4101.02 - Letter B. "Balcony, exterior" means a parapet or railing-enclosed platform projecting outward from the exterior wall of a building. "Balcony, interior," as applied to a place of assembly, means an open seating level located above the main assembly floor level but does not include a continuation of a rise of the main floor or other integrated seating area in connection therewith. "Bikeway" means a facility that explicitly provides for bicycle travel. A bikeway may vary from a completely separated facility to simple signed streets as follows: (a) "Shared-use path" (Class I Bikeway) means a bikeway outside the traveled way and physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the street or highway right-of-way or within an independent alignment. A shared-use path also may be used by pedestrians, including skaters, joggers, users of manual and motorized wheelchairs, and other authorized motorized and non-motorized users. (b) "Bike lane" (Class II Bikeway) is a marked lane contiguous to a travel lane within a roadway for the exclusive or semi-exclusive operation of bicycles in the same direction as the adjacent travel lane. The bike lane is physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by painted lines, pavement coloration, curbing, parked vehicles or other barriers. (c) "Bike route" (Class III Bikeway) utilizes existing streets and roads. No separation of motor vehicle and bicycle traffic is provided as only signs are present to indicate the course of the bike route. "Building" means any structure used for shelter, occupancy, enclosure, or support of persons, animals, or property or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy, having a roof supported by columns or walls and requiring a building permit. For application of this Code, each portion of a building completely separated from other portions by fire walls complying with the Ohio Building Code (OBC) shall be considered as a separate building. Whenever possible herein, the term "building" shall include the term "structure." (a) "Building addition" or "addition" means a part added to a building, either by being built so as to form one architectural whole with it, or by being joined with it in some way, as by a passage, and so that one is a necessary adjunct or appurtenance of the other or so that both constitute the same building. (b) "Building Code" means Title 41. (c) "Building line" means the clearance line limiting the approach of a building, exclusive of open porches, steps, terraces or walkways, to a property line, or to other buildings on the same lot. (d) "Existing building" means a building already erected or one for which a legal permit has been issued prior to the adoption of the Building Code. (e) "Building official" means the officer so designated by the director. The building official may also be referenced as the "chief building official" in this code. The building official and the building official regularly authorized representatives are charged with the administration and enforcement of the building code. The authorized representatives may include city employees or registered contract inspectors. The building official is also the designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement in the city of Columbus of the Ohio Building Code (OBC) approved by theOhio Board of Building Standards (OBBS) in accordance with Chapter 1, "Administration," of the Ohio Building Code. (Ord. 377-95; Ord. 0719-04 § 2; Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 0321-2011, § 1(Attach. § 1), 12-12-2011; Ord. No. 1182-2014, § 2, 6-16-2014; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.03 Letter C.

4101.03 - Letter C. "Canopy" means a projection from a building, cantilevered, suspended or supported on columns intended only for shelter or ornamentation. For definition of "marquee," see Section 4101.13. "Cast stone" means a building stone manufactured from precast concrete and used as a trim, veneer or facing on or in buildings or structures. "Ceiling height" means the height from the finished floor to the finished ceiling, or when there is no finished ceiling, the height from the finished floor to the underside of the exposed secondary framing next above the floor. "Chief Plans Official" means the officer so designated by the Director. The chief plans official may also be known as the "plans official" in this code. The chief plans official, or designee, is the authorized representative charged with administration and enforcement of all site plans submitted to the department, including engineering and utility plans, and manages the site plan review process. "Condominium" means a multi-unit building in which the units are owned individually and the structure is owned jointly; regulated under OBC for use and occupancy on the basis of the jointly owned structure with the individually owned units treated as tenant spaces. "Conflagration hazard" means the fire risk involved through the spread of fire by exposure to and from adjoining buildings, building contents, and materials stored adjacent thereto. (Ord. 2845-80 ; Ord. 719-04 § 3.; Ord. No. 2114-2024, § 1, 7-29-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.04 Letter D.

4101.04 - Letter D. "Dance hall" means a building or part thereof the primary purpose of which is for dancing by a gathering of people. "Department" when used without clarification means the department of building and zoning services. "Departmental regulations" means printed interpretations of sections of this code prepared by the building inspector with the approval of the building commission. An appeal for change of or relief from the requirements of the departmental regulations may be made to the building commission, which shall have authority to change the same. Departmental regulations shall be published in the City Bulletin and shall become effective 60 days after approval and issuance of printed copies to all persons, firms, contractors, and organizations on a list of holders of this Building Code. "Director" when used without clarification means the director of the department of building and zoning services or designee. "Dome" means a roof formed by a series of arches or curved surfaces, every point of which is in a curved surface, receding from the supporting walls of the building and springing from a plane base either circular or polygonal and covering and meeting at a ridge or finial with no appreciable part of such roof flat or a plane surface. "Dormer" means a minor architectural roof structure containing one or more small vertical windows and situated upon a sloping roof. "Dwelling" means any residence building or portion thereof, which is not an "apartment house," which contains one, two or three dwelling units, used, intended, or designed to be used, rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied or which are occupied for living purposes by one family each. (a) "One family dwelling" means a building containing one dwelling unit with not more than five lodgers or boarders. (b) "Two- and three-family dwellings" means buildings containing two or three dwelling units with not more than five lodgers or boarders per building. "Dwelling unit" means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. (Ord. 1936-02 § 5; Ord. 377-95; Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 104, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.005 Scope.

4101.005 - Scope. (A) Unless otherwise explicitly acknowledged, the following words and terms shall have, for the purposes of the Columbus Building Code, the connotation as defined in this chapter. (B) This chapter of the Columbus Building Code shall include in their entirety, and as changed from time to time, the definitions incorporated in the following codes, including any referenced codes and standards adopted thereto: (1) The Ohio Building Code (OBC) Chapter 2, "Definitions"; and (2) The Ohio Mechanical Code (OMC) Chapter 2, "Definitions"; and (3) The Ohio Plumbing Code (OPC) Chapter 2, "Definitions"; and (4) The Ohio Residential Code for One, Two and Three Family Dwellings (ORC/OBOA) Chapter 2, "Building Definitions." (C) Where differences occur between a definition of this chapter and any of the above referenced standards, the decision of the chief building official shall prevail. (Ord. 2230-86; Ord. 0719-04 § 1.)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.06 Letter F.

4101.06 - Letter F. "Family" means an individual or any number of individuals related by blood, marriage, or a group of not more than five individuals not so related, living together. "Front of lot" means the front boundary line of a lot bordering on the street and in case of a corner lot, may be either frontage. "Fuel-burning equipment" means any furnace, incinerator, refuse burning equipment, boiler, apparatus, device, mechanism, stack or structure used in the process of burning fuel or combustible material. (Ord. 2845-80.)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.07 Letter G.

4101.07 - Letter G. Garage. "Private garage" means a building or portion of a building not more than 1,200 square feet in area in which not more than four motor vehicles (which are propelled by the use of volatile, flammable liquids for fuel or power) are stored or kept and in which no business or industry connected directly or indirectly with the repair or servicing of such motor vehicles is carried on. "Garbage incinerator" means a structure or apparatus with which garbage can be consumed by combustion. "Gasoline service station" means the premises, including the buildings and equipment, used for selling at retail of products for the propulsion of motor vehicles and, in addition thereto, may include the following: (a) The sale of kerosene, package naphtha, stoddard solvent, lubricants, tires, batteries, anti-freeze, and items of motor vehicle accessories customarily associated with such retail business; (b) Lubricating of motor vehicles; (c) Rendering of services, including making of adjustments and repairs other than major repairs to motor vehicles; (d) Washing, polishing, and application of wax and similar finish protectives. The gasoline storage facilities of such uses shall conform to the rules and regulations of the Fire Prevention Code. (Ord. 1448-73.)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.08 Letter H.

4101.08 - Letter H. "Home improvement" means the repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, improvement, or addition to any land or building, or that portion thereof which is used or designed to be used as a private residence or dwelling place for not more than three families; and shall include, but not be restricted to, the construction, replacement, or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, fallout shelters and other improvements to structures or upon land which is adjacent to a dwelling house "Home improvement" shall not include (i) the construction of a new home building or work done by a contractor in compliance with a guarantee of completion of a new building project, or (ii) the sale of goods or materials by a seller who neither arranges to perform nor performs directly or indirectly any work or labor in connection with the installation of or application of the goods or materials "Home improvement contract" means an agreement for the performance of a home improvement or repair "Home improvement contractor" means any person who owns or operates a home improvement business or who undertakes or offers to undertake or agrees to undertake or agrees to perform any home improvement whether or not such person is a prime contractor. "Home improvement contractor" includes any person who negotiates or offers to negotiate a home improvement contract to be performed by another, unless such person is the employee or authorized representative of a single licensed home improvement contractor. (Ord. 1501-81; Ord. No. 0398-2010, § 1, 4-5-2010)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.09 Letter I.

4101.09 - Letter I. "Inspector" means the building official or any of a duly authorized representatives. (Ord. 2121-94; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.11 Letter K.

4101.11 - Letter K. "Kitchen" means a space having a floor area of 60 square feet or more and which is used for cooking of food. "Kitchenette" means a space having a floor area of less than 60 square feet and which is used for the cooking of food. (Ord. 2845-80.)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.12 Letter L.

4101.12 - Letter L. "License-holder" means the individual who has passed the required examination(s) given by a board of review and has been issued a license to perform the work of a specific trade or craft. "Licensed-business" means the business concern to which a license-holder has assigned the license-holder's rights to a license. "Lot" means a parcel of land occupied or designated to be occupied by one building and the accessory buildings or occupancies customarily incident to it, including such open spaces as are required by the Zoning Code Title 33 and such open spaces as are arranged and designed to be used in connection with such building. "Low-voltage" means all installations of wiring or equipment operating at 49 volts or less, direct current or alternating current. Loads. (a) "Live loads" means the imposed, fixed or transient loads other than "dead loads" and "wind loads." (b) "Dead load" means the weight of walls, partitions, floors, roofs and other permanent construction of a building. (Ord. 673-83; Ord. 1483-97 § 1; Ord. 0719-04 § 4; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.13 Letter M.

4101.13 - Letter M. "Marquee" means a canopy which requires additional loading for displays, signs or other advertising devices. (Ord. 2845-80.)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.14 Letter N.

4101.14 - Letter N. "Night club" means a place of assembly used for the consumption of food and alcoholic beverages and which normally affords entertainment through permitting dancing or through organized entertainment other than music. "Noncombustible materials" or "incombustible materials" is a general and relative term. Its precise meaning is as the context provides in specific instances. For definition of "noncombustible materials" refer to OBC Chapter 7—"Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction." (Ord. 2230-86; Ord. 0719-04 § 5.)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.15 Letter O.

4101.15 - Letter O. "Organization" means a corporation for profit or not for profit, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, unincorporated association, estate, trust, or other commercial or legal entity. Organization does not include an entity organized as, or by, a governmental agency for execution of a governmental program. "Owner" means the owner of record as shown on the current tax list of the county auditor; the mortgage holder of record, if any, as shown in the mortgage records of the county recorder; and any purchaser under a land contract. "Owner" also means any person who has a freehold or lesser estate in the premises; a mortgagee or vendee in possession; or any person who has charge, care or control of the premises as agent, executor, administrator, assignee, receiver, trustee, guardian or lessee. (Ord. 1692-98 § 3.)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.16 Letter P.

4101.16 - Letter P. "Partition" means a minor interior wall used to subdivide a floor area. "Partition, bearing" means a partition which supports a load in addition to its own weight. "Partition, nonbearing" means a partition which supports only its own weight. "Passageway" means an enclosed hallway or corridor connecting a required exit to a street, or other open space communicating with a street when such required exit does not lead directly to a street. "Permanent open space" means a street, alley, permanent surface and air easement, waterway, public park, or railroad right-of-way, other than a siding for the loading, unloading, or storage of cars or motive power equipment. "Person" means a natural person, beneficiaries, executors, administrators or assigns, and also includes an organization, firm, partnership, corporation, contractor, or subcontractor, its or their successors or assigns, or the agent of any of the aforesaid. "Platform" means a raised section of floor not enclosed by walls above the platform floor level. This definition shall not include a stage as defined in the Ohio Building Code. "Plumbing" means the business, trade, or work having to do with the installation, removal, alteration, or repair of plumbing and drainage systems or parts thereof. "Plumbing appliance" means any one of a special class of plumbing fixture which is intended to perform a special function. Its operation and/or control may be dependent upon one or more energized components, such as motors, controls, heating elements, or pressure or temperature-sensing elements. Such fixtures may operate automatically through one or more of the following actions: a time cycle, a temperature range, a pressure range, a measured volume or weight, or the fixture may be manually adjusted or controlled by the user or operator. "Plumbing appurtenance" means a manufactured device, or a prefabricated assembly, or an on-the-job assembly of component parts, and which is an adjunct to the basic piping system and plumbing fixtures. An appurtenance demands no additional water supply, nor does it add any discharge load to a fixture or the drainage system. It is presumed that it performs some useful function in the operation, maintenance, servicing, economy, or safety of the plumbing system. "Plumbing fixture" means a receptacle or device which is either permanently or temporarily connected to the water distribution system, and demands a supply of water therefrom, or it discharges used water, liquid-borne waste materials, or sewage either directly or indirectly to the drainage system, or which requires both a water supply connection and a discharge to the drainage system. Plumbing appliances as a special class of fixture are further defined. "Plumbing system" means and includes all potable water supplies and distribution pipes, all plumbing fixtures and traps, all drainage and vent pipes and all building drains, including their respective joints and connections, devices and appurtenances within the property lines of the premises and shall include potable water treatment or using equipment. "Point of service" means that portion of the domestic or fire water service pipe and appurtenances from the meter to the water distribution system of the building(s) served. It does not include the service line, as defined in City Code Chapter 1105. "Porch" means a roofed structure with one or more open sides, erected against and projecting from, an exterior wall of a building. "Premises" means lands and everything of a permanent nature attached thereto as a part of realty. "Property line" means the line of demarcation between properties either public or private. "Public nuisance" means any structure which is permitted to be or remain in any of the following conditions: (1) In a dilapidated, decayed, unsafe or unsanitary condition detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare, or well being of the surrounding area; or (2) A fire hazard; or (3) Any vacant building that is not secured and maintained in compliance with Chapter 4513; or (4) Land, real estate, houses, buildings, residences, apartments, or premises of any kind which are used in violation of any division of Section 2925.13, Ohio Revised Code. "Public nuisance" also means any structure or real property which is not in compliance with any building, housing, zoning, fire, safety, air pollution, health or sanitation ordinance of the Columbus City Code or Columbus City Health Code, or any real property upon which its real property taxes have remained unpaid in excess of one year from date of assessment. (Ord. 1692-98 § 4; Ord. 0719-04 § 6; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 1956-2024, § 1, 7-29-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.18 Letter R.

4101.18 - Letter R. "Ready Access" means that which enables a fixture, appliance or equipment to be directly reached without requiring the removal or movement of any panel, door, or similar obstruction, and without the use of a portable ladder, step stool, or similar device. "Row" means a group of connected dwellings separated by vertical fire walls, each dwelling having its own front and rear yards and having appropriated to it the entire building between the fire walls. Where the firewalls are party walls, each dwelling shall be considered a single-family dwelling provided that each dwelling has completely separate connections to all utilities and public sewers. (Ord. 377-95; Ord. 1272-01 § 1 (part); Ord. 1669-01 § 2.; Ord. No. 1956-2024, § 2, 7-29-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.19 Letter S.

4101.19 - Letter S. "Shared-use path" (Class I Bikeway) means a bikeway outside the traveled way and physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the street or highway right-of-way or within an independent alignment. A shared-use path also may be used by pedestrians, including skaters, joggers, users of manual and motorized wheelchairs, and other authorized motorized and non-motorized users. "Shed" means a roofed one-story structure, open on one or more sides, and not a porch or marquee as defined in this chapter. "Sidewalk space" means the part of a public street provided or set apart as a walkway for pedestrians, including the planting strip when the same exists, as distinguished from the roadway of said street. "Skeleton construction" means that construction whereby all external and internal loads and stresses are transmitted to the foundation by a skeleton or framework of metal, or concrete reinforced by metal. "Special Inspection" means an inspection of construction requiring the expertise of an approved special inspector in order to ensure compliance with this code, the Ohio Building Code and the approved documents. "Special Inspector" means a qualified person who shall demonstrate competence for the inspection of the particular type of construction or operation requiring special inspection. "Spire" means a tapering structure with vertical dimensions much greater than the dimension of the base. "Structure" means an assembly of materials forming a construction for occupancy or use, including but not limited to: building; stadium; gospel or circus tent; reviewing stand; platform; staging; observation tower; communication, radio or television tower; water tank; trestle; pier; wharf; open shed; coal bin; shelter; fence in excess of six feet in height; display sign; dish antenna and any other similar assembly of materials. The word "structure" is construed as if followed by "or parts thereof." (Ord. 1306-99 § 11; Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 1182-2014, § 2, 6-16-2014; Ord. No. 1207-2022, § 1, 5-16-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.20 Letter T.

4101.20 - Letter T. "Tent" means a shelter or structure which is not an appendage to a building, nor a roof structure the covering of which is wholly or partly of canvas or other pliable material which is supported and made stable by standards, stakes, and ropes. "Trap" means a fitting or device that provides a liquid seal to prevent the emission of sewer gases without materially affecting the flow of sewage or waste water through the trap. "Truss" means a complete or redundant framed structural unit composed of structural members connected at their intersections, in which, if loads are applied at their intersections, the stress in each member is in the direction of the length of the member. (Ord. 2845-80.; Ord. No. 1956-2024, § 3, 7-29-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.22 Letter V.

4101.22 - Letter V. "Value or valuation" shall be the estimated cost to replace the building in kind, as determined by the building inspector. "Veneer" means a nonstructural facing attached to a wall or other structural assembly for the purpose of providing ornamentation, protection, or insulation. "Vestibule" means a small hall or lobby between the outer entrance and the interior of a building. (Ord. 2845-80.)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.23 Letter W.

4101.23 - Letter W. "Water supply system" means the water service pipe, water distribution pipes, and the necessary connecting pipes, fittings, control valves, and all appurtenances in or adjacent to the structure or premises. "Window bay" means a window projecting beyond the wall of a building and extending down to or below the ground. Window, Dormer. "Dormer window" means a substantially vertical window and its enclosing structure erected as an appendage to a sloping roof. Window, Oriel. "Oriel window" means a window projecting beyond and suspended from the wall of a building or cantilevered therefrom. Window, Show. "Show window" means a window in which goods or wares are displayed for sale or advertising purposes. "Written notice" shall be considered to have been served if delivered in person to the individual or to the parties intended, or if delivered at or sent by registered or certified mail to the last business address known to the party giving notice. (Ord. 2845-80.; Ord. No. 1956-2024, § 4, 7-29-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 4101.27 Supplemental definitions.

4101.27 - Supplemental definitions. For the purpose of this Building Code, certain terms, phrases and words and their derivatives shall be construed as set out in this chapter. Words used in the present tense include the future. Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural the singular. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and the neuter. "Shall" is mandatory. (Ord. 880-70.)
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=TIT41BUCO_CH4101DEFetched: 10/27/2026

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