Land Use and Zoning

The Planning Department is responsible for all land use and zoning issues within the Columbus Consolidated Government. This is accomplished under the city's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).  The UDO is the main instrument used by the department to regulate development in the county. The UDO regulates the size and height of buildings, housing units and lots, as well as specific types of development practices in Columbus.  The department receives, processes, reviews and makes recommendations on applications to rezone property in the County. Some re-zonings require amendments to the land use plan. These proposed land use plan amendments are processed in conjunction with their related rezoning requests, and must be approved prior to rezoning.

Planning Advisory Commission (PAC)

The Planning Advisory Commission (PAC) consists of nine members, including a Chairperson. Meetings are usually held in the Council Chambers in the Government Center on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 9.00 am to review matters such as re-zonings, Special Exception Uses, text amendments, modification of zoning approvals and other current and long-range planning projects. PAC has no legislative powers but is appointed by Council to listen to the concerns of citizens and developers, evaluate information provided by the planning staff, and make recommendations to Council. These recommendations are usually to approve, approve with conditions, or deny applications.

Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA)

The Board of Zoning Appeals consists of five members appointed by Mayor and City Council. The functions of the board are listed as below:

• To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is error in any decision or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance.
• To authorize upon appeal, in specific cases, variances from the terms of the Zoning Ordinance where, owing to special conditions, literal enforcement of the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance will result in an unnecessary hardship. Variances can be granted that uphold the spirit of the Zoning Ordinance when the Appeals Board finds:
• There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property in question because of its size, shape, or topography;
• The application of the Zoning Ordinance to this particular piece of property would create an unnecessary hardship;
• Such conditions are peculiar to the property involved; and
• Relief, if granted, would not cause substantial detriment to the public