CFFPI - Policy Briefs - Zoning in Support of Agriculture

• Zoning in Support of Agriculture in Ohio: What are the Options?

For a more in-depth look, that examines both exurban and regional differences in zoning ordinances across Ohio, please refer to the white paper on this same topic:

• Ohio Agricultural Zoning:  Conditions and Recommendations

RECENT PRESENTATION:

Supporting Agriculture through Zoning - Prepared for the OPC Cleveland 2007 Planning and Zoning Workshop - November 2007  View Presentation Online or Download Entire PowerPoint Presentation

EXAMPLE ZONING ORDINANCES:

The following zoning ordinances include several of those ordinances researched for the white paper: Does "AG" stand for Anything Goes?: An Analysis of Agricultural Zoning Districts. Examples of zoning ordinance language - use with caution - these are examples provided. Follow the links below to view PDFs of Ohio zoning ordinances that are examples of: exclusive agricultural zoning, conditional use zoning, large lot zoning, planned district zoning, lot split limitations and varying lot sizes.

Exclusive Agricultural Zoning:

• Perry Township, Muskingum County - This mandatory exclusive agricultural district permits only agriculture, farming, dairying, pasturage, apiculture, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, and animal and poultry husbandry.

• Green Township, Ashland County - This mandatory exclusive zoning district permits only agriculture, farm dwellings, home occupations, essential services, and accessory uses, with a minimum lot size of one acre.

• Pittsfield Township, Lorain County - This voluntary exclusive district is available to landowners of 300 or more acres, with permitted and conditional uses that are primary agricultural or agricultural support related.

Conditional Use Zoning:

• Milford Township, Defiance County - This ordinance uses a "conditional use" approach in its Agricultural District; for example, single family dwellings are conditional uses, and are granted only if their placement is consistent with the agricultural priorities of the district.

• Perry Township, Allen County - In Perry Township has a similar policy in its Agricultural District; here, single family dwellings are conditional uses, and must first meet a minimum lot size requirement of 2.5 acres to be considered.

Large Lot Zoning:

• Harrison Township, Darke County - The minimum lot size in the Agricultural District of Harrison Township allows single family dwellings, accessory uses and public uses as permitted uses, but with a minimum lot size of 20 acres (churches and private schools have a minimum lot size of 5 acres).

• Pittsfield Township, Lorain County - This zoning ordinance has a minimum 40 acre lot size in its Voluntary Primary Agricultural Use District.

Planned District Zoning:

• Miami Township, Montgomery County - The Planned Agriculture District permits agricultural uses, single family dwellings, recreation and open space on tracts of land at lease 20 acres in size that must be developed according to a development plan.

Lot Split Limitations:

• St Mary's Township, Auglaize County - In St Mary's Township, a single tract of land in the Agricultural District may be subdivided "so as to provide no more than four residential lots which are less than five acres."

• Montgomery Township, Marion County - In Montgomery Township, a parcel of land in the Agricultural District may be subdivided to provide a maximum of four new residential lots that are less than ten acres.

Varying Lot Sizes:

• Harrison Township, Darke County - Harrison Township has a Rural District that prescribes different lot sizes for different uses within the district to reduce the impact of non-park development.

ZONING MAP:

General zoning map of Ohio (takes you to a different site)

ZONING ROUNDTABLE:

Our very well-attended March roundtable series was held at four locations across Ohio in 2007, and focused on local zoning options to support agriculture.  The roundtable discussion included explanations of Ohio zoning law, discussion on different approaches to agricultural zoning in Ohio, and recommendations for utilizing zoning to support agriculture.

DATES, LOCAL HOSTS, AND LOCATIONS:

Date: March 7, 2007
Local Host: The Farmland Center
Location: Boston Store, Cuyahoga Valley National Park; Boston, Ohio 

Date: March 8, 2007
Local Host: OSU Extension, Licking County office
Location: Newark Main Library; Newark, Ohio

Date: March 14, 2007
Local Host: OSU Extension, Butler County office
Location: Butler Rural Electric; McGonigle, OH

Date: March 21, 2007
Local Host: OSU Extension, Hancock County office
Location: 7868 County Road 140, Suite B; Findlay, OH