Exurban Change Program - EX-5 - Agricultural Zoning in Ohio: Conditions and Recommendations

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

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)