Columbus does not levy a citywide impact fee on new residential construction, including ADUs. Costs are limited to standard building, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permit fees under Columbus City Code Title 41, plus separate utility connection charges from Columbus Division of Water, Division of Sewerage and Drainage, and the relevant electric and gas providers. Columbus City School District impact fees do not apply.
Ohio is one of only a handful of states without authorizing legislation for general residential impact fees, and Columbus has not adopted any. As a result, an ADU in Columbus does not pay separate transportation, school, parks, or general impact fees. Costs to permit an ADU are limited to: (1) Building permit fees under City Code Title 41 (Building Code), generally calculated on construction valuation; (2) Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permit fees, each separate; (3) Plan-review fees; (4) Zoning Clearance Certificate fees under Title 33; (5) Tap and connection fees for Columbus Division of Water (if a new water meter is installed) and Division of Sewerage and Drainage (if a separate sewer lateral is connected) - these can be significant ($3,000-$10,000+ depending on size and location); (6) Electric and gas provider connection fees if a new service is installed (AEP Ohio, Columbia Gas of Ohio). The 2025 Title 33 ADU Pilot does not impose any new fee structure. Properties in Capital Improvements districts or specific overlay areas may have additional charges, but these are not impact fees in the legal sense.
Failure to pay permit fees prevents issuance. Failure to pay utility tap fees prevents service connection. No specific 'impact fee violation' exists since no impact fee is charged.
Columbus, OH
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Columbus, OH
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See how Columbus's adu impact fees rules stack up against other locations.
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