ADU rules in Columbus, OH — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Columbus passed Ordinance 2526-2025 (effective late 2025) amending Title 33 (Zoning Code) to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by right in all residential and apartment districts (Chapters 3332 and 3333). The ordinance removes most variance hurdles, exempts ADUs from added parking, frontage, and lot-width requirements, and permits internal (basement/attic), attached (above garage), and detached ADU types. ADUs must remain clearly accessory and subordinate in scale to the principal dwelling.
Under Ohio R.C. 713.06 et seq., municipalities like Columbus exercise zoning authority through their charter. Columbus enacted Ordinance 2526-2025 (sponsored by Otto Beatty III, passed November 26, 2025) as part of the 'Housing for All' Zoning Code Update, amending Title 33 of the Columbus City Codes. The ordinance amends Chapters 3332 (Residential Districts) and 3333 (Apartment Residential Districts) and adds new sections including 3332.25, 3332.28, 3332.283, 3332.355, 3333.22, and 3333.325 to allow ADUs by right. ADUs are now permitted in all R, AR, and SR zone districts. Three ADU types are recognized: internal (within the principal dwelling, including basements and attics), attached (such as above-garage units), and detached (carriage houses, separate cottages). The ordinance exempts ADUs from additional off-street parking, frontage, and lot width requirements, while the principal dwelling must continue to meet existing standards. Only one ADU is permitted per lot. Building, life-safety, and Ohio Residential Code (OAC 4101:8) requirements still apply, and parcels in historic districts remain subject to the Historic Resources Commission review. Permits are issued by the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (614-645-7433); zoning clearance precedes building permit issuance.
Construction of an ADU without zoning clearance and a building permit violates Title 33 and Title 41 (Building Code) of the Columbus City Codes and can result in stop-work orders, civil fines, and required after-the-fact compliance. Columbus Code Enforcement may issue notices of violation under Chapter 4501; continued non-compliance may be referred to the Columbus Environmental Court (Franklin County Municipal Court).
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