Franklin County, OH Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated township areas only
- Watershed
- Alum Creek & Big Walnut Creek
- Setback effective
- November 11, 2011
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, ORC §303.09
Summary
Franklin County's zoning resolution bars new stormwater management and drainage facilities inside riparian setbacks along the Alum Creek and Big Walnut Creek watersheds, keeping the streamside buffer clear of pipes, ponds and outfalls.
Stormwater management and drainage facilities including appurtenances thereto are prohibited within riparian setbacks.
h) Sediment and Erosion Controls. No structural sediment controls, such as a silt fence, a sediment settling pond, or other structural post-construction controls, may be used in a stream or the delineated setback, except as permitted in Section 655.124.
Full Breakdown
Under the county Zoning Resolution's riparian setback district, effective November 11, 2011, any use not on the permitted-uses list is barred, and stormwater management and drainage facilities are named explicitly among the prohibited uses. The setback runs along designated watercourses in the Alum Creek and Big Walnut Creek watersheds. A narrow exception lets conduits from off-site stormwater facilities discharge through the setback under §655.144(b). This district reaches only unincorporated township land, not Columbus or any incorporated city in the county.
Violations & Fines
Violating the setback restrictions is a misdemeanor under Zoning Resolution §710.01, enforced by the Administrative Officer, who can order work stopped and refer cases to the county prosecutor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Columbus or Dublin?
Can a detention facility drain through the setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin County
Compare Franklin County to another location·View the Ohio environmental rules overview
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