Franklin County, OH Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Overlay
- Smart Growth Overlay (SGO) corridors
- Setback, primary street
- 15 feet minimum
- Setback, other lot line
- 10 feet minimum
- Amended
- March 12, 2024
Summary
Bars and restaurants inside Franklin County's Smart Growth Overlay must keep outdoor dining space at least 15 feet from a primary street and at least 10 feet from any other public way or residential lot line.
Outdoor dining - The setback for activity occurring outside a structure in conjunction with a bar or restaurant shall be a minimum of 15 feet along a primary street; and a minimum of ten (10) feet along any other public way or along a lot line that borders (disregarding alleys) a residentially-zoned or used property.
d) Other outside-occurring activities - When activity, other than outdoor dining, occurs outside of a structure, such as a car sales lot, miniature golf facility, or mulch sales, the setback for such activity shall be a minimum of 25 feet along a primary street; and a minimum of ten (10) feet along any other public way or along a lot line that borders (disregarding alleys) a residentially-zoned or used property.
Full Breakdown
The Smart Growth Overlay's building design standards, amended by BOC Resolution #1018-24 on March 12, 2024, set outdoor dining setbacks separately from other outdoor activity setbacks. A bar or restaurant's outside dining area must sit back a minimum of 15 feet along a primary street and a minimum of 10 feet along any other public way or a lot line bordering residentially-zoned or used property. The overlay applies only along the listed primary streets in the district, such as Cleveland Avenue and Georgesville Road, not countywide.
Violations & Fines
Placing outdoor dining tables closer than the required setback is a misdemeanor zoning violation under §710.01, enforced by the Administrative Officer through the Certificate of Zoning Compliance process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this setback apply to every restaurant patio in the county?
What if the patio borders a house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin County
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