Springfield, Ohio

The City of Springfield engaged ZoneCo to lead a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code with a clear mandate: transform a patchwork of decades-old regulations into a modern, legally defensible, and user-friendly framework that advances the city’s goals for housing, economic development, and quality of place. The project launched with a diagnostic audit that mapped every friction point in the existing ordinance—conflicting definitions, discretionary bottlenecks, ambiguous procedures, and standards that no longer reflected Springfield’s built form or policy priorities. By pairing this legal and technical assessment with a robust round of stakeholder interviews, ZoneCo established a shared understanding of the code’s pain points and the outcomes residents and businesses wanted most.

From the outset, ZoneCo’s approach emphasized clarity and design. The new code reorganizes content into a logical, intuitive structure with plain-language purpose statements, consolidated use tables, and graphics that explain standards at a glance. Where the prior code relied on scattered overlays and case-by-case relief, the rewrite introduces context-based districts and calibrated form standards—height, frontage, and massing—that align with Springfield’s traditional neighborhoods and emerging corridors. The result is a code that implements the comprehensive plan’s vision instead of standing apart from it.

Housing and economic vitality sit at the center of the reform. The rewrite reduces barriers to “missing middle” housing by legalizing a broader range of small-scale types and simplifying approval paths for context-appropriate infill. Parking requirements—long a brake on redevelopment—are right-sized, with targeted reductions near transit, shared-parking allowances, and clear off-site and on-street credits. For small businesses and adaptive reuse, the code trims conditional use triggers, clarifies home-occupation rules, and creates an expedited, administrative track for predictable, low-impact proposals.

Process matters as much as policy. ZoneCo streamlined development review by defining decision-maker roles, standardizing application submittals, and tying every approval to transparent, objective criteria. Timelines are published and enforceable; findings are anchored to measurable standards; and appeals follow a consistent path. This procedural clarity reduces uncertainty for applicants and staff, and it strengthens legal defensibility by aligning decisions with clear evidentiary requirements.

Resilience and design quality are elevated without adding red tape. The code integrates floodplain, tree, and stormwater provisions with site design standards, offers performance-based options for green infrastructure, and incorporates context-sensitive setbacks that improve the public realm. Historic areas receive tailored standards that respect established character while accommodating contemporary building systems and accessibility.

Meaningful engagement shaped the draft. ZoneCo worked with Springfield to host open houses, small-group workshops, and online surveys, translating technical choices—such as height transitions or use permissions—into plain-language tradeoffs. Feedback cycles were built into each milestone, allowing the team to calibrate standards and remove unintended barriers before adoption.

Implementation did not stop on the day the ordinance passed. The project included a transition memo, staff training, a digital code format, and checklists that turn rules into repeatable steps. Early metrics—permit processing time, administrative approvals, and uptake of small-scale housing—provide a feedback loop for future amendments.

In sum, Springfield’s zoning code rewrite demonstrates how a well-crafted, graphic, and principled ordinance can reduce friction, expand housing choices, support local enterprise, and protect community character. By aligning legal rigor with design clarity and community priorities, ZoneCo helped Springfield convert planning goals into everyday outcomes.

Read the new Springfield Zoning Code HERE.