Hamilton County Model Zoning Code
- Adoption dates
- Endorsed by Regional Planning Commission: January 2023
- Project links
- Cleves Version of Model Zoning Code (PDF)
Goal: Create a model zoning code for use by the county’s cities, villages, and townships that would be flexible and exhibit user-friendliness.
Hamilton County hired Crossroads Community Planning to create a model zoning code for its smaller communities. Crossroads created a model code template that provided communities with the ability to select the sections that were most appropriate and beneficial for them.
Community Outreach
Crossroads used a multi-step information-gathering process to identify the needs and challenges of the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (HCRPC) and its constituent communities. A one-day series of stakeholder interviews captured both community and developer-business perspectives. Crossroads also formed a steering committee of HCRPC staff, Hamilton County Planning and Development staff, and representatives from jurisdictions throughout the county to guide the model code’s development and review each draft.
Meeting Community Needs
Crossroads recognizes the value of teamwork and quality communication during the drafting process. In coordination with the Hamilton County Subdivision Review Board and the County’s Housing Strategy recommendations, we incorporated regulations supporting diverse housing options and specialized districts, including overlays and planned unit developments. The model code offers options for vertically arranged two- and three-unit homes that retain a single-family appearance, increased density when design standards ensure compatibility with surrounding development, and accessory dwelling units that support multigenerational living on a single lot. It also includes tools to encourage infill housing by reducing barriers created by nonconforming lots, a concern raised by several communities.
