The City of Centerville carries out the policies of the Comprehensive Plan by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within the City. This Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the community. More specifically, the purpose of this UDO is to:

   A.   Provide standards and guidelines for the continuing orderly growth and development of the City;

   B.   Conserve and protect the City's natural, cultural and historic resources;

   C.   Ensure that proposed development and new land uses conserve energy and natural resources;

   D.   Create a comprehensive and stable pattern of land uses upon which to plan transportation, water supply, sewerage, energy, and other public facilities and utilities;

   E.   Ensure that proposed development is of human scale, pedestrian-oriented, and designed to create attractive streetscapes and pedestrian spaces;   

   F.   Minimize vehicle traffic by providing for a mixture of land uses, pedestrian-oriented development, compact community form, safe and effective traffic circulation, and adequate on- and off-street parking facilities;

   G.   Provide neighborhoods with a variety of housing types to serve the needs of a diverse population; and

   H.   Ensure compatibility between different types of development and land uses.

   This Unified Development Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "Unified Development Ordinance of the City of Centerville, Ohio," the "UDO," the "Unified Development Ordinance," or just the "Ordinance."

   The authority to adopt this UDO within the City of Centerville, Ohio, is derived from the authority provided under Article 5 of the Charter of the City of Centerville, Ohio and from the powers granted and limitations imposed by the Ohio Revised Code. Whenever the Charter or other laws referenced in this UDO have been amended or superseded, this UDO shall be considered amended in reference to the new or revised Charter or other laws.

   This UDO shall apply to all land and land development within the incorporated area of the City of Centerville, Ohio. The City may exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction for a distance of up to 3 miles of its corporate limits if county or township zoning is not in effect within the area as provided in Section 711.09 of the Ohio Revised Code and the City has adopted a major thoroughfare, parks, and public open space plan for the territory within the City limits and within three miles of the City. The Planning Commission may receive advice from the county or regional planning commission upon all subdivisions plats located within 3 miles of the corporate limits.

   This UDO was enacted by Ordinance No. 14-08, adopted by the Centerville City Council on December 15, 2008, and shall become effective on January 15, 2009.

   The following Ordinances are hereby repealed:

   Ordinance Number 11-86, An Ordinance Enacting Revised Zoning Districts and Regulations for the City of Centerville, Ohio in Accordance with the provisions of Chapter 713 of the Ohio Revised Code adopted on July 21, 1986 and all amendments thereto;

   Chapter 838, Adult Entertainment, of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   Part 12, Title Four, Subdivision Regulations, of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   Chapter 1202, Planning Commission of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   Chapter 1204, Parklands, of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   Chapter 1206, Landmarks, of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   Chapter 1460, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   Chapter 1462, Flood Damage Prevention, of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   Chapter 1466, Outdoor Dish-Type Antennas, of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   Chapter 1468, Outdoor Illumination, of the Centerville Municipal Code;

   This UDO and the referenced Official Zoning Map hereby replace all stated Sections, Chapters, and Ordinances of the Centerville Municipal Code.

   To the extent that the provisions of this UDO are the same in substance as the previously adopted provisions that they replace in the zoning ordinances, they shall be considered as continuations thereof and not as new enactments unless otherwise specifically provided. In particular, a situation that did not constitute a lawful, non-conforming situation under the previously adopted zoning ordinance does not achieve lawful nonconforming status under this chapter merely by the repeal of the zoning ordinance.

The Unified Development Ordinance, as established in this chapter, has been developed in accordance with"Centerville Forward," a Comprehensive Plan for the purpose of promoting health, safety, and the general welfare of the community. It is intended to consolidate—in one place and in logical order without unnecessary duplication—all of the regulations pertaining to land use and development. It is designed to make it possible for all of those concerned with land use and development to have access to all city legislation with respect thereto in one convenient document which is capable of being published and distributed as a separate and comprehensive segment of the City code as a whole. (Ord. 15-25)

   A.   Article 1, General Provisions, establishes the purpose of the UDO, the authority to administer and enforce the UDO provisions, the relationship to existing ordinances, and ordinance effective date.

   B.   Article 3, Administration, establishes the various administrative agencies involved in the development approval process, as well as the role of administrative and legislative bodies.

   C.   Article 5, Development Procedures, is designed to consolidate the location of regulations governing the processing of permits for the development of land. The purpose is to ensure that notification and procedures comply with state enabling legislation, provide ample opportunity for public participation in the land development process, provide for the efficient and timely processing of development permits, and to promote the readability of the document for the general public and for applicants requesting a permit.

   D.   Article 7, Districts and Use Standards, identifies the various residential, commercial, industrial and planned districts and the uses permitted within each district as well as the appropriate development standards.

   E.   Article 9, Development Standards, consolidates the substantive standards relating to the issuance of permits for zoning and subdivision approval in order to provide clarity and certainty in the development approval process.

   F.   Article 11, Definitions, is established in order to provide guidance to readers of this code, while reserving the balance of the code for substantive standards.

   In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this UDO shall be the minimum requirements, unless otherwise noted and shall be deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted to the City under its Charter and Ordinances or under State Statutes.

   It is not intended by this Ordinance to repeal, abrogate, annul, or in any way impair or interfere with any existing ordinances or provisions of law, or with any rules, regulations or permits previously adopted or issued pursuant to law, relating to the use of buildings and land, except as provided for in Section 1.11 herein.

   Where this Ordinance imposes a greater restriction on the use of buildings or premises, or on the heights of buildings, or requires larger yards, courts, or other open spaces than are imposed or required by such existing provisions, the provisions of this Ordinance shall prevail and control to the extent permitted by law.

   The UDO contains graphics, pictures, illustrations and drawings in order to assist the reader in understanding and applying the regulations. However, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between the text of this ordinance and any such graphic, picture, illustration or drawing, the text shall control unless otherwise provided in the specific section.

The"Centerville Forward" Comprehensive Plan for the City of Centerville, or Comprehensive Plan as referenced in the UDO, was adopted on June 16, 2025, and as amended. It establishes the goals, objectives and strategies that serve as a basis for the UDO. All regulations or amendments adopted pursuant to this Ordinance shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan as adopted and revised or updated. In cases of inconsistency with other regulations or amendments, the UDO regulations shall prevail. (Ord. 15-25)

   Except as specified herein, no land shall be subdivided, no building, structure, premises, or part thereof shall be used, occupied, located, moved, erected, constructed, reconstructed, converted, extended, enlarged, or altered except in conformity and full compliance with the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located.

   City Council shall establish by ordinance a schedule of fees for all permits and applications required by the UDO. In so doing, the City Council shall consider the recommendations of the City Planner with respect to actual administrative costs. Fees shall increase 50% for repeat violations of Article 5.09(D), Certificates of Zoning Compliance. (Ord. 15-16)

   Each chapter, section, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or other divisible part of the UDO is hereby declared to be severable. If any such chapter, section, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or other divisible part of the UDO is declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid (by any court of competent jurisdiction in a valid judgment or decree), such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect any of the remaining chapters, sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or other divisible parts of the UDO.