Franklin County Issue 40 — Brown Township (unincorporated area) – Proposed Zoning Plan

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Brown Township voters

What it does
Brown Township (unincorporated area) – Proposed Zoning Plan — A proposed zoning plan for the unincorporate area of Brown Township
A YES vote means
The proposed zoning plan for the unincorporated area of Brown Township would be adopted.
A NO vote means
The proposed zoning plan for the unincorporated area of Brown Township would not be adopted.
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean
Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

  • Brown Township does not have its own zoning. Its unincorporated area uses Franklin County zoning, administered by the county's Economic Development and Planning Department.

If it passes

  • YES would put into effect the township's own Zoning Resolution and zoning map for the unincorporated area, adopted by the Board of Township Trustees. Under Ohio law it takes effect once the Board of Elections certifies the result.
  • The draft resolution sets two base districts: Rural Conservation (5-acre minimum lots) and Rural Transition (3-acre minimum lots). It adds a Conservation Development overlay that may be applied, and an Environmental Protection overlay that is mandatory in Big Darby Accord conservation areas and other environmentally sensitive areas.
  • The township would have its own zoning inspector, zoning commission and board of zoning appeals.
  • Lawfully existing lots, buildings and uses that do not fit the new rules could continue as non-conforming; the draft says it does not require them to be removed or discontinued within any time period. Agriculture on lots over 5 acres stays exempt as provided by state law.
  • NO would leave Franklin County zoning in place in the unincorporated township.

Who would notice

Residents and property owners in the unincorporated part of Brown Township (not in a city or village), including anyone planning to build, subdivide or change a land use there.

How it got here

The Brown Township Trustees passed the resolution to submit the zoning plan to voters on August 3, 2026.

Ohio law (ORC 519.11) requires a township zoning plan to be approved by a majority of voters in the unincorporated area before it takes effect.

The project page linked from the township's Issue 40 page says the resolution was developed by the township's planning consultant, Verdantas, to carry out its 2024 Comprehensive Plan; the work was funded by an Ohio Department of Development Housing Technical Assistance Program grant.

Written by SpectrumVote from 6 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

According to the Franklin County Board of Elections notice, the Brown Township Trustees passed the resolution placing this zoning plan on the ballot on August 3, 2026.

The notice describes the plan as a zoning resolution under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 519 that divides the township's unincorporated area into zoning districts, with uniform rules for each class of building within a district.

It says district boundaries are to be read, where ambiguous, in line with the township's land use plans, particularly the Brown Township Comprehensive Plan.

Put on the ballot by Brown Township Board of Trustees, resolution passed August 3, 2026.

From official source.

See your members of Congress and every race and measure on your ballot in Franklin County, from your address. Your address stays in your browser.Look up my races

Next elections here

Also on Franklin County ballots

All Franklin County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Franklin County Issue 40 mean?
The proposed zoning plan for the unincorporated area of Brown Township would be adopted.
What does a NO vote on Franklin County Issue 40 mean?
The proposed zoning plan for the unincorporated area of Brown Township would not be adopted.
Who votes on this?
Voters living in the unincorporated areas of Brown Township, not those living inside a municipality.
Would my existing house, farm or business have to change?
The draft resolution lets lawful existing uses, structures and lots continue as non-conforming, and says it does not require them to be removed or discontinued within any time period.
When would it take effect?
Ohio law says an approved township zoning resolution takes immediate effect upon certification of the result by the board of elections.
Where can I read the full plan?
The township links the proposed Zoning Resolution and Zoning Map from its Issue 40 page.
How many votes does Franklin County Issue 40 need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Franklin County Issue 40?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Franklin County ballot.

See something wrong on this page? Report a problem · Corrections