Zoning Districts

Galion has several zoning districts. Click the Zoning Map link on the right to see where districts are located. The Permitted Uses for each district are included below. In addition, each district has Accessory Uses and Conditional Uses which are defined in the Codified Ordinances.

If you need a conditional use, fill out a Conditional Use form and the Planning and Zoning Commission will approve or deny it. If you need a use that is not allowable in your zoning district, you may submit a Similar Use form.

Zoning Districts

RE - Rural Estate District

  • Agricultural uses as defined in Chapter 1103, along with customary agricultural buildings and structures incidental to the carrying out of the principal agricultural activity, and/or no more than one single-family detached dwelling.
  • One-family detached non-farm dwellings.
  • Public parks and nature preserves.
  • Projects specifically designed for watershed protection, conservation of water or soils for flood control.
  • Greenhouses and nurseries, including tree farms and woodlots.

R-1A - Single-Family Residential District

  • One-family detached dwelling.
  • Public parks and open space.
  • Public parks and playgrounds of less than one (1) acre in size.

R-1B - Single-Family Residential District

  • One-family detached dwelling.
  • Public parks and open space.
  • Public parks and playgrounds of less than one (1) acre in size.

R-1C - Historic Neighborhood Single-Family Residential District

  • One-family detached dwelling.
  • Public parks, playgrounds and open space.

R1-D - Single Family Residential

  • One-family detached dwelling.
  • One-family individual manufactured homes as defined by Chapter 1103, built within the last ten (10) years, and placed on a permanent foundation.
  • Public or private parks or playgrounds.

MH-R -  Manufactured Home Residential District

  • One-family detached dwellings.
  • Manufactured home communities, provided a Site Plan is approved, pursuant to Section 1127.02(g) of this Ordinance.
  • Individual manufactured homes not considered as permanently sited manufactured homes on single lots, provided such homes are placed on a permanent foundation as defined in Chapter 1103.
  • Public or private parks or playgrounds.

RM - Residential Multiple Family District

  • Single family dwellings.
  • Common wall and zero lot line (ZLL) dwelling units having at least 3,630 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit (12 dwelling units per acre) provided a Site Plan, pursuant to Section 1127.02(g) is submitted
  • Multiple family structures having at least 3,630 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit (12 units/acre) and twenty (20) or less dwellings per structure, including independent senior and retirement housing.
  • Public or private parks, playgrounds and open space.

RO - Residential Office District

  • Any use or structure as specified in the R-1C District.
  • Two family dwellings.

LC - Limited Commercial District

  • Administrative, business or professional offices of not more than 5,000 square feet of gross floor area.
  • Retail Stores of not more than 5,000 square feet of gross floor area, primarily engaged in selling merchandise for personal or household consumption, and rendering services incidental to the sale of those goods; provided all storage and display of merchandise shall be within the principal structure; and not including drive-through establishments, or businesses selling gasoline or similar fuels. 
  • Personal Services, involving the care of the person and his/her personal effects, consisting of consumer services generally involving the care and maintenance of tangible personal property, except for motor vehicles. All structures shall have a gross floor area of not more than 5,000 square feet.

GC - General Commercial District

  • Administrative and business offices not carrying on retail trade with the public and having no stock of goods maintained for sale to customers.
  • Retail Stores primarily engaged in selling merchandise for personal or household consumption.
  • Personal Services, involving the care of the person and his/her personal effects, including consumer services generally involving the care and maintenance of tangible property or the provision of tangible services for personal consumption.
  • Business Services engaged in the providing of services to business establishments on a fee or contract basis, consulting services, protective services, office equipment rental, lease or purchase, commercial research and development.
  • Commercial recreational facilities such as community and public swimming pools, skating rinks, bowling alleys, physical fitness centers.
  • Lumber and home improvement sales.
  • Motor vehicle sales.
  • Hotels and motels.
  • Garden centers.
  • Carry out food and beverage establishments with drive-through facilities.
  • Medical offices and clinics, including nursing and/or convalescent facilities.
  • Similar uses, as determined by the Planning Commission, in accordance with the provisions by Section 1127.02(e) of this Ordinance.

HS -  Health Services District

  • Hospitals and facilities for human medical care.
  • Residential facilities for persons employed in the medical profession.
  • One-family detached dwellings subject to the development standards of the R1-B District.

U - Uptowne District

  • Any use specified as a permitted use in Sections 1147.02 (a) through (d), but not including uses with drive-through facilities.
  • Hotels and Bed-and-Breakfast Establishments.
  • Community facilities such as governmental offices, post office, libraries, museums, private schools, public parks and similar uses.
  • Churches and places of public assembly.
  • Off-street parking areas.
  • Outside trade areas associated with retail establishments
  • Outside dining areas associated with establishments which otherwise serve food and drink, provided that said dining areas adhere to the guidelines as outlined in Section 1151.05.
  • Similar Uses, which conform to the purpose of the Uptowne District, as determined by the Planning Commission in accordance with the provisions of Section 1127.02(e) of this Ordinance.

HC -  Highway Commerce District

Generally, permitted uses within the Highway Commerce District shall not involve storage of inventory or operations outside an enclosed building, and shall demonstrate the ability to efficiently address large volumes of traffic in a manner coordinated with adjacent uses. Such permitted uses may include:

  • Retail sales and service, consisting of firms involved with the sale, lease or rent of products or goods to the general public and/or providing on-site product repair or services for such goods.
  • Personal services consisting of firms providing personal services or entertainment to the general public, including restaurants, banks and/or savings and loans, credit unions, medical and related offices, and similar establishments.
  • Hotels and motels
  • General office activities, consisting of facilities where activities are conducted in an office setting and generally focus on business services.
  • Warehousing and distribution, consisting of firms involved with the storage and/or movement of goods.
  • Vehicle service, consisting of firms servicing automobiles, trucks and other commercial and/or consumer vehicles, including motorcycles, boats and/or recreational vehicles.
  • Research and development uses involved with the testing, laboratory and minor fabrication/assembly operations.

ES -  Educational Services District

  • Public schools, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, vocational schools, or colleges/universities.
  • Any non-educational uses to which a permitted public school may be put pursuant to contract, lease, or permission, including but not limited to public gatherings, community meetings, religious assembly, and service as a polling location, provided that such uses are limited to no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the gross square footage of any existing school building and may only be conducted on an intermittent basis.
  • Structures customarily associated with permitted uses, including playgrounds; unlighted athletic fields and tracks; and outdoor education-related facilities.

GI - General Industrial District

  • Public facilities consisting of buildings or structures housing essential services.
  • Manufacturing, compounding, processing, assembling, packaging, or treatment of goods, materials, and products, consistent with the purpose of the GI District.
  • Warehousing, wholesale establishments, manufacturing retail outlets, distribution and related uses, including truck and transfer terminals.
  • Industrial product sales or service, consisting of firms engaged in the sale, rent or lease of products intended for industrial or commercial users, or the repair and/or servicing of industrial or commercial machinery, equipment or products.
  • Firms servicing automobiles, trucks or other vehicles.
  • Administrative, professional and business offices associated with and incidental to another permitted use.
  • Similar uses, as determined by the Planning Commission in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1127 of this Ordinance, and the purposes of the General Industrial District.

IP - Industrial Park District

  • General office activities, consisting of facilities where activities are conducted in an office setting and generally focus on business services.
  • Personal services, consisting of firms providing personal services or entertainment to the general public, including restaurants, banks and/or savings and loans, credit unions, hotels or motels, medical and related offices, and similar establishments.
  • Manufacturing, compounding, processing, assembling, packaging, or treatment of goods, materials, and products.
  • Warehousing and distribution, consisting of firms involved with the storage and/or movement of goods.
  • Industrial product sales or service, consisting of firms engaged in the sale, rent or lease of products intended for industrial or commercial users, or the repair and/or servicing of industrial or commercial machinery, equipment or products.
  • Similar uses, as determined by the Planning Commission in accordance with the provisions of Section 1127.02(e) of this Ordinance, and the purpose of the IP District.