Ohio

Ohio's major cities are updating their zoning codes to accommodate accessory dwelling units. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati have adopted or are developing ADU ordinances as part of their housing strategies. ADU Pass helps Ohio homeowners handle the permit process so they can add housing on their property.

1,595 ZIP codes
89 Counties
955 Cities

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State ADU details

State insurance regimes

Ohio operates the Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting Association (OFP), the state's residual property-insurance market for residential and commercial property that has been declined by at least two voluntary-market insurers. OFP is authorized under O.R.C. Chapter 3929 and writes basic fire-and-extended-coverage policies statewide. The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) regulates rates and forms. Ohio does not operate a wind pool — tornado, hail, and severe-thunderstorm risk are reflected in admitted-market rates rather than via a separate catastrophe pool.

checked 2026-04-26

Known state issues (1)

  • policy-review (since 2023-08) — Cincinnati's Ordinance 0266-2023 and Columbus's November 2025 zoning code update legalize ADUs in those two large markets. Implementation guidance, permit fees, and pre-approved plan catalogs are still being developed at the city level. ADU production volume in Ohio is presently concentrated in these two cities; statewide aggregates will reflect that skew until other Ohio jurisdictions follow. (source)
Federal (United States) — ADU-relevant rules and programs

Federal ADU law

The United States has no federal statute that directly regulates accessory dwelling unit entitlement or design. Land-use authority over ADUs resides with states and local governments under the traditional police power. Federal engagement is limited to financing (Fannie/Freddie/FHA/VA/USDA), flood insurance (FEMA/NFIP), and discretionary housing programs (HUD), which are recorded in sibling sections of this file.

checked 2026-04-20

Federal financing programs

Federal housing-finance agencies and GSEs set nationwide underwriting rules that govern whether an ADU can be financed, appraised, and counted toward mortgage qualifying income. The relevant actors are Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA (HUD), VA, and USDA Rural Development.

checked 2026-04-20

Federal tax credits

There is no ADU-specific federal tax credit. ADUs may incidentally qualify for existing federal energy-efficiency and clean-energy tax credits when the ADU construction includes qualifying measures.

checked 2026-04-20

Federal housing programs

HUD administers several discretionary programs that can fund ADU-related activity at the grantee's election, but none is an ADU-specific program.

checked 2026-04-20

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