Camp Washington Zoning Shifts to Favor Housing
Owners of 277 properties in four sections should check whether the new designations allow housing and ban tow lots and gas stations on their land.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Commercial
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Cincinnati's Planning Commission approved zoning changes to four sections of Camp Washington covering 277 properties. The changes allow housing and forbid tow lots and gas stations in the affected areas.
Why it matters
Much of Camp Washington was zoned industrial when the first zoning codes were drawn up in 1924, making it difficult to build or rebuild housing in many residential areas. The approved designations are meant to make it easier to build and maintain housing for Cincinnati residents in the neighborhood.
The Cincinnati Planning Commission approved the changes on Friday, covering 277 properties across four sections of Camp Washington. Two areas around Colerain Avenue were zoned Commercial Community-Auto Oriented, which does not allow housing on first floors, while two others were zoned General Manufacturing, which does not allow housing.
The players
Cincinnati Planning Commission
The city body that approves zoning changes and land-use designations for Cincinnati neighborhoods, including Camp Washington.
CWURC
The Camp Washington neighborhood group that counted 18 tow lots in the area and has pushed to address zoning issues.
The details
The planning commission changed the designations of the four areas to Urban Mix-Middle Housing and other designations that make it easier to build and maintain housing. The new designations forbid towing lots and gas stations, and CWURC counted 18 tow lots in the neighborhood. The zoning changes do not require property owners to change current uses of their land, but a property owner must take action to change land use before the new restrictions take effect.
Timeline
1924: First zoning codes drawn up, with much of the neighborhood zoned industrial.
1980s: Neighborhood groups began efforts to fix zoning issues.
November 6, 2026: Cincinnati Planning Commission approved the Camp Washington zoning changes.
The Home Front
The 1924 zoning codes left much of Camp Washington industrial, which constrained where housing could be built for decades. The 2026 Planning Commission approval shifts four sections toward Urban Mix-Middle Housing designations that favor residential building.
If you own property in Camp Washington's affected sections, check with the city about whether the new designations apply to your parcel before making any changes to its use. Changes to land use or any construction work should be handled through a licensed contractor and the appropriate city permitting office.
The takeaway
Camp Washington's zoning changes can make it easier to build housing where older industrial designations once blocked it. If you own property in the affected sections, confirm your parcel's new designation with the city before acting on it.
Further reading
For more on how zoning shapes commercial and mixed-use property in the area, explore Commercial listings and development news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cincinnati Public Radio.
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