Zoning – Dover Township, Ohio

Zoning & Permits

Dover Township zoning regulations are administered by the Township Zoning Inspector. All new construction, additions, accessory structures, and certain land uses require a zoning certificate before work begins. Failure to obtain a required permit may result in fines or removal orders.

Chris Rigano

Township Zoning Inspector

The Zoning Inspector is designated by the Board of Township Trustees to administer and enforce the Dover Township Zoning Resolution. The Inspector reviews permit applications, issues zoning certificates, conducts site inspections, and orders corrective action when violations are found. Residents are encouraged to contact the Zoning Inspector before beginning any project to confirm whether a certificate is required.

Appointed by	Board of Township Trustees
Authority	Zoning Resolution & ORC Chapter 519

BZA

Board of Zoning Appeals

5-Member Appointed Board

The BZA hears appeals of Zoning Inspector decisions, grants variances where literal enforcement would cause undue hardship, and issues conditional use permits. A concurring vote of at least 3 of 5 members is required to reverse an Inspector decision or grant a variance.

Appointed by	Board of Township Trustees
Authority	ORC Chapter 519.13
Chairman	Bill Conklin

Zoning Commission

Township Zoning Commission

The Zoning Commission reviews proposed amendments to the Zoning Resolution and Zoning Map, makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees, and reviews Planned Unit Development plans prior to BZA action. All proposed zoning changes are submitted to the Commission first.

Appointed by	Board of Township Trustees
Authority	ORC Chapter 519.04
Chariman	Tom Morgan

Have a question? Contact the Zoning Inspector before starting any project. When in doubt, a quick call can save time and prevent costly violations. Permits must be posted visibly on the property before work begins.

Dover Township's Zoning Resolution governs how land may be used and developed. It was most recently amended May 5, 2025. Review the full code before planning any project.

📄 View Full Zoning Code (PDF)

Key Highlights

Zoning Districts

The township is divided into four districts:

U-1 Rural — Agriculture, conservation, very low density residential. Min. lot: 2 acres / 250 ft frontage.
R-1 Low Density Residential — Single-family housing only, max 3 dwellings/acre. Min. lot: 1.5 acres (on-site sewer) or 14,520 sq ft (central sewer).
B-2 Local Business — Retail, personal services, offices, eating establishments, residential. Min. lot: 40,000 sq ft (on-site sewer).
M-2 Heavy Manufacturing — Manufacturing, warehousing, transport terminals, research. Min. lot: 120,000 sq ft.

Setback Requirements

Minimum yard dimensions (feet) by district:

District	Front	Rear	Each Side
U-1 Rural	50'	40'	5' (sum 10')
R-1 Residential	35'	40'	5' (sum 10')
B-2 Business	30'	30'	5' (sum 10')
M-2 Manufacturing	80'	50'	20' (sum 50')

On corner lots, the front setback applies to all road right-of-way lines.

Accessory Structures

Garages, barns, sheds, and similar accessory buildings are subject to:

On lots ≤5 acres in platted subdivisions: max 1,000 sq ft and max 20 ft height.
U-1: Max 20 ft height at peak; 5 ft from side and rear lot lines.
R-1 & B-2: Max 15 ft height at peak; 5 ft from side and rear lot lines.
M-2: Max 25 ft height; 10 ft from side, 20 ft from rear lot line.
May be located in the rear yard; front setback of principal structure applies to all corners lots.

Non-Conforming Uses

Lawfully established uses that do not conform to current zoning may continue, subject to these limits:

Cannot be enlarged, expanded, or extended beyond the area occupied at the time of adoption.
Non-conforming land use that ceases for more than 90 days must thereafter conform.
Non-conforming structure destroyed more than 80% of replacement cost cannot be rebuilt non-conforming.
Non-conforming use in a structure abandoned for 6 consecutive months (or 18 months in any 3-year period) loses non-conforming status.

Variances & Appeals

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is a 5-member board appointed by the Trustees for 5-year terms. It hears appeals of Zoning Inspector decisions and considers variance requests.

Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the Zoning Inspector's decision.
A variance requires showing special conditions peculiar to the property — not caused by the applicant — where literal enforcement causes undue hardship.
Public notice required at least 10 days before hearing.
3 of 5 BZA members must concur to grant a variance or reverse an Inspector decision.

Home Occupations

A home occupation is permitted as an incidental use of a dwelling unit, subject to all of the following conditions:

No more than 1 non-family employee on the premises.
No more than 35% of the dwelling's floor area used for the occupation.
No exterior changes or visible evidence of business activity except one non-illuminated sign, max 4 sq ft, mounted flat against the wall.
No traffic beyond what is normal for the residential area; off-street parking required for clients.
Medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis operations are prohibited as home occupations.

Lot Size, Frontage & Dimension Requirements

The following requirements apply to all new lots and development within each zoning district. All districts also prohibit common access drives serving more than two lots.

Requirement	U-1 Rural	R-1 Residential	B-2 Business	M-2 Manufacturing
Minimum Lot Size On-site sewer	2 acres	1.5 acres	40,000 sq. ft.	120,000 sq. ft.
Minimum Lot Size Central/group sewer	2 acres	14,520 sq. ft.	No minimum	120,000 sq. ft.
Minimum Road Frontage On-site sewer	250 ft.	200 ft.	85 ft.	200 ft.
Minimum Road Frontage Central/group sewer	250 ft.	100 ft.	No minimum	200 ft.
Max Depth-to-Width Ratio	3:1 in all districts — no lot shall have a depth more than three times its width
Max Lot Coverage Principal + accessory buildings	25%	25%	50%	50%

Corner lots: On a corner lot, the front setback applies to all road right-of-way lines (Section 525). • Common access drives: No more than two lots may share a common access drive in any district.

Common Permit Types

New residential or commercial construction • Additions & alterations • Accessory structures (garages, barns, sheds) • Fences • Swimming pools (any pool > 1.5 ft depth, except portable pools <12 ft dia. or <100 sq ft) • Signs • Solar energy systems (over 500 watts) • Telecommunication towers

Fee Schedule

Permit Type	Fee
New Residential Construction	$450
Residential Addition	$225
Accessory Building (200 sq. ft. or less)	$50
Accessory Building (greater than 200 sq. ft.)	$150
Pool, Patio, Deck, Fence, or Rooftop Solar	$100
New Commercial Construction	$400 + $0.10/sq. ft. over 1,500 sq. ft.
Appeal / Variance	$300

Penalties for Violation (Section 1025): Violation of any provision of this Resolution — including failure to obtain a required zoning certificate — constitutes a minor misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the violator shall be fined up to $100.00 and shall pay all costs and expenses of the case. Each day a violation continues after receipt of a notice is a separate offense. The owner, tenant, architect, builder, contractor, agent, or any other person who commits, participates in, assists in, or maintains a violation may each be found guilty of a separate offense. The Board of Township Trustees may also take any other lawful action necessary to prevent or remedy a violation.

Use this form to submit a zoning permit request to the Dover Township Zoning Inspector. You will be contacted by email once your application is reviewed.

✓ Your permit application has been submitted successfully. You will receive a confirmation email and be contacted by the Zoning Inspector.

⚠ There was a problem submitting your application. Please check your entries and try again.

Applicant Information

Full Name *

Email Address *

Phone Number

Property Information

Property Address *

Parcel / Tax ID Number

Project Information

Permit Type *

Project Description *

Supporting Documentation

Attach Documents

Include a site plan drawn to scale showing lot dimensions, existing structures, and the proposed work.
Accepted formats: PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC, DOCX • Maximum 16 MB total.

Applicant Signature *

By signing below, you certify that all information in this application is accurate and complete, and you agree to comply with all applicable provisions of the Dover Township Zoning Resolution.

By typing your name, you are applying your legal electronic signature to this submission.

⚠ Please enter your full name as your electronic signature.

What's Required by Permit Type

Completed application & applicant signature
Site plan showing lot dimensions & structure location
Floor plans drawn to scale
Building elevations (all four sides)
Foundation / grading plan
Setback measurements from all lot lines

Completed application & applicant signature
Site plan with parking, drainage & landscaping
Architectural plans & building elevations
Engineered structural drawings
Setback measurements from all lot lines

Completed application & applicant signature
Site plan showing addition footprint
Dimensions of proposed addition / alteration
Existing & proposed floor plans for affected areas
Setback measurements if addition extends closer to lot line

Completed application & applicant signature
Site plan showing exact location on lot
Dimensions of structure (length, width, height)
Setback measurements from all property lines
Building material description

Completed application & applicant signature
Site plan showing fence line location
Fence height, material, and style
Property line survey if boundary is in question

Completed application & applicant signature
Site plan showing pool location & dimensions
Setback measurements from all lot lines
Pool enclosure / fencing plan (required)
Electrical plan if applicable

Completed application & applicant signature
Site plan showing sign location
Sign dimensions & design drawing
Proposed lettering / content
Lighting details (if illuminated)

Completed application & applicant signature
Site plan or roof plan showing panel locations
Equipment specifications & manufacturer data sheets
Electrical single-line diagram
Structural analysis (for rooftop systems)

Contact the Zoning Inspector before submitting
Requirements vary by project type
Completed application & applicant signature required for all permits

All applications must include a site plan drawn to scale and a signed applicant certification. Incomplete applications will be returned without review.

A Zoning Variance is relief from the strict application of the Zoning Resolution where literal enforcement would cause an unnecessary hardship due to special conditions peculiar to the property — not created by the applicant. Variances are reviewed by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). A concurring vote of at least 3 of 5 members is required to grant a variance.

Filing Fee: $300 • Filing Deadline: Applications are accepted year-round. • Public Notice: Posted at least 10 days before the BZA hearing.

✓ Your variance application has been submitted. You will be contacted by the Zoning Inspector with hearing details.

⚠ There was a problem submitting your application. Please check your entries and try again.

Applicant Information

Full Name *

Email Address *

Phone Number

Property Information

Property Address *

Parcel / Tax ID Number

Variance Request Details

Zoning Requirement to be Varied *

Variance Requested *

Basis for Hardship / Special Conditions *

Supporting Documentation

Attach Documents

Include a site plan drawn to scale and any surveys or supporting materials.
Accepted formats: PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC, DOCX • Maximum 16 MB total.

Payment: The $300 filing fee is due at the time of application. You will be contacted with payment instructions after submission.

Applicant Signature *

By signing below, you certify that all information in this variance application is accurate and complete, and you acknowledge the $300 filing fee obligation.

By typing your name, you are applying your legal electronic signature to this submission.

⚠ Please enter your full name as your electronic signature.

Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Zoning Inspector may appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the date of the Inspector's decision. A reversal or modification requires a concurring vote of at least 3 of 5 BZA members.

Filing Fee: $300 • Filing Deadline: Within 60 days of the Inspector's written decision. • Public Notice: Posted at least 10 days before the BZA hearing.

✓ Your appeal has been submitted. You will be contacted by the Zoning Inspector with hearing details.

⚠ There was a problem submitting your appeal. Please check your entries and try again.

Appellant Information

Full Name *

Email Address *

Phone Number

Property Information

Property Address *

Parcel / Tax ID Number

Appeal Details

Date of Inspector's Decision *

Decision Being Appealed *

Grounds for Appeal *

Conditional Use

I am also requesting a Conditional Use Permit in connection with this appeal.

Supporting Documentation

Attach Documents

Include copies of the Inspector's written decision, any correspondence, site plans, or other relevant materials.
Accepted formats: PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC, DOCX • Maximum 16 MB total.

Payment: The $300 filing fee is due at the time of application. You will be contacted with payment instructions after submission.

Appellant Signature *

By signing below, you certify that all information in this appeal is accurate and complete, that you are an aggrieved party to the Zoning Inspector's decision, and you acknowledge the $300 filing fee obligation.

By typing your name, you are applying your legal electronic signature to this submission.

⚠ Please enter your full name as your electronic signature.

The zoning map shows the district boundaries throughout Dover Township. Use it to identify the zoning classification for your parcel before planning a project.

📄 Download Zoning Map (PDF)

Note: The official zoning map is maintained by the Zoning Inspector. For the most current district boundaries or to confirm your parcel's zoning classification, contact Chris Rigano, Township Zoning Inspector.