Council puts zoning change for single-room occupancy conversions on first reading after public debate

The Washington Court House City Council on April 23 placed Ordinance 7-2025 on first reading, a proposed amendment to the city zoning code that would add a substitution classification to allow single-room-occupancy (SRO) uses for certain nonconforming structures after Board of Zoning Appeals review.

The change would not automatically rezone properties or approve specific conversions. Instead, the ordinance would permit owners of qualifying nonconforming structures in residential zones to apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for an SRO designation. The BZA would be required to hold a public hearing and could impose reasonable conditions, the council and city attorney said.

Why it matters: Council members and residents said the measure could create more low-cost rental options but also raised questions about neighborhood impacts and oversight. Supporters said the BZA process creates a local…