Commissioners adopt broad updates to Fulton County Rural Zoning Resolution, adding EV charging, solar rules and reorganizing document

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 2-0 on Aug. 13 to adopt a substantially rewritten Rural Zoning Resolution, updating the county's 2011 rules to reflect current state law and new land-use considerations. The revisions, prepared by Zoning Solutions and presented by Regional Planning Director Christy Shadbolt, reorganize the document for readability and add or clarify uses and standards across districts.

Among the specific changes listed in the presentation and the adopted resolution are updated agricultural provisions to align with the Ohio Revised Code; added language allowing EV charging stations in nonresidential districts; solar regulations for township-regulated solar uses; clarified fence height rules and a new explanatory graphic; revised industrial district use tables that designate higher-intensity uses (for example, outdoor storage) as conditional; telecommunication tower setback updates; and revamped parking guidelines intended to provide flexibility and discourage excessive unused parking.

Commissioner Jeff Rupp praised the effort and the time spent preparing the revision. No members of the public testified at the hearing. The resolution directs filing and publication steps required under ORC 303.12 and brings administrative sections, processes and definitions into a consolidated format intended to simplify permitting and review procedures.