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The Copley Township Department of Community & Economic Development manages the Zoning actions of the Township. Zoning actions include, but are not limited to Zoning Maps, Zoning Applications and Permits, and request for hearings set forth by the Board of Zoning Appeals and Zoning Commission, as well as meeting requests set forth by the Architectural Review Board. 

Copley Township partners with county agencies including the Summit County Department of Building Standards, the Summit County Engineer’s Office, Summit Soil & Water Conservation District, Summit County Public Health, and when necessary, the OH Environmental Protection Agency and the US Army Corp of Engineers. 

Review the Development Checklist before you being a Commercial Project in Copley Township. 

Contact Shawna Gfroerer, Zoning Inspector, for questions regarding Zoning Permits & Applications, sgfroerer@copley.oh.us, or 330.666.0108.

RESIDENTIAL PERMITTING LARGE

RESIDENTIAL ZONING CERTIFICATE

A Zoning Certificate Application is required for:

New Home Construction
Home Additions
Accessory Buildings (Sheds-All Types)
Decks
Pools
Gazebos
Other residential projects as needed

STEP 1: Health approval must be obtained for any project proposed for a parcel which operates on a septic system. Summit County Public Health Building & Zoning Application

STEP 2: A Zoning Certificate is required prior to the issuance of a Building Permit. 

STEP 3: Apply for a Building Permit through the Summit County Building. 
Summit County Engineer New Home Construction Checklist

COMMERCIAL PERMITTING LARGE

COMMERCIAL ZONING CERTIFICATE/ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD

A Site Plan is required for all Commercial Project Reviews. All Site Plans are reviewed by the Architectural Review Board. 

MAJOR SITE PLAN APPLICATION: Required for all new commercial construction and commercial additions. For most major projects, the following internal agencies will conduct a review: Copley Township Fire, Police, Service and Community & Economic Development. Additionally for most projects, the following external agencies will conduct a review: Summit County Soil & Water, Summit County Engineer’s Office and the Summit County Building Department. In some cases, site plans also require review by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and/or the US Army Corp of Engineers. An Application for Construction must be submitted along with the Major Site Plan Application.

MINOR SITE PLAN APPLICATION: Required for all signs, landscape plans, parking improvements, accessory buildings and other minor commercial exterior improvements. Internal/external agency review as needed. A Zoning Certificate Application must be submitted along with the Minor Site Plan Application.

MODIFIED SITE PLAN APPLICATION: Required for all interior renovations, new tenant occupancy and change of business use. Internal/external agency review as needed. An Application for Construction must be submitted along with the Modified Site Plan Application if applicable.

STEP 1: Schedule a meeting with the Zoning Inspector to review the application prior to placement on an Architectural Review Board agenda.

STEP 2: Complete the appropriate site plan application.

STEP 3: Attend ARB Review and receive final approval. 

STEP 4: Zoning Certificate Review and Issue.

STEP 5: Summit County Building Certificate Review and Issue.

BZA PERMITTING

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

Commercial and Residential projects which require review outside of the requirements specified in the Zoning Resolution must go before the Board of Zoning Appeals. The Board of Zoning Appeals will review all applications related to the following:

VARIANCE APPLICATION (Area and Use)
CONDITIONAL USE APPLICATION (Existing and Changes)
NON-CONFORMING USE APPLICATION (Expansions and Changes)
ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL APPLICATION

Please note that commercial projects seeking variance review must open a Site Plan Application with the Architectural Review Board in advance of a Variance Hearing. The Architectural Review Board acts as a recommending body to the Board of Zoning Appeals on behalf of the Zoning Inspector.

STEP 1: Schedule a meeting with the Zoning Inspector to review the application prior to placement on a Board of Zoning Appeals agenda.

STEP 2: Complete the appropriate application.

STEP 3: Attend BZA Hearing and receive final approval.

ZONING COMMISSION PERMITTING

ZONING COMMISSION

The Zoning Commission is responsible for reviewing all proposed changes to the Copley Township Zoning Resolution, Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and Zoning Map.

TEXT AMENDMENT APPLICATION: Applicants who desire to make a change to the Zoning Resolution, must submit a Text Amendment Application. All Text Amendment Applications are reviewed by the Zoning Commission, the Summit County Planning Commission with final review and approval by the Copley Township Board of Trustees.

MAP AMENDMENT APPLICATION: Applicants who desire to make a change to the Zoning Map, must submit a Map Amendment Application. All Map Amendment Applications are reviewed by the Zoning Commission, the Summit County Planning Commission with final review and approval by the Copley Township Board of Trustees.

Please note that the Text and Map Amendment review process may take 4-6 months. Both the Copley Township Zoning Commission and the Summit County Planning Commission act as recommending bodies to the Copley Township Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has the final voting authority regarding Text and Map Amendment Applications. 

STEP 1: Schedule a meeting with the Zoning Inspector to review the application prior to placement on a Zoning Commission agenda.

STEP 2: Complete the appropriate application.

STEP 3: Attend Zoning Commission Meetings as required to receive a recommendation.

STEP 4: Attend the Summit County Planning Commission Meeting to receive a recommendation.

STEP 5: Attend the Copley Township Board of Trustees Meetings as required to receive final approval.

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