Proposal aims to cut red tape as part of fight against housing supply shortage

Proposed legislation aims to cut bureaucratic red tape that slows construction projects, which critics say is limiting housing supply and driving up costs.

House Bill 361 “introduces much-needed reforms to Ohio’s building inspection, local regulation, and zoning processes,” Griffin Weasel, vice president of government affairs and communications for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio, said in prepared testimony to the House Local Government Committee.

“These changes will help address longstanding delays and inconsistencies that hinder timely project delivery, exacerbate housing shortages, and increase costs for builders, developers, and ultimately consumers,” Weasel added. “By streamlining timelines, clarifying comprehensive planning requirements, and promoting transparency, the bill strikes a balanced approach that empowers local governments while ensuring predictability for the private sector.”

In prepared sponsor testimony, state Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, said the bill aims to accomplish its objectives “through the gold standard conservative principle of cutting red tape and streamlining approval processes,” which should work “to make housing development both more fair and more efficient.”

While Fischer said the bill does not intend to remove local authority over zoning, it aims to hold local entities accountable for applying the rules fairly and equally across the board.

Nick Rhodes, director of policy and special projects for the Ohio Business Roundtable, a statewide business association made up of CEOs and presidents, said that the measure, in part, “establishes clear expectations for comprehensive planning at the local level.”

“Counties and townships would be required to adopt comprehensive plans that include a future land-use map and policy framework addressing housing, economic development, infrastructure, and community resources,” Rhodes added. “By ensuring that zoning decisions are tied to an adopted comprehensive plan, the legislation promotes greater transparency and coordination across local governments while helping communities plan for future growth in a structured and predictable manner.”

It also “creates clear timelines for zoning and administrative review processes,” which he called “one of the most important provisions in the legislation.”

“Under the bill, zoning hearings must conclude within a defined timeframe and decisions must be issued within a set period after the hearing concludes,” Rhodes said. “If a board fails to act within the prescribed timeframe, the proposal may automatically advance. These types of guardrails are important because extended and unpredictable review timelines can significantly increase project costs and discourage investment.”