Planning & Zoning Department

NOTICE

Beginning January 1, 2025, residential building permits, plan reviews and inspections for 1, 2, and 3 family dwellings will be assumed directly by the Medina County Building Department.  This includes additions, modifications and accessory structures for such residential uses.   This change will apply to all applications for residential building, HVAC and Electrical Permits.

Residential permit inspections should also be scheduled with the Medina Couty Building Department.  Contact information for the County Building Department is below:

Website:   https://www.medinaco.org/building-department/

Phone:      330-722-9220

Zoning Permits & Approvals  

Many projects that require building permits will also require zoning permits, which ARE issued by the City.  There are also projects that DO NOT require a building permit but DO require a zoning permit.  Examples of these types are projects are noted below (these are non-inclusive lists):  

Building and Zoning Permits Required

  • New dwellings
  • Building Additions
  • Accessory Structure larger than 200 sq. ft.

The County Building Department will not issue a building permit until evidence of the City's zoning approval is provided to them.  

Only Zoning Permits Required

  • Fences
  • Swimming Pools
  • Accessory Structures less than 200 sq. ft.

For more information on zoning, or to download a zoning permit application, click this link:  Planning & Zoning

Generally, commercial uses are not permitted in residential zoning districts or structures approved for residential occupancy.  However, there is a classification of business use called a home occupation that may be permitted in a residential district or structure.  

Home occupations are conditionally-permitted uses subject to the specific requirements found in §154.546(B)(17) of the zoning code.  Applicants will need to complete and submit a conditional zoning application along with a description of the home-based business and how it complies with §154.546(B)(17).  Applications for home occupations are reviewed on a case by case basis.  Applications that cannot be approved administratively, will be subject to a public hearing and review by the City Planning Commission. 

For more information regarding the specific requirements for home occupations, please see paragraph 17 at the following link:  Conditional Uses - Specific Requirements

Commercial Uses & Projects

Building permits, plan approvals and construction inspections for commercial, industrial and multi-family residential (four or more dwellings in a single building) projects are obtained through the Medina County Building Department. View the Medina County Building Department to learn more. Zoning approval for commercial projects is still under the City's jurisdiction, and zoning approval must be obtained before the County will issue any building permits.

In addition, most commercial development projects will require Planning Commission approval before a zoning certificate will be issued by the City. View Planning Commission.

View the Commercial Development Guide (PDF) for more information on the review and approval process for these projects

Links to Zoning Map & Text

The online Zoning Map shows City of Wadsworth corporate and zoning district boundaries. To learn more, view Zoning Map (DWF). To download the Autodesk Viewer, view Autodesk Viewer. To view or download a PDF version of the map, view Zoning Map.

View Zoning Code to be taken to the City's zoning code (maintained by American Legal Publishing).  Use links in left side-bar to reach Chapter 154.

Planning Documents

  1. Akron Road Corridor Study - Final (08.02.2018)
  2. Comprehensive Plan Update 2011 (PDF)
  3. Downtown Visioning Plan 2017 (PDF)
  4. Main Street Wadsworth - Downtown Design Guidelines (2017)
  5. Appendices - Downtown Design Guidelines
  6. Final Park Master Plan (PDF)
  7. Wadsworth Multimodal Plan (PDF)
  8. Wadsworth Multipurpose Trail (PDF)
  9. Annexation Policy (Adopted 06.19.2019)
  10. Annexation Policy Map (Adopted 06.19.19)