State Rep. Tex Fischer introduced legislation that he says will address Ohio’s housing shortage issues by speeding up the process in considering zoning and building requests and ensuring local regulations align with state standards and deadlines for development.

Fischer, R-Boardman, is the main sponsor of the bill with state Rep. Brian Lorenz, R-Powell. The bill was sent to the House Local Government Committee.

Fischer said: “This legislation will help reduce bureaucratic timelines and create a streamlined process for homebuilders to get more houses on the market and make homeownership more accessible for Ohio families.”

Among the bill’s requirements are that any discretionary land-use decisions requiring approval by a public body or elected official have a public hearing within 30 days of the submission of the application and that approval or denial be determined no more than 90 days after the application is filed. Called “entitlements” in the legislation, this includes variances, special or conditional uses, zoning changes, planned unit developments or other special approvals.

“A lot of developers end up dealing with local zoning for a long time,” Fischer said. “There’s not a unified timeline across the state. By putting a short time clock on this, it makes it easier to build homes quickly. Developers deal with a lot of local restrictions and some just take a long time.”

Fischer added: “Permitting in Ohio is very, very slow. We have a patchwork and no consistency. It provides a more efficient and effective process.”

Government entities would be required to notify property owners within 250 feet of an entitlement application at least 14 days in advance about the time, date and location of the public hearing through postcards, at least one sign posted at the proposed location and on the website of the county with relevant documents attached.

The current requirement, which would be eliminated under this law, is at least 10 days’ notice in writing to impacted parties, the impacted county’s website and a notice in a local newspaper about the public hearing.

This change will increase transparency, Fischer said, from the existing process.

The bill also would permit local governments to hire certified third-party public inspectors to review plans and perform inspections of construction project sites.

“It helps alleviate the burden on who does this,” Fischer said. “It’s primarily residential targeted, but can be used a little for commercial.”

He added: “It’s clear we need to increase the stock of available housing and help drive prices down, but too often, red tape gets in the way.”