Contact: Program Manager (click Project Manager title to e-mail) 

614-645-8621

2010 Program Guidelines  

As part of the Residential Tax Incentives (RTI) program, the Neighborhood Investment Districts (NIDs) and the Community Reinvestment Areas (CRA) programs are designed to stabilize neighborhoods and upgrade housing units in specific areas of the City of Columbus. These areas also have public and private investment occurring and new housing will complement, stabilize, and boost existing investments. Applicant and property criteria for participation in this program are outlined below.

NIDS and CRA Information

There are seven (7) NID and four (4) CRA designations approved by City Council.  The NIDS expire on December 31, 2011 and the CRAs have various expiration dates.

Geographic Information

A newly constructed home must be located within one of the Neighborhood Investment Districts (NIDs) (Area A Linden; Area B North of Broad to I-670; Area C South Side; Area D Hilltop; Area E South of Main; Area F Weinland Park; Area G Franklinton) (click here for NIDs area boundaries descriptions) or a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) (Gibbard Avenue; Jeffrey Square; Oak Street; Wilson Road) to be eligible for the 100% tax abatement for up to 15 years.

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries of the Residential Tax Incentive Program are: existing owner-occupants who upgrade their property within the NID/CRA designated areas; buyers of a new single family home constructed in one of the NID/CRA designated areas; landlords who invest a substantial amount to upgrade rental property; buyers of condominiums converted from rental or commercial use. All will continue to pay the property taxes that were existing on the property prior to the improvements. A builder of new homes will not get the tax benefit. 

The neighborhoods and schools will also benefit. The schools will continue to receive the current, existing property taxes. 

Eligible Applicants and Tax Benefit

Homebuyers who purchase from developers of new infill housing will not pay property taxes on their new homes for 15 years. The homebuyer will continue to pay the original, vacant land property taxes that were in place when they purchased the home and receive the tax abatement benefit on the improvements. 

Owner-occupants of single family homes making improvements of at least 20% of the current tax value of the existing property, will be exempt from paying property taxes for 10 years on any increased value of their property due to improvement.

Owners of rental property (3 or more units) who make improvements of at least 50% of the current tax value of their property will be exempt from paying property taxes for 12 years on any increased value of their property due to improvement.  

Buyers of condominiums or single family homes (1 or 2 units) that have been converted from rental units, where improvements were at least 50% of the current value of their property, will be exempt from paying property taxes for 10 years on any increased value of their property due to the improvement. The buyer will continue to pay property taxes that were in place prior to the conversion and purchase of the home. 

Property tax exemptions will be based on increased valuation of the property, due to significant improvements. Existing property taxes will continue to be paid.

After the improvements are completed (new construction, renovation of existing housing or conversion of existing housing from rental to homeownership in the designated areas), the City of Columbus certifies the completed work to the Franklin County Auditor. The Auditor makes a determination of the increase in value. The value of the increase will be exempted from property tax. 

Click here for Application Checklist

Click here for Phase One and Phase Two Application 

* Owner occupied requires minimum 20% investment of assessed building value in renovation.

** Rental requires minimum of 50% investment of assessed buildings tax value in renovation.