A production brewery usually needs light industrial zoning, while a brewpub or small taproom brewery often fits in a commercial or mixed-use zone. How much beer you make and whether you pour it on site usually decide which zone and approvals you need.
New to zoning types? Read what commercial zoning means and what it allows.
C - Commercial
or
I - Industrial
Is a brewery allowed in Columbus?
Open the Columbus zoning map to find a property's zoning district, then check what that district allows.
Check zoning in Columbus, OH →Zoning codes usually sort breweries by size and by how much beer is sold on site. The names differ from city to city, but the pattern is similar:
| Brewery type | What it is | Where codes often allow it |
|---|---|---|
| Brewpub | A restaurant or bar that brews mostly for its own customers | General commercial, downtown and mixed-use zones |
| Microbrewery or taproom brewery | A small brewery with a taproom and some distribution | Commercial zones, sometimes with a conditional use permit; light industrial |
| Production brewery | A plant focused on packaging and distribution | Light industrial or industrial zones |
Some codes cap annual production or the share of floor space used for brewing in commercial zones. Our guides to commercial zoning and light industrial zoning explain what each district family generally allows.
A brewery building usually holds two occupancies. Under the International Building Code, making beverages with up to 20 percent alcohol is factory Group F-2, a low-hazard class. A taproom where people drink is Group A-2, or a business occupancy if it holds fewer than 50 people. Mixed occupancies can trigger fire separation or sprinkler rules, so ask the building official early.
The production side also needs features most retail spaces lack:
Brewing uses a lot of water, and the wastewater is much stronger than what a shop or office sends down the drain. Ohio EPA's guide for new craft breweries notes that more sewer plants now charge an extra surcharge on high-strength brewery wastewater, and some require pretreatment. It also warns that septic systems can only handle domestic sewage, such as restrooms and sinks.
Call the local sewer authority before you sign a lease. Ask about discharge limits, surcharges and whether you'll need a sampling point or a pretreatment tank.
Zoning approval doesn't let you brew. To make beer for sale, you must first qualify with TTB by filing a Brewer's Notice. Your state will also require a manufacturer license, and selling pints or cans in a taproom often needs its own retail permission under state law.
Planning to make spirits too? The distillery zoning rules are stricter because of fire risk. For the food side of a brewpub, see restaurant zoning.
No. Home brewing for personal use is allowed, but brewing for sale requires a federal Brewer's Notice and state licensing, and residential zoning almost never allows a brewery.
Yes. Every state licenses breweries, and selling beer in a taproom or to go may need a separate retail license or permit, depending on state law.
Often, yes, but the city may treat regular trucks as a separate use that needs a permit. Our food truck park zoning guide covers the rules cities use.
Often. Many codes group beer, wine and cider production under one beverage manufacturing line, though some list each separately and farm wineries can have their own rules.