Columbia Open Space Regulations

Columbia’s Unified Development Ordinance requires open space set asides, and indicates that such set asides serve a range of goals that include “preserving natural resources, ensuring resident access to open areas and active recreation, reducing the heat island effect of developed areas, providing civic and meeting spaces, enhancing storm water management, and providing other public health benefits.”

Under these rules smaller developments, including single-family detached houses must set aside 5-25% of a site’s area as open space consisting of natural areas, required landscaping, stormwater management infrastructure (if it is designed as an amenity), or other types of open space.