Upper Arlington is a progressive, business friendly community. We are renowned for our impressive resident demographics, an educated workforce, easy access to the Central Ohio region, an active business community, a range of housing options and beautiful neighborhoods, amenity-rich commercial districts, and services that are second to none.
Upper Arlington’s proactive economic development efforts—supported by a robust Economic Development Blueprint, an updated Master Plan, modern zoning and development guidelines and a streamlined development approval process—have helped grow a strong and diverse business base, welcoming new companies and helping those already here to grow and evolve.
The Economic Development Division is the connector between the City and our business community. We are ready to support your business, so you can experience success in our community.
If you are looking for a community to call home for your business, look no further than Upper Arlington.
When you choose to work, live and play in Upper Arlington, you can experience all the conveniences of being centrally located within the Columbus metro area.
- 10-minute drive to downtown Columbus
- Direct neighbor to The Ohio State University
- Easy access to SR 315, I-270 and the rest of the region’s highway system
- 20-minutes to the John Glenn International Airport
Upper Arlington has long been admired as a premier community in the region, successfully blending its residential foundation with creative plans for a strong future. Founded in 1918 and actively embracing our second century, the signs of a community reinvesting in itself are abundantly clear in our business districts, neighborhoods, parks and along our roadways.
Just under 10-square miles in size, Upper Arlington is home to approximately 36,000 residents who value and play an active role in building community through their involvement in numerous civic and service groups. Reflective of the friendly, educated, family-oriented and engaged community that we serve, the City is committed to exceptional, innovative service delivery. Our goals extend beyond the basics, aspiring to make Upper Arlington one of the best communities in the U.S. – a place that is welcoming, inclusive and supportive for all who live here, work in or visit our community.
The City boasts an extensive and well-used network of community parks with a variety of active and passive recreational opportunities. Community gatherings and celebrations are the standard here, including a resident-driven Fourth of July parade and festival, the region’s premier one-day arts festival over Labor Day Weekend, summer concerts and more.
Year after year, residents demonstrate their confidence in the UA housing market, undertaking extensive renovations so that their older, character-filled homes meet today’s living standards. Today, the Upper Arlington community offers more options for young professionals and empty nesters—from quality apartments to condo living—located within vibrant, walkable districts that offer easy access to nearby shops, restaurants and amenities.
The City is committed to an ongoing, proactive 10-year capital plan that is reinvesting in Upper Arlington’s infrastructure—transforming our streets, replacing critical underground water and sewer lines, and breathing new life into our parks, pools and public facilities.
Beyond meeting our reinvestment obligations, we proudly provide innovative services that residents hold in high regard. Our Police and Fire divisions are second to none, with exemplary emergency response times and a dedicated, fully equipped staff ready to handle any situation. Whatever the season, our Public Works crews keep our streets safe and clean. In the development arena we are ready for business, with a customer friendly building and permitting process. When it’s time for leisure, we offer a multitude of park facilities, educational, sporting or play activities and programs for all ages, and a calendar packed with community events.
Don’t just take our word for it – Upper Arlington continues to be recognized by various national rankings agencies as a top place to live, work and play.
- Safest City in Ohio & 14th Safest City in the Nation, MoneyGeek – 2022
- Second Safest City in Ohio & First Safest for Financial Safety, Safety.com – 2021
- 38th Best Place to Live in the U.S., Money – 2021
- 29th Most Affordable City With Outstanding Education, Dwellics – 2021
- 28th Best Suburb to Live in America, Business Insider – 2018
- Fourth Best Place to Live in Ohio, Niches.com – 2018
- America’s Top 25 Neighborhoods for Small Businesses, Welcome Mat Services – November 2016
- Best Place to Live in Ohio and Best Central Ohio Suburb, Niche.com – July 2016
- Top 50 Safest Cities in Ohio, CreditDonkey.com – June 2016
- Central Ohio’s Most Educated Communities, Business First – December 2015
- Best Small Cities in America for Working Parents, Nerdwallet.com – July 2015
In 2024, the City transitioned into its second decade with a 10-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Since expanding the CIP to 10 years, more than $112 million has been invested in our streets, waterlines, stormwater and sewer lines. But there’s…
An application and permitting process is in place for community special events that require use of City property and/or City logistical and planning support. Event organizers are encouraged to start their applications early (see the schedule below). For new event…
The holiday season is upon us, and neighborhoods across Upper Arlington are lighting up with festive cheer! The City of Upper Arlington is excited to announce Light Up Arlington, a fun, community-driven way to celebrate the season. This initiative features…
We recently shared some basic holiday shopping tips and now it’s time to brush up on some home safety reminders. If You Are Traveling for the Holidays Notify the Police Division of your plans by completing a Notice of Temporary…
The New Year will soon be here, and it’s time to start planning ahead for community happenings in 2025. To help with this process, the City has several timely reminders to share. 2025 Community Calendar As a service to…
Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us. UA Parks & Rec is ready to celebrate and invites you to get into the holiday spirit with the following activities. Santa’s Mailbox November 15 – December 13 Municipal Services Center,…
The Annual Columbus Turkey Trot is back for its 39th year on the morning of Thursday, November 28, offering runners a five-mile route, and walkers a 2.8-mile option, and benefitting the Easter Seals of Central Ohio and Southeast Ohio. With…
As the holiday season kicks off, the City of Upper Arlington and the Tri-Village Chamber Partnership are teaming up to encourage the community to shop small and support local businesses on Small Business Saturday, taking place this year on November…
WHAT IS OUR BLUEPRINT?
Upper Arlington understands the value of your investment in our community, so to ensure the best outcome for our business community, our residents, and the city itself — we have a plan or rather a blueprint.
The blueprint outlines best practices for Upper Arlington to maximize our economic development opportunities.
