Upper Arlington at a glance: county, ZIPs and neighborhoods
Upper Arlington sits entirely in Franklin County. Most city addresses use ZIP 43221, and portions of 43220 and 43212 also fall inside the city, so a ZIP alone does not settle which side of a city line a house is on. Developers King and Ben Thompson began the original 840-acre plat south of Lane Avenue in 1913; it became a village in 1918 and a city in 1941. Residents often talk about the Upper Arlington Historic District ("Old Arlington" or "South of Lane"), the Mallway shops near Miller Park, the blocks around Northam Park, and the post-war streets north of Lane Avenue that run up to Henderson Road, the northern border since 1969.
How old are Upper Arlington houses, and why that matters
Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates for 2020-2024 put the median year a UA housing unit was built at 1959. Roughly 35 percent of the city's approximately 14,900 housing units date from the 1950s, and more than half went up before 1960. The original South of Lane core was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, while ranch-style tracts filled in north of Lane after World War II. In houses of that age a plumber may find original or partly replaced galvanized supply piping, cast-iron drain stacks, older clay sewer laterals and water heaters squeezed into tight basement utility rooms. Mention the age when you call; it is context, not a diagnosis.
Who supplies water and who handles sewers in Upper Arlington
The City of Columbus Division of Water supplies drinking water to every Upper Arlington home and business, and Columbus lists UA among its water and sewer contract communities. Upper Arlington itself maintains public waterlines in the right-of-way and operates roughly 143 miles of public sanitary sewer plus about 98 miles of storm pipe. The sanitary lateral running from a house to the public sewer is privately owned, so a blockage there is the homeowner's to fix. A suspected main break in the street goes to the city, which coordinates with Columbus.
Basement water after heavy rain: tell the city first
Upper Arlington's sanitary and storm systems are separate, but rainwater can still reach sanitary pipes through cracks, joints and root intrusion, or through downspouts and sump pumps improperly tied into the sanitary line. When water rises through a basement floor drain during a storm, the city asks homeowners to contact its Public Service Department quickly so crews can check whether the main is flowing. Water seeping through walls more often means a failed sump pump or blocked downspout line. The city also runs a Sanitary Sewer Backflow Prevention Program for qualifying homes; eligibility involves a basement flooding questionnaire and an inspection by a plumber or qualified contractor.
Winter in UA: frozen lines and furnace failures
Many mid-century UA homes carry plumbing along exterior walls, in crawlspaces or beside attached garages, the usual spots where pipes freeze during a hard cold snap. Know where the main shutoff is before winter, keep garage doors closed near water lines and never thaw a pipe with a torch. If the furnace stops, check the thermostat and the filter, but do not open burner compartments or keep resetting safety switches. A carbon monoxide alarm or gas odor means leave the house first and call 911 or the gas utility.
Permits, historic homes and choosing a provider
Upper Arlington has its own building and code staff in its Community Development Department, separate from the City of Columbus, so plumbing or HVAC replacements on a UA property follow UA permitting. Before work begins, ask the provider who pulls the permit, what the visit and diagnostic fees are, and for a written scope. Ohio Service Hub does not employ technicians or verify any provider's credentials.
Upper Arlington homeowner checklist
- 1Decide whether the problem is a supply leak, a drain or sewer backup, or a heating failure; each one goes to a different trade.
- 2For a floor-drain backup during rain, report it to Upper Arlington's Public Service Department so the public main gets checked.
- 3Ask the provider to confirm it works in Upper Arlington and who handles the UA permit.
Common homeowner questions
Who provides water to Upper Arlington homes?
The City of Columbus Division of Water supplies water to Upper Arlington, one of Columbus's contract communities. Upper Arlington maintains public waterlines in the right-of-way and its sanitary and storm sewers; pipes inside your home and the private sewer lateral are the owner's responsibility.
What ZIP codes are in Upper Arlington?
Most Upper Arlington addresses are in 43221, and parts of 43220 and 43212 also fall within the city. Because those ZIPs cross into Columbus, check the property's actual jurisdiction before assuming which city's permits apply.
Water came up through my basement floor drain during a storm. Who do I call?
Contact the City of Upper Arlington Public Service Department as soon as possible so it can confirm the public main is flowing. If the main is clear, the blockage is likely in your private lateral, and a plumber can camera and clear the line.
Are older Upper Arlington homes more likely to have plumbing problems?
Age alone does not mean something is wrong, but Census estimates put the median UA home's construction year at 1959, so original drain, supply and sewer parts may be more than 60 years old. Ask the plumber what materials they find and whether repair or replacement makes sense.
Government and primary-source references
- City of Upper Arlington — Utilities & Billing
- City of Upper Arlington — Sewer & Stormwater
- City of Upper Arlington — Community Development
- City of Columbus — Water & sewer contract communities
- Census Reporter — Upper Arlington housing (ACS 2020-2024)
External references support general guidance. They do not verify any specific contractor or provide a booking.