Toledo cannot set its own minimum wage above the Ohio rate of $10.70 per hour for 2026, fixed by Constitution Article II Section 34a and ORC Chapter 4111, after a 2016 statewide preemption law passed.
Ohio Constitution Article II Section 34a and ORC Chapter 4111 set a statewide minimum wage adjusted annually for inflation, currently $10.70 for non-tipped employees and $5.35 for tipped employees in 2026. House Bill 64 in 2016 expressly preempted local minimum wages above the state floor, blocking Toledo and other cities from raising the rate. Cleveland's earlier $15 minimum-wage initiative was canceled after the law passed. Toledo can still set higher wages for city employees and impose prevailing wage on city construction contracts under ORC Chapter 4115. A 2025 Raise the Wage statewide ballot measure to lift the rate to $15 by 2026 failed signature gathering.
Employers paying below the state minimum face damages under ORC 4111.10, including back pay, liquidated damages, and attorney fees; willful violations can trigger criminal misdemeanor exposure.
See how Toledo's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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