Pop. 49,934 · Licking County
Newark CO §634.04(a)(2) lets places of public entertainment operate amplified music until 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday before residential sound disturbances become a violation. Indoor levels above 95 dBA require a posted hearing-damage warning sign.
Newark Codified Ordinance Chapter 634 (Noise Control Ordinance) caps residential sound at 60 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., measured at the receiving property boundary. Retail areas are capped at 70 dBA at all times.
Newark CO §634.07 sets immediate-threat sound limits independent of zoning - 90 dBA over 24 hours, escalating to 108 dBA over 22 minutes, measured at 50 feet from the source. Violations are charged as third-degree misdemeanors.
Newark CO §634.04(a)(7) prohibits operating construction, drilling, or demolition tools between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when the noise creates a disturbance across a residential property boundary. Emergency utility work and special variances are exempt.
Newark CO §634.04(a)(9) prohibits radios, instruments, and amplifiers from creating a noise disturbance across a residential property line between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or audible at 50 feet from a vehicle. Loudspeakers and PA systems follow the same window under §634.04(a)(10).
Newark CO §618.07 prohibits owning or harboring any dog that, by frequent and habitual barking, howling or yelping, creates unreasonably loud and disturbing noises. The companion noise rule (§634.04(a)(1)) covers any animal whose sounds cross a residential property boundary.
Newark CO §634.04(a)(11) treats leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and similar gas-powered yard tools as 'domestic power tools' and prohibits their use between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in residential areas when the noise crosses a property line.
Newark CO §634.05 Table 1 sets decibel ceilings by receiving land use: residential 60 dBA day / 50 dBA night, retail 70 dBA at all times, measured at or within the receiver's property line. Section 634.07 layers absolute time-weighted health-and-welfare caps starting at 90 dBA.
Newark CO §634.04(a)(12) limits powered model vehicles (model aircraft, drones, RC cars and boats) to 60 dBA at 50 feet in residential areas during permitted hours, and prohibits operation in residential areas or public spaces between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Newark CO §634.04(a)(4) requires every motor vehicle and motorcycle to have a working muffler in constant operation. Removing or rendering inoperative a muffler - other than for maintenance, repair, or replacement - is prohibited.
Newark CO §672.12 regulates fireworks consistent with Ohio R.C. Chapter 3743 - the state's consumer fireworks law - which legalized discharge of 1.4G consumer fireworks on specific holidays starting July 1, 2022. Public exhibitions require Fire Chief and Police Chief approval.
Newark prohibits burning trash, tires, construction material, and yard waste under Newark Fire Department guidance and Ohio EPA rules. Recreational cooking and small wood fires are allowed only when 25 ft from any building and attended at all times.
A Newark backyard fire pit must be at least 25 feet from any structure (15 feet if contained in an approved container), attended at all times, and fully extinguished before the user leaves. Maximum size is 3 ft wide by 2 ft high.
Newark CO Chapter 1610 adopts the Ohio Fire Code, which incorporates the Residential Code of Ohio requirement that all dwellings have working smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every story including basements.
Newark Fire Department guidance limits recreational fires to 3 feet wide by 2 feet high, requires 25 ft clearance from buildings (15 ft if in an approved container), bans burning leaves/trash/tires, and mandates an attended fire with extinguishing equipment on hand.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal adopts NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code through OAC 1301:7-7 and licenses LPG installations statewide, providing uniform propane storage and handling rules that apply universally.
Newark CO §618.01 requires every dog beyond the owner's premises to be securely restrained by a leash and under reasonable control. Animals running at large are subject to impoundment by Newark Animal Control.
Newark CO §618.22 limits any premises to no more than two restricted animals (or one vicious dog) more than three months old, and requires a $30-per-animal city permit plus a locked, escape-proof enclosure.
Newark's Zoning Code (Ord. 08-33) limits agricultural uses including the keeping of poultry and livestock to agricultural and certain residential-suburban (R-S) zones. Most R-1/R-2/R-3 residential lots in the city are not zoned for backyard chickens.
Newark repealed its breed-specific 'pit bull = vicious dog' designation in April 2016 via Ordinance 16-07A. Vicious-dog status is now based on the individual dog's behavior under §618.15, mirroring Ohio R.C. 955.11.
Newark CO §618.18 prohibits any animal from being on a city sidewalk unless leashed and under control, and §618.01's running-at-large rule effectively bars unrestrained wildlife feeding that draws strays. Newark has no standalone wildlife-feeding ordinance.
Newark has no city ordinance specifically authorizing or banning urban beekeeping. Beekeeping is generally permitted as a customary residential accessory use as long as hives don't create a nuisance under the Property Maintenance Code or animal-related noise rules.
Newark's Zoning Code restricts livestock (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, pigs) to Agricultural (AD) and certain Suburban Residence (R-S) districts with adequate acreage. Most platted residential lots in R-1/R-2/R-3 zones cannot keep livestock.
Newark CO §618.08 (Registration of Dogs Required) layers atop Ohio R.C. 955.01 to require every dog over three months old to be registered with the Licking County Auditor's office. Tags must be displayed on the dog at all times.
Ohio's companion animal cruelty law universally criminalizes neglect typical of hoarding situations, with felony penalties applying uniformly regardless of municipal boundaries.
Newark CO §452.03(b) prohibits parking in front of any public or private driveway. Within 5 feet of a driveway intersection with a public street, parking is also banned under §452.03(c). Driveway construction permits are issued by the Engineering Department.
Newark CO §454.09 enforces 30-minute, 3-hour, and 11-hour free parking zones in the downtown core from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday (holidays excepted). There is no citywide overnight on-street parking ban, but signed time limits are enforced.
Newark CO §452.03 prohibits parking on sidewalks, in front of driveways, within 10 ft of a fire hydrant, within 20 ft of a crosswalk at an intersection, within 1 ft of another parked vehicle, and where curbing is painted yellow.
Newark CO §660.07 bans depositing, storing, or maintaining junk motor vehicles on any premises except in licensed industrial junk yards. A 'junk motor vehicle' is one left uncovered in the open on private property for more than 72 hours.
Newark CO §454.10 limits commercial trucks in downtown parking zones to 30 minutes for loading or unloading merchandise. Vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR cannot idle in a residential area for more than 5 minutes per hour overnight under §634.04(a)(5)(A).
Newark Zoning Code generally allows residents to store RVs, boats, and trailers on their property in side or rear yards, subject to setback rules. Long-term storage in the public right-of-way or on front lawns may trigger §660.07 (junk vehicle) or property maintenance violations.
Newark Zoning Code Ch. 1276 (Fences, Walls and Similar Structures) caps fence height in residential and commercial yards at 4 feet in any front yard and 6 feet in side and rear yards. Industrial zones allow up to 8 feet.
Newark Codified Ordinances Chapter 1286 (Public and Private Swimming Pools) requires every private pool more than 24 inches deep to be enclosed by a permanent barrier at least 4 feet (48 inches) high with self-closing, self-latching gates.
Newark requires a zoning permit before installing a fence, issued through the Newark Engineering & Zoning Department. Fence permits verify compliance with Ch. 1276 height, material, and setback rules.
Newark Zoning Code Ch. 1276 prohibits fences with wire, metal prongs, spikes, or cutting edges of any kind in residential and commercial zones, and bans electrified fences in all non-industrial districts.
Newark fences must be entirely on the owner's property. Property line disputes are governed by Ohio R.C. Chapter 971 (Partition Fences), which requires shared maintenance only on agricultural parcels, not residential lots.
Retaining walls in Newark are regulated under the Building Code (Newark CO Ch. 1610 adopting the Ohio Residential / Ohio Building Code). Walls over 4 feet in exposed height generally require an engineer-stamped design and a Newark building permit.
Newark's Zoning Code (Ord. 08-33) does not include a specific accessory dwelling unit (ADU) category. Two-family dwellings are permitted only in R-2 and R-3 districts, so a second living unit on a single-family R-1 lot is generally not allowed without a zoning amendment or variance.
Newark Zoning Code Ch. 1280 (Accessory Buildings, Structures and Uses) defines an accessory structure as a subordinate building on the same lot as the principal residence, and requires accessory buildings to meet all yard and court setback requirements of the underlying district.
Converting a garage into habitable living space requires a Newark building permit, must meet Ohio Residential Code minimum-ceiling, light, ventilation, and egress standards, and is generally not permitted on R-1 lots if it creates a second dwelling unit.
Ohio Revised Code 3781.10 makes the Residential Code of Ohio mandatory statewide, and Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) is adopted, regulating dwellings 400 square feet or less on permanent foundations.
Newark CO Ch. 1286 mirrors Ohio Residential Code R326 - every pool over 24 inches deep needs a 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates, no foot- or hand-holds, and gaps no larger than 4 inches at ground or in pickets.
Newark Codified Ordinances Chapter 1286 (Public and Private Swimming Pools) requires a zoning and building permit before installation of any in-ground or above-ground pool that holds water more than 24 inches deep.
Above-ground pools more than 24 inches deep are regulated under Newark CO Ch. 1286 - they need a zoning permit, must sit within accessory-structure setbacks (typically 5-10 ft from property lines), and require a 48-inch barrier or a removable/lockable ladder if the pool wall itself is 48+ inches.
Newark CO Chapter 1286 requires pool barriers, lockable gates, and lighting standards. Pool drains must meet the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 USC 8001-8008) anti-entrapment standards. Public pools require additional Ohio Department of Health licensure.
Newark CO Chapter 1286 generally regulates 'swimming pools' over 24 inches deep. Hot tubs/spas with a securely lockable cover meeting ASTM F1346 standard typically satisfy the barrier requirement; otherwise a 48-inch fence is required.
Newark Property Maintenance Code (Ch. 1448, IPMC §302.4) limits grass and weeds to 8 inches in height on developed residential lots. Failure to mow after notice lets the city contract the work and bill the owner with a 100% administrative surcharge under Ord. 24-36.
Newark Property Maintenance Code Ch. 1448 (IPMC §302.4) treats grass and weeds over 8 inches as a violation. Noxious weeds listed under Ohio Administrative Code 901:5-37-01 (e.g., poison hemlock, Canada thistle, common ragweed) are independently enforceable.
Ohio Revised Code 3734.02 and OAC 3745-560 exempt small-scale residential and agricultural composting from solid waste facility licensing, while regulating large composting operations statewide.
Ohio Revised Code 3701.344 and Ohio Administrative Code 3701-28 expressly allow rainwater collection for private water systems, with health department approval required for potable use.
Ohio Revised Code 901.51 imposes treble damages statewide on anyone who recklessly cuts, injures, or destroys trees, shrubs, or vines on another's property without consent.
Newark Zoning Code (Ord. 08-33) allows home occupations as accessory uses in residential districts only when the use is incidental to the primary residential use, conducted by residents of the dwelling, generates no significant exterior traffic, and produces no visible signs of business activity.
Newark home occupations generally cannot display any exterior commercial signage. The Zoning Code requires that the residence retain its residential character with no visible signs of business activity.
Newark does not issue a separate 'home occupation permit.' Residential home businesses are an accessory use under the Zoning Code (Ord. 08-33) - allowed by right if they meet the limits, prohibited otherwise.
Ohio Revised Code 3715.01 and Ohio Department of Agriculture rules establish a statewide cottage food framework allowing residents to produce specified non-hazardous foods at home for direct sale without a license, preempting most local food production restrictions.
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5104 creates a statewide licensing framework for in-home child care, classifying providers as Type A or Type B family child care homes and preempting local licensing of child care operations.
Short-term rentals (under 30 days) in Newark are subject to Ohio's 5.75% state sales tax and Licking County's lodging excise tax under Ohio R.C. 5739.09. Airbnb and Vrbo collect state sales tax on behalf of hosts in Ohio.
Short-term rentals in Newark must comply with the city's Noise Control Ordinance (Ch. 634), which caps residential sound at 60 dBA day / 50 dBA night and prohibits amplified music and power-tool use 10 p.m.-7 a.m. Hosts are responsible for guest conduct.
Ohio Revised Code 3937.18 and related insurance code provisions govern liability coverage for home-sharing activities, while ORC 3905.01 regulates insurance producers uniformly statewide rather than allowing local insurance mandates.
Newark CO Chapter 1860 (Solid Waste Collection and Disposal) and the Property Maintenance Code govern residential trash storage. Containers must be covered, vermin-proof, and stored to prevent leakage; hazardous waste removal must follow Ohio Department of Health directives.
Newark requires property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowstorm ends. If a sidewalk is not cleared, the city can hire a contractor to do the work and bill the owner the cost plus a 50% surcharge for overhead.
Newark CO Chapter 1448 (Property Maintenance Code), adopted by Ord. 08-17, incorporates the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). The city enforces exterior maintenance, structural standards, weed/grass limits, and trash storage through the Code Enforcement Division.
Vacant lots in Newark must be maintained to the same Property Maintenance Code standards as developed parcels - grass under 8 inches, no junk or debris, no illegal dumping. The city can abate and lien the property for non-compliance.
Newark participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and enforces a Flood Damage Reduction ordinance (Ord. 07-8). Construction in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas requires a floodplain development permit and elevation of the lowest floor at or above the Base Flood Elevation.
Newark CO Chapter 1054 (Stormwater Management Code) regulates discharges to the municipal storm sewer system (MS4). Section 1054.16 prohibits non-stormwater discharges and lists narrow exemptions including dechlorinated swimming pool water (under 1 ppm chlorine).
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1506 grants the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management exclusive authority over Lake Erie shore structures, erosion areas, and submerged lands, preempting local control of shoreline development.
Ohio Revised Code Chapters 1511 and 6111 establish statewide erosion and sediment control standards administered through soil and water conservation districts and the Ohio EPA, applying universally to construction and agricultural land disturbance.
Newark regulates door-to-door commercial solicitation through Chapter 707-series of the General Offenses Code and the Criminal Trespass / Posted-Property rule under §642.12, which lets residents enforce a No-Soliciting sign as criminal trespass.
Newark does not operate a centralized do-not-knock registry, but a posted 'No Soliciting' or 'No Trespassing' sign on private property is legally enforceable as criminal trespass under Newark CO §642.12 (mirroring Ohio R.C. 2911.21).
Newark CO §636.10 sets graduated juvenile curfews: under 14 cannot be in public 10 p.m.-5 a.m., under 16 cannot loiter 11 p.m.-5 a.m., under 18 cannot loiter midnight-5 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Newark city parks are open dawn to 10:00 p.m. After 10 p.m. parks are closed to the public. Skatepark lighting cuts off automatically at 10 p.m. EST, and curfew rules under §636.10 also restrict minors in parks after age-based cutoffs.
Newark residents contract individually with Waste Management or Republic Services for curbside trash and recycling pickup. Newark CO §1860.04 sets hauler vehicle standards (covered loads, leak-proof) and disposal standards.
Newark Property Maintenance Code (Ch. 1448, IPMC §308) requires trash and recycling bins to be stored on the property, not in front yards, and placed at the curb only for scheduled pickup, then returned promptly.
Newark CO §660.04 prohibits depositing litter, garbage, or refuse on any public or private property other than authorized receptacles or licensed disposal sites. Illegal dumping is enforced as a misdemeanor with escalating penalties.
Newark does not require residential recycling. Curbside recycling is offered through the Licking County Recycling Program and via the city's contracted haulers (Waste Management, Republic Services). Drop-off recycling is available at Licking County's central facility.
Bulk pickup of large items (furniture, appliances, mattresses) is scheduled through the resident's contracted hauler - Waste Management or Republic Services. Newark provides no centralized municipal bulk pickup. Drop-off at the Licking County Recycling Center is also an option.
Newark CO Chapter 1294 (Display Signs and Outdoor Advertising) prohibits placing any sign - including garage sale signs - in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, or on street trees. Temporary signs must be on private property with owner permission and removed after the event.
Political signs in Newark must comply with Ch. 1294's temporary sign rules - on private property with owner permission, not in the public right-of-way, and removed promptly after the election. Newark cannot regulate based on sign content.
Newark Zoning Code (Ord. 08-33) sets district-specific setbacks. R-1 single-family lots typically require 30 ft front, 8 ft side, and 30 ft rear yards; accessory buildings under Ch. 1280 must meet the same yard requirements as the principal building.
Newark Zoning Code caps single-family R-1 buildings at approximately 35 feet, two-family R-2 buildings at similar heights, multifamily R-3 buildings up to 45 feet, and industrial/commercial structures higher. Accessory structures are typically limited to 15 feet.
Newark allows licensed adult-use and medical cannabis dispensaries subject to the city's Zoning Code commercial-district standards. State law (Ohio R.C. 3780.13) requires dispensaries to be at least 500 feet from schools, public libraries, public playgrounds, and public parks.
Ohio Issue 2 (effective December 7, 2023) lets adults 21+ grow up to 6 cannabis plants per individual or 12 per residence with multiple adults, on private property out of public view. Newark has not opted out of personal cultivation.
Solar panel installations in Newark require a building permit through the Newark Engineering Department. Roof-mounted systems must meet the Ohio Residential Code structural and electrical requirements; ground-mounted systems also need zoning approval under Ch. 1280 (Accessory Structures).
Unlike many states, Ohio has not enacted a solar-rights statute, so HOAs and condominium associations may legally restrict or prohibit solar panels on private homes.
Newark does not have a citywide rental registration or rental inspection program. Rental properties must comply with the Property Maintenance Code (Ch. 1448) and Ohio R.C. Ch. 5321 (Landlord-Tenant Act); enforcement is complaint-driven.
Newark does not have rent control. Ohio R.C. 3735.49 generally restricts Ohio municipalities from enacting rent regulation, and Newark has not attempted to do so. Rents are set by the market.
Before filing an eviction in Ohio, a landlord must serve a 3-day notice to leave the premises under Ohio Revised Code 1923.04, including specific statutory warning language. The landlord then files a forcible entry and detainer action; the hearing is no sooner than 7 days after service, and only a writ of restitution removes the tenant.
Ohio Revised Code 5321.04 requires landlords to meet building and housing codes, keep premises fit and habitable, maintain electrical, plumbing, heating and other systems, and supply running water and reasonable heat. If a landlord fails to repair after written notice, ORC 5321.07 lets the tenant deposit rent with the clerk of court (escrow).
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1923 establishes uniform forcible entry and detainer procedures, and ORC 5321.17 sets termination notice requirements that govern evictions in every Ohio municipality.
Under Ohio Revised Code 5321.04(A)(8), a landlord must give a tenant reasonable notice before entering and may enter only at reasonable times, except in an emergency. The statute presumes that 24 hours is reasonable notice. A landlord who abuses entry rights faces damages, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, or lease termination.
Ohio has no statute capping rent late fees or requiring a grace period. A late fee is enforceable only if it appears in the written lease and is a reasonable estimate of the landlord's damages rather than a penalty. Courts apply common-law liquidated-damages principles and will not enforce an excessive charge.
Ohio Revised Code 5321.17 sets notice periods to end a periodic tenancy: 30 days for month-to-month and 7 days for week-to-week, given before the periodic rental date. A fixed-term lease simply expires at the end of its term. These no-cause notices are separate from the 3-day eviction notice for cause.
Ohio has no statute limiting rent amounts or requiring advance notice before a rent increase, and state law bars local rent control. During a fixed-term lease the rent is locked until the term ends. For a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord effectively imposes new rent by ending the old terms, which requires 30 days' notice.
Ohio sets no statutory cap on residential security deposits under Ohio Rev. Code 5321.16. The landlord must itemize deductions in writing and return the balance within 30 days after the tenant gives up possession. Deposits over $50 or one month's rent held six months or more earn 5% annual interest. Wrongful withholding exposes the landlord to double damages plus attorney's fees.
Ohio recognizes adverse possession after 21 years, the limitation period in Ohio Revised Code 2305.04 for an action to recover real property. A squatter must possess the land openly, notoriously, exclusively, continuously, and hostilely for the full 21 years and prove every element by clear and convincing evidence. A lawful tenant cannot gain title this way.
Ohio's constitutional minimum wage (Article II Section 34a) sets a state floor that adjusts annually with inflation, while ORC 4111.02 limits local action.
Ohio Senate Bill 331 added ORC 4113.85 preempting local paid sick leave, fringe benefit, and scheduling mandates on private employers statewide.
Ohio law preempts local predictive scheduling, fair workweek, and similar shift-notice ordinances, leaving employer scheduling unregulated by state mandate.
Ohio allows permitless concealed carry for qualifying adults aged 21 and over while still issuing concealed handgun licenses for reciprocity and other benefits.
Ohio Revised Code 9.68 preempts local firearm ordinances, reserving authority over firearms regulation almost entirely to the state legislature.
Ohio is an open-carry state for handguns and long guns by qualifying adults, with local restrictions largely preempted by state law under ORC 9.68.
Ohio Revised Code 2923.16 governs how loaded and unloaded firearms may be transported in motor vehicles, with statewide rules preempting local conflicts.
Ohio's Planned Community Law lets homeowners associations levy assessments and, when unpaid, record a lien foreclosed exactly like a mortgage. R.C. 5312.12 makes the lien prior to later encumbrances (but not first mortgages or tax liens) and reaches interest, late fees, and attorney's fees.
Ohio's Planned Community Law governs association governance in R.C. 5312.03-5312.07. R.C. 5312.04 covers election of officers, board powers, and meetings, and notably lets the board exclude non-director owners from board deliberations. R.C. 5312.07 gives owners a right to examine the association's books, records, and minutes, subject to reasonable limits.
Ohio planned-community boards may enforce the declaration, covenants, conditions, restrictions, and bylaws and may adopt and enforce rules under R.C. 5312.06. R.C. 5312.13 lets the association or an owner sue to compel compliance and recover damages. Amending the declaration itself requires 75% owner consent under R.C. 5312.05.
Ohio planned-community associations may levy "enforcement assessments" (fines) for violations of the declaration, bylaws, and rules under R.C. 5312.06, but R.C. 5312.11 requires written notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the board may impose the charge. There is no statewide dollar cap on the fine amount.
Ohio overrides HOA governing documents on two owner protections. R.C. 5312.16 (S.B. 61, eff. 2022) bars a planned community from banning solar collection devices unless the declaration specifically prohibits them, allowing only reasonable size/place/manner limits. R.C. 5301.072 makes covenants prohibiting U.S., Ohio, or POW/MIA flag display unenforceable, atop the federal flag act.
Ohio law limits township and county zoning authority over agricultural uses, preserving farming activities on land used primarily for agriculture.
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 929 establishes Agricultural Districts that provide right-to-farm protections against nuisance suits and certain local regulations.
Ohio House Bill 242 preempts local plastic bag bans and fees, requiring uniform statewide treatment of auxiliary containers including plastic bags.
Ohio HB 242's auxiliary container preemption extends to polystyrene foam food containers, blocking local bans on Styrofoam takeout packaging.
Ohio does not regulate single-use plastic straws statewide, and HB 242 prevents municipalities from banning or taxing them as auxiliary containers.
Ohio prohibits the sale of tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor products to anyone under 21 under ORC 2927.02 and related regulations.
Ohio HB 513 (2022) preempts local flavored tobacco and vapor product bans, reserving sales regulation to the state, with continued legal disputes.
Ohio requires retailers selling vapor products to hold a state license and comply with age-verification, packaging, and tax requirements under Title 57.