Cincinnati, OH Rental Property Rules: Rent Control (2026)
Rent control rules in Cincinnati, OH, also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances, limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
Key Facts
- Local rent control
- Prohibited (ORC 5321.19)
- Enacted
- September 2022
- Statewide rent cap
- None
- Termination notice
- 30 days (ORC 5321.17)
- Retaliatory increase
- Barred (ORC 5321.02)
Summary
Ohio prohibits local rent control under ORC 5321.19, enacted in 2022. There is no statewide cap and no statute requiring notice of a rent increase. Retaliatory rent increases are expressly barred.
(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no political subdivision may enact, adopt, renew, maintain, enforce, or continue in existence any charter provision, ordinance, resolution, rule, or other measure that is in conflict with this chapter, or that regulates the rights and obligations of parties to a rental agreement that are regulated by this chapter, including, without limitation, by any way imposing or requiring rent control or rent stabilization.
(B) This chapter does not preempt any of the following:
(1) Housing, building, health, or safety code, or any ordinance as described in division (A)(9) of section 5321.04 of the Revised Code, of any political subdivision;
(2) Charter provision, ordinance, resolution, rule, or other measure of a political subdivision that regulates, or has the effect of regulating in any way, rent charged or paid for the use of residential premises that such political subdivision owns or operates;
(3) A political subdivision from adopting any charter provision, ordinance, resolution, rule, or other measure to implement a plan to use voluntary incentives or agreements that regulates, or has the effect of regulating in any way, rent charged or paid for the use of residential premises so long as such regulating is related to voluntary incentives or agreements to increase or maintain the supply or improve the quality of available residential premises, including, without limitation, incentives authorized by federal law, the incentives set forth in sections 3735.65 to 3735.70 of the Revised Code, tax abatements, tax credit financing, bond or other financing, or loans or grants from the political subdivision. Last updated October 20, 2022 at 9:57 AM
Full Breakdown
Ohio bars local rent control under ORC 5321.19, effective September 2022. No political subdivision may enact any measure regulating rental-agreement rights covered by Chapter 5321, including by imposing rent control or rent stabilization. The companion section 5321.20 declares the subject one of statewide concern, language drafted to survive Ohio's home rule protections. Three exceptions apply: building codes, property the subdivision itself owns, and voluntary incentive or tax-abatement programs. There is no statewide cap and no rent-increase notice statute; ending a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days under section 5321.17. Section 5321.02 expressly bars retaliatory rent increases.
Violations & Fines
There is no rent cap to violate. A rent increase imposed in retaliation for a protected tenant act violates ORC 5321.02, and the tenant may recover damages and attorney's fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Ohio city adopt rent stabilization?
Is a retaliatory rent increase illegal in Ohio?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cincinnati
Compare Cincinnati to another location·View the Ohio rental property rules overview
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