Springfield, OH Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

The Rental Property Registration Program applies to every Rental Dwelling Unit in Springfield regardless of whether a tenant currently occupies it, under Section 1390.02 and 1390.06(b). The registration form must include, at minimum, the owner's or a corporate representative's name, address, phone, and email; the same for a designated agent; a 24-hour emergency contact; and the parcel identification number from the Clark County Auditor's Office, under Section 1390.06(d). No post office box is accepted as a legal address for these purposes under Section 1390.06(f). The annual registration fee is $35 for a single-unit rental and $25 per unit for a building with two or more units, capped at $750 total per owner across the city even if the units are held through multiple LLCs, under Section 1390.08.

A Rental License lasts three years before renewal is required under Section 1390.07(a), and a sale or transfer of the property ends the license immediately, requiring the new owner to apply for a new license within five days of closing. If a unit sits vacant more than 90 days, it's treated as vacant under Section 1390.09 and cannot be reoccupied without a valid Rental License, and the owner must secure it against trespass and vandalism in the meantime. Failing to register, or failing to maintain the requirements needed to keep a license, is grounds for license revocation or denial of renewal under Section 1390.05(c), and is a Class A Civil Offense under Section 1390.12, carrying the civil fine schedule set at Section 1324.99.