Cincinnati, OH Rental Property Rules: Tenant Anti-Harassment (2026)
Key Facts
- Code chapter
- CMC Ch. 1011
- Year enacted
- 2018
- Self-help eviction
- Prohibited
- State backstop
- ORC Ch. 5321
Summary
The Cincinnati Tenant Protection Ordinance in CMC Chapter 1011, enacted in 2018, prohibits landlord harassment of tenants, including threats, lockouts, utility shutoffs, and retaliatory conduct intended to force a tenant out without legal process.
(A) No landlord of residential premises shall initiate any act, including termination of utilities or services, exclusion from the premises, or threat of any unlawful act, against a tenant, or a tenant whose right to possession has terminated, for the purpose of recovering possession of residential premises, other than as provided in Chapters 1923., 5303., and 5321. of the Revised Code.
(B) No landlord of residential premises shall seize the furnishings or possessions of a tenant, or of a tenant whose right to possession has terminated, for the purpose of recovering rent payments, other than in accordance with an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(C) A landlord who violates this section is liable in a civil action for all damages caused to a tenant, or to a tenant whose right to possession has terminated, together with reasonable attorneys fees.
Full Breakdown
CMC Chapter 1011 codifies a Cincinnati-specific tenant protection framework. It bans self-help eviction, prohibits intentional disruption of essential services such as water, heat, or electricity, and forbids retaliatory rent increases or non-renewals after a tenant exercises a protected right. The ordinance complements Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321, which sets baseline landlord duties statewide, and it gives Cincinnati tenants additional administrative remedies through the city. Tenants who experience harassment can file complaints with the city, and landlords face fines, restoration orders, and potential civil liability for proven violations.
Violations & Fines
Lockouts, utility shutoffs, threats, and retaliatory rent or notice actions designed to force out a tenant without a court order can trigger civil fines, damages, and orders restoring possession or services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Cincinnati landlord shut off the water to force me out?
What counts as retaliation under the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cincinnati
Compare Cincinnati to another location·View the Ohio rental property rules overview
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