Columbus City Code Chapter 4565 prohibits landlord retaliation against tenants who report code violations, request repairs, or organize. The Tenant Protection Office investigates complaints, and ORC §5321.02 backs up state-level retaliation remedies.
CCC Chapter 4565, expanded by Ordinance 2078-2023, makes it unlawful for landlords to threaten, intimidate, lock out, shut off utilities, or constructively evict tenants who exercise protected rights. Protected acts include reporting health-code violations to Columbus Public Health, requesting habitability repairs, joining tenant associations, or filing complaints with the Tenant Protection Office. Ohio Revised Code §5321.02 reinforces these protections statewide, presuming retaliation if adverse action follows a tenant complaint within a defined window. Self-help eviction (changing locks, removing doors, shutting off water) is independently prohibited under ORC §5321.15 and triggers statutory damages.
Self-help eviction or retaliation triggers statutory damages of all reasonable harm caused plus reasonable attorney fees under ORC §5321.15(C) and CCC §4565 civil penalties up to $1,000 per incident.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Columbus, OH
Columbus Fire Code Title 25 incorporates the International Fire Code Chapter 61 governing propane and LP-gas storage. Residential cylinders are limited in si...
Columbus, OH
Columbus has no city ordinance regulating year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays at single-family properties. The Title 33 Graphics Code ...
Columbus, OH
Columbus has no zoning, building, or graphics-code provision specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. The Title 33 Graphics Code exem...
Columbus, OH
Columbus has no city ordinance restricting when residents may install or must remove holiday lights at single-family homes. The Columbus Graphics Code (Title...
Columbus, OH
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Columbus require permits from the Department of Building and Zoning Services when they involve gas-line extensions, electrical w...
Columbus, OH
Columbus has no ordinance specifically targeting backyard smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens at single- or two-family homes. General nuisance provis...
See how Columbus's tenant anti-harassment rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.