Ohio Ordinances (2026)

Ohio Revised Code 3781.06 and the Residential Code of Ohio exempt one-story detached accessory structures of 200 square feet or less from state building permit requirements, though local zoning still applies.

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.

Ohio's companion animal cruelty law universally criminalizes neglect typical of hoarding situations, with felony penalties applying uniformly regardless of municipal boundaries.

Ohio repealed automatic pit bull dangerous classification in 2012, requiring individual behavioral assessment statewide, though cities retain home rule to enact breed restrictions.

Ohio law shields qualifying agricultural operations from local livestock nuisance suits, but cities retain zoning authority over backyard chickens and small livestock outside agricultural districts.

Ohio law universally requires dog owners to keep dogs confined or under reasonable control at all times, with municipalities free to add stricter local leash ordinances.

Ohio's Dangerous Wild Animal Act preempts local rules by banning private possession of lions, tigers, bears, primates, and other listed species statewide with limited grandfathered permits.

Ohio Division of Wildlife regulations universally prohibit feeding deer in disease zones and feeding most wildlife in ways that create nuisance, with statewide bear and waterfowl rules.

Ohio Building Code under ORC Chapter 3781 sets construction-type height limits applying statewide, while local zoning controls additional height restrictions through home rule authority.

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3780, enacted by Issue 2 in 2023, authorizes adults age twenty-one and older to grow up to six marijuana plants per person and twelve per household, establishing a uniform statewide right that municipalities cannot prohibit.

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 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.

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1521 designates the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Water Resources as the state coordinating agency for the National Flood Insurance Program, requiring local floodplain regulations meet federal minimum standards statewide.

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6111 grants the Ohio EPA exclusive authority to regulate stormwater discharges to waters of the state under the federal NPDES program, establishing universal permit requirements for construction sites and MS4 communities.

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 971 governs partition fences between adjoining rural property owners, applying universally to establish responsibilities for shared boundary fences.

Ohio Residential Code Section AG105 sets statewide pool barrier requirements adopted by the Ohio Board of Building Standards, applying uniformly to one-, two-, and three-family dwellings.

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3743 governs fireworks statewide, licensing manufacturers and wholesalers and setting baseline rules for consumer fireworks discharge on designated holidays unless a political subdivision opts out.

Ohio Administrative Code 3745-19 establishes statewide open burning restrictions enforced by the Ohio EPA, prohibiting burning of garbage, materials containing rubber or plastic, and most waste regardless of local rules.

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.

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 licenses all food trucks as Mobile Food Service Operations through local health districts under uniform state rules in ORC Chapter 3717 and OAC Chapter 3717-1.

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.

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.

Ohio Revised Code 971.33 and 5579.04 require landowners to cut noxious weeds, with township trustees authorized to enter property and assess removal costs against the parcel as a tax lien.

Aircraft noise in Ohio is regulated almost exclusively by the Federal Aviation Administration, leaving local governments and the state with limited authority over flight-related noise issues.

Ohio does not set numeric statewide industrial noise limits, but Ohio EPA permitting and nuisance law apply universally to industrial facilities regardless of municipal boundaries.

Ohio Revised Code 4513.60 through 4513.65 establishes a uniform statewide process for removing, storing, and disposing of abandoned junk motor vehicles from public and private property, applying universally across all Ohio jurisdictions.

Ohio provides counties and municipalities statewide authority to declare blight, expedite tax foreclosure, and abate nuisances under ORC Chapters 1.08, 323, and 3767.

Ohio common law gives abutting property owners no general duty to remove natural snow accumulation, though municipalities may impose statutory sidewalk-clearing duties locally.

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.

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321 governs landlord-tenant relations uniformly without authorizing rent control, and no Ohio municipality has implemented rent control under existing home-rule authority.

Ohio Revised Code 5321.18 requires every landlord of residential premises to file owner contact information with the county auditor, with civil penalties for noncompliance regardless of municipal rental registration programs.

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 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.

Ohio Revised Code 5739.02 and 5739.09 establish the state sales tax and local lodging excise tax framework that applies to transient accommodations under 30 days, including short-term rentals booked through platforms like Airbnb.

Ohio Revised Code Section 3517.20 universally requires identification disclaimers on political campaign signs, while ORC 5501.42 prohibits unauthorized signs in state highway rights-of-way.

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.

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.

Ohio adopts the residential and commercial building codes statewide governing solar PV electrical and structural permits, while utility interconnection follows uniform PUCO rules.

Ohio Residential Code applies barrier rules uniformly to above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches, with ladder removal or locking required when not in use.

Ohio's adopted Residential Code sets uniform statewide barrier requirements for private pools over 24 inches deep, including 4-foot fencing and self-closing gates, enforced locally.

Ohio code regulates hot tubs and spas with locked covers or barriers when over 24 inches deep, plus public spa licensing under the same statute as pools.

Ohio Department of Health licenses all public swimming pools annually under uniform standards, while residential pool permits remain a local matter handled by city building departments.

Ohio Administrative Code 3701-31 universally governs public pool safety equipment, lifeguard ratios, and signage, applying uniformly to every licensed public pool statewide.

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.