Ohio Statewide Rule

Ohio Rental Registration With the County Auditor

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Ohio (2026)

Key Facts

Statute: ORC 5323.02
Applies In: Counties over 200,000 residents
Filing: County auditor
Penalty: $50-$150 special assessment

Last verified: August 20, 2026Source: Ohio Laws & Administrative Rules

Summary

Ohio Revised Code 5323.02 requires owners of residential rental property in counties with more than 200,000 residents to file owner contact information with the county auditor, while ORC 5321.18 requires every rental agreement statewide to disclose the owner's name and address.

(A) Every written rental agreement for residential premises shall contain the name and address of the owner and the name and address of the owner's agent, if any. If the owner or the owner's agent is a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, association, trust, or other entity, the address shall be the principal place of business in the county in which the residential property is situated or if there is no place of business in such county then its principal place of business in this state, and shall include the name of the person in charge thereof. (B) If the rental agreement is oral, the landlord, at the commencement of the term of occupancy, shall deliver to tenant a written notice containing the information required in division (A) of this section. (C) If the landlord fails to provide the notice of the name and address of the owner and owner's agent, if any, required under division (A) or (B) of this section, the notices to the landlord required under division (A) of section 5321.07 and division (A) of section 5321.08 of the Revised Code shall be waived by the landlord and his agent.

Source: Ohio Laws & Administrative RulesView official code

Full Breakdown

ORC Chapter 5323 applies in Ohio's largest counties: under ORC 5323.01, residential rental property means rental dwellings in a county with a population over 200,000, and ORC 5323.02 requires those owners to file their name, address, and phone number with the county auditor and update the filing within 60 days of any change. Out-of-state owners must designate an in-state agent. Separately, ORC 5321.18 requires every written rental agreement statewide to contain the name and address of the owner and any agent. Local rental licensing or inspection programs in cities like Cleveland and Columbus are layered on top of these state rules.

Violations & Penalties

Noncompliance can bring a special assessment of $50 to $150 on the rental property under ORC 5323.99, and rental agreements missing owner disclosures waive certain tenant notice duties under ORC 5321.18.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must Ohio landlords register with the county auditor?

Only in counties with more than 200,000 residents. There, ORC 5323.02 requires every owner of residential rental property to file name, address, and phone number with the county auditor. Out-of-state owners must also designate an in-state agent.

What happens if an Ohio landlord fails to register?

Under ORC 5323.99, the county can levy a special assessment of $50 to $150 on the property, collected like other assessments and appealable to the county board of revision.

Sources

Ohio Revised Code 5321.18

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