Landlord laws
Ohio landlord-tenant law
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321 (Landlords and Tenants) and Chapter 1923 (official text, codes.ohio.gov)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | Not specified in state statute. Ohio law sets no maximum security deposit. We checked every section of Chapter 5321 (§§ 5321.01–5321.20). | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 | Not in statute |
| Deposit return deadline | Within 30 days after the lease ends and the tenant gives back possession, return the deposit along with a written, itemized list of any deductions. The tenant must give you a forwarding address in writing. If you don't comply, the tenant can recover the amount wrongly withheld, plus an equal amount in damages, plus attorney's fees. | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(B)–(C) | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | If the tenant stays 6 months or more, pay 5% annual interest on the part of the deposit above $50 or one month's rent, whichever is greater. Compute and pay it every year. No separate-account rule appears in the statute. | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(A) | Verified |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Not specified in state statute. Ohio statutes set no late-fee cap and require no grace period. We checked every section of Chapter 5321. Put the fee in the lease and keep it reasonable. (Whether a fee is reasonable is decided under case law and contract law, not a statute.) Note: Late-fee reasonableness comes from case law and contract law, not statute. | Ohio Rev. Code ch. 5321 | Not in statute |
| Landlord entry notice | Except in an emergency or when notice is impracticable, give reasonable notice and enter only at reasonable times. Twenty-four hours is presumed reasonable. | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.04(A)(8) | Verified |
| Rent increase notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a rent-increase notice period. We checked every section of Chapter 5321. A month-to-month tenancy ends on at least 30 days' notice before the rent date (7 days for week-to-week), so give at least that much before changing rent. You can't raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it. | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17 | Not in statute |
| Rent control status | Rent control is preempted statewide. Cities and other political subdivisions may not impose rent control or rent stabilization on private housing (amended 2022). The law has exceptions for housing a city owns and for voluntary incentive programs. | Ohio Rev. Code §§ 5321.19, 5321.20 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | Give a notice to leave at least 3 days before filing. Deliver it in person, by certified mail (return receipt), or by leaving it at the home. It must include the statutory warning: "You are being asked to leave the premises. If you do not leave, an eviction action may be initiated against you. If you are in doubt regarding your legal rights and obligations as a tenant, it is recommended that you seek legal assistance." | Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04(A) | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | If a tenant's breach materially affects health and safety, give a written notice naming the problem. The lease ends on a date at least 30 days after the tenant receives it, unless the tenant fixes it. Before filing any eviction, you also need the 3-day notice to leave under § 1923.04. | Ohio Rev. Code §§ 5321.11, 1923.04 | Verified |
| Required disclosures | Every written lease must state the name and address of the owner and of any agent. For an oral lease, give this in writing at move-in. If you don't, you lose the right to certain tenant notices. For pre-1978 housing, give the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.18; 40 CFR 745.113 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | Ohio adds military status and ancestry to the federal classes (race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin). Local ordinances may add more. | Ohio Rev. Code § 4112.02(H) | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for Ohio landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.