Ohio eviction rules for tenants

Notice for unpaid rent

3-day notice to leave the premises before the landlord can file. It must be delivered by certified mail, by hand, or left at your home, and must contain the warning paragraph 'You are being asked to leave the premises...'. The law does not exclude weekends or holidays.

Notice for a lease violation

For breaking duties that materially affect health and safety, the landlord may give a written notice ending the lease at least 30 days after you receive it. If you fix the problem in that time, the lease does not end. For other lease breaches, a 3-day notice to leave can be used.

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

At least 30 days before the next rent due date, by landlord or tenant. Week-to-week: 7 days.

Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit

The summons gives the hearing date; it must be served on you at least 7 days before that date (Ohio Rev. Code 1923.06). Go to the hearing. You may file a written answer before it, and you can ask for a continuance to find a lawyer. If the landlord also sues for money, your answer to that money claim is due 28 days after service.

Lockouts and utility shutoffs

A landlord may not shut off utilities or services, lock you out, or threaten illegal acts to make you leave, and may not seize your belongings for unpaid rent without a court order. You can sue for all damages plus attorney fees.

Court self-help

The court's eviction self-help page

Law

Ohio Rev. Code 1923.04, 1923.06, 5321.11, 5321.15, 5321.17

The landlord may not raise your rent, cut services, or file or threaten eviction because you complained to a government agency about code violations, complained to the landlord about repairs, or joined a tenant group. You can use retaliation as a defense in an eviction and sue for actual damages plus attorney fees. There is no presumption time period. Ohio Rev. Code 5321.02.

Notice of a rent increase

No statute sets a special notice for rent increases. In practice, a month-to-month rent change needs at least 30 days' notice before the rent due date, because that is the notice needed to end the tenancy (Ohio Rev. Code 5321.17).

Rent control

No statewide rent cap. State law bans cities from rent control or rent stabilization on private housing. Ohio Rev. Code 5321.19 (as amended by HB 430, 2022).