Ohio · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
Ohio tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in Ohio, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
Guides for Ohio renters
Security deposit
Limit, deadline, deductions, penalty and the calculator.
Repairs
The landlord's duty, repair and deduct, withholding rent and a repair letter.
Eviction
Notice periods, court deadlines, illegal lockouts and a timeline tool.
Security deposit in Ohio
- Limit
- No statewide limit.
- Deadline to return it
- Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver the refund and a written list of any deductions. You must give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. If you don't, you lose the right to the extra damages and attorney fees.
- Itemized list
- Yes. Every deduction must be itemized and explained in a written notice sent with the money owed, within 30 days. Receipts are not required by the law.
- What may be deducted
- Past-due rent and damage the landlord suffered because you did not meet your duties under the law or the lease (for example, damage beyond normal use, failing to keep the unit clean and safe).
- Interest
- Yes, in some cases. If you stay 6 months or more, the landlord must pay 5% a year on the part of the deposit that is more than $50 or one month's rent, whichever is greater. It is paid every year.
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- The money wrongly kept, plus damages equal to the amount wrongfully withheld (so up to twice that amount in total), plus reasonable attorney fees. Only if you gave a forwarding address in writing.
How to get your deposit back
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Ohio: You must give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
- Wait for the deadline: Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver the refund and a written list of any deductions.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $6,000. Small claims court in Ohio on Small Claims Map
Repairs in Ohio
- The landlord's duty
- The landlord must follow building, housing, health and safety codes; make all repairs needed to keep the home fit and habitable; keep common areas safe and sanitary; keep electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning, appliances and elevators working; supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat; and, in buildings with 4 or more units, provide trash containers and removal. Ohio Rev. Code 5321.04.
- How to ask for repairs
- Give the landlord written notice listing the problems, sent to the person or place where you normally pay rent. Keep a copy. The landlord then has a reasonable time, no more than 30 days, to fix it.
- Repair and deduct
- Not allowed by statute. Ohio uses rent escrow with the court instead.
- Withholding rent
- Do not just stop paying. Ohio allows rent escrow: after written notice, if the landlord doesn't fix the problem within a reasonable time or 30 days (whichever is sooner), and you are current on rent, you may deposit your rent with the clerk of the municipal or county court instead of paying the landlord. You may also ask the court to order repairs or lower the rent. Not available against landlords with 3 or fewer units who told you so in writing, or for student tenants.
- Law
- Ohio Rev. Code 5321.04, 5321.07
Landlord entry in Ohio
Reasonable notice, and entry only at reasonable times. 24 hours is presumed reasonable. No notice is needed in an emergency or when notice is impracticable. If the landlord enters illegally or harasses you with repeated demands, you can sue for damages and attorney fees or end the lease. Ohio Rev. Code 5321.04(A)(8), (B).
Eviction in Ohio
- 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
- Yes. 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
Rent increases and rent control in Ohio
- 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).
Late fees in Ohio
No statute caps late fees or sets a grace period.
Retaliation in Ohio
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.
Small claims court in Ohio
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $6,000.
Where to get free help in Ohio
Good to know in Ohio
- Ohio's repair remedy is rent escrow: you pay the rent to the court clerk, not to the landlord, and only if you are current on rent.
- Cities cannot pass rent control in Ohio.
- Ohio Legal Help says some cities have a right-to-counsel program giving free lawyers to some low-income tenants facing eviction.
Free tools for Ohio renters
Pre-set for Ohio. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for Ohio
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for Ohio
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Repair request letter for Ohio
Ask your landlord in writing to fix the problem by a date. A written, dated request is the first step in almost every state, and it is proof that the landlord knew. Check the problems, add dates, then download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it). Sign it, keep a copy and photos, and send it in a way you can prove.
Eviction notice timeline for Ohio
Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.
This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.
Questions about renters' rights in Ohio
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Ohio?
No statewide limit.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Ohio?
Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver the refund and a written list of any deductions. You must give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. If you don't, you lose the right to the extra damages and attorney fees.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Ohio?
The money wrongly kept, plus damages equal to the amount wrongfully withheld (so up to twice that amount in total), plus reasonable attorney fees. Only if you gave a forwarding address in writing.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Ohio?
Past-due rent and damage the landlord suffered because you did not meet your duties under the law or the lease (for example, damage beyond normal use, failing to keep the unit clean and safe).
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Ohio?
Yes, in some cases. If you stay 6 months or more, the landlord must pay 5% a year on the part of the deposit that is more than $50 or one month's rent, whichever is greater. It is paid every year.
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in Ohio?
Give the landlord written notice listing the problems, sent to the person or place where you normally pay rent. Keep a copy. The landlord then has a reasonable time, no more than 30 days, to fix it.
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in Ohio?
Not allowed by statute. Ohio uses rent escrow with the court instead.
Can I withhold rent for repairs in Ohio?
Do not just stop paying. Ohio allows rent escrow: after written notice, if the landlord doesn't fix the problem within a reasonable time or 30 days (whichever is sooner), and you are current on rent, you may deposit your rent with the clerk of the municipal or county court instead of paying the landlord. You may also ask the court to order repairs or lower the rent. Not available against landlords with 3 or fewer units who told you so in writing, or for student tenants.
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in Ohio?
Reasonable notice, and entry only at reasonable times. 24 hours is presumed reasonable. No notice is needed in an emergency or when notice is impracticable. If the landlord enters illegally or harasses you with repeated demands, you can sue for damages and attorney fees or end the lease. Ohio Rev. Code 5321.04(A)(8), (B).
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Ohio?
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.
How much notice for a lease violation in Ohio?
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.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Ohio?
At least 30 days before the next rent due date, by landlord or tenant. Week-to-week: 7 days.
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Ohio?
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.
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Ohio?
Yes. 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.
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in Ohio?
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).
Is there rent control in Ohio?
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).
Is there a limit on late fees in Ohio?
No statute caps late fees or sets a grace period.
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in Ohio?
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.
What is the small claims limit in Ohio?
$6,000.
- Ohio Rev. Code 5321.16
- Ohio Rev. Code 5321.04 Landlord obligations
- Ohio Rev. Code 5321.07 Tenant remedies (rent escrow)
- Ohio Rev. Code 5321.15 Prohibited landlord acts
- Ohio Rev. Code 1923.04 Notice to leave
- Ohio Rev. Code 5321.19 Preemption of rent control
- Ohio Legal Help: Eviction
Last checked: Oct 2026.