Ohio Rent Increase Law
Ohio has no rent-increase notice statute, so raise rent only at lease renewal or, for month-to-month tenants, with notice at least 30 days before a rent due date as for a termination (R.C. 5321.17(B) by analogy). Ohio has no rent control and bars cities and counties from adopting it.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Ohio rent increase rules at a glance
| Notice of a rent increase | No state ruleOhio Rev. Code Chapter 5321 (silent on rent increases), Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17(B) |
|---|---|
| Rent control | None; cities barred from adopting itOhio Rev. Code § 5321.19(A)-(B) |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy | 30 days (either side)Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17(B) |
Rent control
- In effect since .
- Before : Under the 1991 HB 77 version, municipalities and townships could not adopt ordinances conflicting with or regulating rights/obligations covered by Chapter 5321, but rent control was not expressly named.
What Ohio law says
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Ohio?
Ohio has no rent-increase notice statute, so raise rent only at lease renewal or, for month-to-month tenants, with notice at least 30 days before a rent due date as for a termination (R.C. 5321.17(B) by analogy) (Ohio Rev. Code Chapter 5321 (silent on rent increases)).
Does Ohio have rent control?
Ohio has no rent control and state law bars cities from adopting or enforcing rent control or rent stabilization on private housing (R.C. 5321.19) (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.19(A)-(B)).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Ohio?
Either side may end a month-to-month tenancy with notice given at least 30 days before a rent due date, or 7 days before the termination date for week-to-week (R.C. 5321.17(A)-(B)) (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17(B)).
How Ohio compares
23 of 51 verified jurisdictions set a statewide period.
Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia follow the same rule as Ohio; 1 of its 5 neighbors differs.
| Rent-increase notice | States |
|---|---|
| No statewide period | Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia |
| 30 days (more in some cases) | Indiana |
Local rules in Ohio
Ohio cities have home-rule powers but R.C. 5321.19 (2022 HB 430) bars local rent control/stabilization and any local measure that conflicts with or regulates rights and obligations already regulated by Chapter 5321. Several cities still have tenant ordinances whose enforceability against 5321.19 is unsettled, e.g. Columbus (2021 source-of-income protection, deposit installment payments and cash receipts; 2023 pay-to-stay and third-party rent payment; Dec. 2024 Ordinance 3525-2024 requiring advance notice of rent increases) and pay-to-stay / source-of-income ordinances in Cleveland, Toledo and other cities. Check the local code.
Other Ohio rules
| Security deposit limit | No state capOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16 |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after move-outOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16(B) |
| Late-fee cap | No statutory cap; a late fee must be a reasonable liquidated-damages amount (not a penalty) and courts may limit unconscionable fees under R.C. 5321.14.Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.14 (unconscionable clauses), Drake Townhomes, LLC v. Woodberry, 2017-Ohio-6968 (1st Dist.) |
| Entry notice | 24 hours' noticeOhio Rev. Code § 5321.04(A)(8), Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.05(B) |
| Notice for unpaid rent | 3 days (3-day notice to leave the premises)Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04(A), Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.02(A) |