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Columbus, Ohio

Columbus Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for Columbus, Ohio.

How we research these summaries

Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.

What to Know in Columbus

Sources last checked July 2026

Columbus requires landlords who operate five or more rental units to offer new tenants the option of paying their security deposit in installments over three or six months — smaller operators are exempt — under its Renter's Choice ordinance. A 2024 ordinance requires relocation assistance when a property is declared uninhabitable or has serious code violations attributable to the landlord, and a Pay to Stay provision lets tenants halt a nonpayment eviction by tendering past-due rent and late fees. Ohio's ban leaves Columbus with no rent cap.

  • 3-day notice required before eviction for nonpayment of rent
  • 30-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
  • No rent control — no statutory cap on rent increases
  • Columbus has no local ordinance specifying a required notice period before a landlord increases rent.
  • Ohio state law (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16) sets no maximum security deposit amount and requires 5% annual interest on deposits exceeding one month's rent or $50 when held more...
5 rules summarized · Each linked to the law it cites

Columbus Local Rules

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in Columbus?

Columbus landlords must serve a 3-day notice to vacate for nonpayment of rent before filing an eviction action under Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04. Columbus City Code Chapter 4551 (Ordinance 2109-2023) provides a local Pay to Stay affirmative defense: tenants summoned to court for nonpayment of rent may stop the proceeding by tendering all past-due rent plus reasonable late fees before eviction is completed. Separately, Columbus City Code § 4509.061 (enacted 2024) requires landlords to provide relocation assistance to tenants when the rental property has been declared uninhabitable or has serious code violations attributable to the landlord. Landlords may not retaliate against tenants who report code violations (§ 4509.07). Ohio law does not require just cause for eviction or lease non-renewal.

Columbus City Code §§ 4551 (Ord. 2109-2023), 4509.061, 4509.07; Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04
Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

What is the move-out notice requirement in Columbus?

Columbus follows Ohio state law for move-out and lease termination notice requirements. Under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17, either the landlord or the tenant must give at least 30 days' written notice prior to the periodic rental date to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, at least 7 days' notice is required. Fixed-term leases expire at the end of the lease term without requiring a separate notice to vacate, unless the lease agreement specifies otherwise. Columbus City Code Chapter 4551 does not impose additional local move-out notice obligations beyond the state minimums. Tenants should review their lease for any contractual notice requirements exceeding the statutory floor.

Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17
Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Is there rent control in Columbus?

Columbus cannot impose rent control or rent stabilization. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.19, enacted via HB 430 (signed by Governor DeWine on June 24, 2022), prohibits all Ohio political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing rent control or rent stabilization measures on private residential properties. No Columbus ordinance caps rent increases, and any attempt to enact such a measure would be void under state preemption. Landlords may increase rent by any amount between lease terms or upon proper notice for month-to-month tenancies, limited only by the prohibition on retaliatory rent increases under § 5321.02.

Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.19
Rent Increase Notice Periods

How much notice is required for rent increases in Columbus?

Columbus has no local ordinance specifying a required notice period before a landlord increases rent. Ohio state law does not establish a statutory minimum notice period for rent increases, but rent may not be raised during a fixed-term lease. For month-to-month tenancies, written notice of at least 30 days before the next rental date is standard practice, aligned with the termination notice period under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17. Columbus City Code § 4551.03 prohibits landlords from denying rental based on a tenant's legal source of income, which also applies to rental terms and conditions. Retaliatory rent increases are prohibited under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.02 and Columbus City Code § 4509.07.

Ohio Rev. Code §§ 5321.02, 5321.17; Columbus City Code § 4509.07
Security Deposit Limits

What is the security deposit limit in Columbus?

Ohio state law (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16) sets no maximum security deposit amount and requires 5% annual interest on deposits exceeding one month's rent or $50 when held more than six months, with a 30-day return deadline. Columbus City Code § 4551.04 (Renter's Choice, Ordinance 0495-2021) additionally requires landlords who operate five (5) or more rental units to give new tenants the option to pay their security deposit in installments over either three or six months rather than as a lump sum at lease signing. Operators with fewer than five rental units are exempt from the installment requirement. Landlords must issue written receipts for the security deposit and all rental payments at the time of payment; if payment is by cash or non-auto-receipt method, the receipt must be provided within 4 business days (§ 4551.05). Landlords also may not refuse rent payment tendered by a third party on the tenant's behalf (§ 4551.06).

Columbus City Code §§ 4551.04, 4551.05; Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16

Other Ohio Cities & Counties

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