Ohio law requires some landlords to register in the county where the property is located. If the property is located in a county with 200,000 or more residents registration is done with the county auditor. The property manager’s name, address, and phone number must be supplied to the county auditor. Other information that must be supplied is the address for the property, the permanent parcel number for the property, and the year it was built.

If your property is in Ohio and you live elsewhere, or if the property is held in an entity name that is not registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, an Ohio resident must be named for service of process for any legal action or proceeding.

Whether you’re a resident landlord or a non-resident, failure to comply with the registration requirements can result in a minor misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $150 imposed on the landlord.