Fair Housing: Ohio

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, legal advice. This page is not intended to provide a mandatory standard of care for the industry. Please consult with local counsel before taking any action based off of the information provided. 

On these pages, you will find information about 1) the protected classes in each state’s fair housing law, 2) protected classes in the cities and counties in the state’s three largest city or metropolitan areas, and 3) protected class information in additional jurisdictions of interest to NAA members. We highlight source of income protections, where applicable, that could substantially impact industry operations. Please see the footnotes. NAA also has resources on the federal fair housing protections that apply nationwide.

We are currently in the process of optimizing NAA’s Fair Housing Protected Class Resources. If you do not see a jurisdiction of interest, please reach out to the NAA Government Affairs Team at [email protected].

Information on this page is current as of September 2022.

Ohio Protected Classes

(State of Ohio Revised Code Annotated §§2927.03; §4112.02)

  • Race
  • Color
  • National Origin
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Familial Status
  • Disability
  • Ancestry
  • Military Status

 

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Portage County Board of Commissioners)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Kent Protected Classes

(Kent Municipal Code §§ 557.01 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

• Gender Identity

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Stark County Agendas and Minutes)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Canton Protected Classes

(Canton Municipal Code §§ 515.01 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Gender Identity
  • Sexual Orientation

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Butler County Resolutions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Clermont County Agendas)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Hamilton County Government)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes.

City of Cincinnati Protected Classes

(Cincinnati Municipal Code, § 740-11)

A Holder of a Certificate of Family Participation under the Section 8 Existing Housing Program or a recipient of any other government housing allowance program.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Warren County Agendas, Minutes, and Resolutions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Cuyahoga County Code § 1501.02[A])​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Sexual Orientation

City of Cleveland Protected Classes​

(City of Cleveland Code §665.03)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  •  Age
  • Ethnicity
  • Marital Status
  • Vietnam-era or Disabled Veteran

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Lake County Commissioners' Meeting Records)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Lorian County Agendas and Minutes)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Delaware County Government)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Fairfield County Agendas and Minutes)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Franklin County Government)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes.

City of Columbus Protected Classes

(City of Columbus Municipal Code §2331.02; §4551.03)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Source of Income2

2Source of Income means any lawful source of income which can be verified and substantiated, including but not limited to, income derived from wages, social security, supplemental security income, public or private sources, and all forms of federal, state or local assistance payments or subsidies, including rent vouchers, child support, spousal support, and public assistance.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Montgomery County Resolutions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Dayton Protected Classes

(Dayton Municipal Code § 32.05)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Gender Identity
  • Marital Status
  • Sexual Orientation