Ohio Rev. Code § 1923 § 1923.01

Jurisdiction in forcible entry and detainer - definitions.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/2/2026
effective 4/9/2025OhioEviction & Just Cause

Operative Text

Ohio Rev. Code § 1923 § 1923.01
(A) As provided in this chapter, any judge of a county or municipal court or a court of common pleas, within the judge's proper area of jurisdiction, may inquire about persons who make unlawful and forcible entry into lands or tenements and detain them, and about persons who make a lawful and peaceable entry into lands or tenements and hold them unlawfully and by force. If, upon the inquiry, it is found that an unlawful and forcible entry has been made and the lands or tenements are detained, or that, after a lawful entry, lands or tenements are held unlawfully and by force, a judge shall cause the plaintiff in an action under this chapter to have restitution of the lands or tenements.
(B) An action shall be brought under this chapter within two years after the cause of action accrues.
(C) As used in this chapter:
(1) "Tenant" means a person who is entitled under a rental agreement to the use or occupancy of premises, other than premises located in a manufactured home park, to the exclusion of others, except that as used in division (A)(6) of section 1923.02 and section 1923.051 of the Revised Code, "tenant" includes a manufactured home park resident.
(2) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of premises, or the agent or person the landlord authorizes to manage premises or to receive rent from a tenant under a rental agreement, except, if required by the facts of the action to which the term is applied, "landlord" means a park operator.
(3) "Resident" has the same meaning as in section 4781.01 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Residential premises" has the same meaning as in section 5321.01 of the Revised Code, except, if required by the facts of the action to which the term is applied, "residential premises" has the same meaning as in section 4781.01 of the Revised Code.
(5) "Rental agreement" means any agreement or lease, written or oral, that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, rules, or other provisions concerning the use or occupancy of premises by one of the parties to the agreement or lease, except that "rental agreement," as used in division (A)(13) of section 1923.02 of the Revised Code and where the context requires as used in this chapter, means a rental agreement as defined in division (D) of section 5322.01 of the Revised Code.
(6) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.
(7) "School premises" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.
(8) "Sexually oriented offense" and "child-victim oriented offense" have the same meanings as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.
(9) "Recreational vehicle" and "mobile home" have the same meanings as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.
(10) "Manufactured home" has the same meaning as in section 3781.06 of the Revised Code.
(11) "Manufactured home park" has the same meaning as in section 4781.01 of the Revised Code and also means any tract of land upon which one or two manufactured or mobile homes used for habitation are parked, either free of charge or for revenue purposes, pursuant to rental agreements between the owners of the manufactured or mobile homes and the owner of the tract of land.
(12) "Park operator" has the same meaning as in section 4781.01 of the Revised Code and also means a landlord of premises upon which one or two manufactured or mobile homes used for habitation are parked, either free of charge or for revenue purposes, pursuant to rental agreements between the owners of the manufactured or mobile homes and a landlord who is not licensed as a manufactured home park operator pursuant to Chapter 4781. of the Revised Code.
(13) "Personal property" means tangible personal property other than a manufactured home, mobile home, or recreational vehicle that is the subject of an action under this chapter.
(14) "Preschool or child care center premises" has the same meaning as in section 2950.034 of the Revised Code.
(15) "Minor tenant" means a tenant under eighteen years of age who is not emancipated.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 § 1923.01 establishes the foundational framework for forcible entry and detainer (eviction) proceedings in Ohio. It grants county, municipal, and common pleas courts the authority to hear cases involving either an unlawful forcible entry onto property or a lawful entry that later becomes an unlawful holdover, with the remedy being restitution of the property to the rightful party. The chapter also sets a two-year statute of limitations for bringing such actions and defines key terms—including 'tenant,' 'landlord,' 'residential premises,' and 'rental agreement'—that govern how the rest of the chapter is interpreted.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 9, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 § 1923.01, landlords who seek to recover possession of their property must bring a forcible entry and detainer action within two years of when the cause of action arises. Compliant operators generally ensure that their rental agreements—whether written or oral—clearly establish the terms of occupancy, since the chapter's definitions of 'landlord' and 'rental agreement' shape how courts evaluate these disputes. Operators of manufactured home parks or smaller tracts with one or two mobile homes should also note that the definitions in § 1923.01 extend certain provisions to park operators and residents, which can affect how an eviction action is structured.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 § 1923.01 defines who qualifies as a 'tenant' for purposes of Ohio's eviction law, a classification that determines which protections and procedures apply throughout the chapter. Tenants—including, in certain circumstances, manufactured home park residents—have the right to have any eviction action brought within the two-year limitations period and adjudicated by a court with proper jurisdiction. Those who believe an eviction action has been filed improperly or outside the defined terms of this chapter may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service to understand the procedural options available to them.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Apr 9, 2025
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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.051
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Ohio Rev. Code § 4781.01
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Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.01
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Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.02
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Ohio Rev. Code § 5322.01
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Ohio Rev. Code § 3719.01
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Ohio Rev. Code § 2925.01
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Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.01
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Ohio Rev. Code § 4501.01
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Ohio Rev. Code § 3781.06
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Ohio Rev. Code § 2950.034
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References In

No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.

Related Rules

§ 151.20
TEMPORARY EVICTION CONTROLS AND RENT REDUCTIONS FOR MOBILE HOMES DAMAGED IN THE JANUARY, 1994 EARTHQUAKE
§ 1
Definitions
§ 2
Eviction of tenants prohibited; exceptions

Source Information

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