Hamilton, Ohio, OH Municipal Code — every chapter, in plain language

Current through July 9, 2025 | State legislation current through June 5, 2025. Official source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/hamilton/latest/overview

Every town writes its own rules, and Hamilton, Ohio's live in its municipal code — 307 chapters covering day-to-day questions like fences, parking, pets, permits and property upkeep. Below is the full map of what the code covers.

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What's in the Hamilton, Ohio code

1. Codified Ordinances of the City of Hamilton, Ohio
2. DIRECTORY OF OFFICIALS
3. EDITOR'S NOTE
4. COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
5. THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HAMILTON, OHIO
6. ARTICLE I NAME; BOUNDARIES; FORM OF GOVERNMENT
7. 1.01 Name and Boundary.
8. 1.02 Form of Government.
9. ARTICLE II POWERS
10. 2.01 Powers Granted.
11. 2.02 Exercise of Powers.
12. 2.03 Construction of Powers.
13. 2.04 Intergovernmental Cooperation.
14. ARTICLE III THE COUNCIL
15. 3.01 Powers of Council.
16. 3.02 Election, Term, Vacancies.
17. 3.03 Meetings of Council.
18. 3.04 Mayor, Vice-Mayor.
19. 3.05 Compensation of Officials.
20. 3.06 City Clerk.
21. 3.07 Rules of Council
22. 3.08 Quorum, Voting of Members.
23. 3.09 Legislative Procedure.
24. 3.10 Amendments.
25. 3.11 When Ordinances and Resolutions Take Effect.
26. 3.12 Authentication and Publication of Ordinances and Resolutions.
27. ARTICLE IV INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
28. 4.01 Initiative and Referendum.
29. 4.02 Petitions for Initiative and Referendum.
30. ARTICLE V ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
31. 5.01 The City Manager.
32. 5.02 Responsibility of Manager -- Powers of Appointment and Removal.
33. 5.03 Removal of Officers and Employees.
34. 5.04 Council Not to Interfere in Appointments or Removals.
35. 5.05 Duties of the Manager.
36. 5.06 Right of Manager and Other Officers in Council.
37. 5.07 Establishment and Discontinuance of Departments.
38. 5.08 One Person as Head of Two or More Offices.
39. 5.09 Number of Assistants and Subordinates; How Fixed.
40. 5.10 Advisory Boards.
41. 5.11 Investigations by Council or Manager.
42. ARTICLE VI DEPARTMENT OF LAW
43. 6.01 Qualifications and Duties of Law Director.
44. ARTICLE VII DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE - FINANCIAL PROCEDURE
45. 7.01 Duties of Director of Finance.
46. 7.02 Monthly Statement by Director of Finance.
47. 7.03 Special Audits.
48. 7.04 Division of Treasury.
49. 7.05 Division of Purchases and Supplies.
50. 7.06 Purchasing and Furnishing Supplies.
51. ARTICLE VIII FINANCE, TAXATION AND DEBT
52. 8.01 General.
53. 8.02 Debt Retirement Fund Commission.
54. ARTICLE IX IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTS
55. 9.01 Contracts.
56. 9.02 Alteration in Contracts.
57. ARTICLE X DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
58. 10.01 Civil Service Commission.
59. 10.02 Classification.
60. 10.03 Civil Service Rules.
61. 10.04 Application Register.
62. 10.05 Civil Service Tests.
63. 10.06 Eligible Lists -- Register of Eligibles.
64. 10.07 Appointments.
65. 10.08 Limitations on Transfers.
66. 10.09 Promotions.
67. 10.10 Service Register.
68. 10.11 Certification of Payrolls.
69. 10.12 Investigations.
70. 10.13 Compensation Established by Council.
71. 10.14 False Statement by Applicant.
72. 10.15 Gifts or Payments by Applicants Forbidden.
73. 10.16 Fraud on Civil Service Provision.
74. 10.17 Political Assessments Prohibited.
75. 10.18 Certain Political Practice Forbidden.
76. 10.19 Political Activity Prohibited.
77. 10.20 Violations and Penalties.
78. 10.21 Present Employees Continued.
79. 10.22 Elected Officials Not to Receive Appointment.
80. ARTICLE XI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
81. ARTICLE XII PUBLIC HEALTH
82. ARTICLE XIII POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE
83. ARTICLE XIV IMPROVEMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS
84. ARTICLE XV APPROPRIATION OF PROPERTY
85. ARTICLE XVI FRANCHISES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
86. ARTICLE XVII NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
87. ARTICLE XVIII THE RECALL
88. ARTICLE XIX MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
89. PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
90. TITLE ONE - General Provisions
91. CHAPTER 101 Codified Ordinances
92. CHAPTER 103 Official Standards
93. TITLE THREE - Legislative
94. CHAPTER 111 Council
95. CHAPTER 113 Legislation
96. TITLE FIVE - Administrative
97. CHAPTER 119 City Manager
98. CHAPTER 121 Department of Law
99. CHAPTER 123 Department of Finance
100. CHAPTER 124 Department of Business Services
101. CHAPTER 125 Department of Civil Service and Personnel
102. CHAPTER 126 Department of Information Technology Services
103. CHAPTER 127 Department of Health
104. CHAPTER 129 Department of Public Safety
105. CHAPTER 131 Division of Police
106. CHAPTER 133 Division of Fire
107. CHAPTER 134 Department of Engineering
108. CHAPTER 135 Department of Public Works
109. CHAPTER 136 Department of Electric
110. CHAPTER 137 Department of Infrastructure
111. CHAPTER 138 Department of Human Resources
112. CHAPTER 139 Department of Neighborhoods
113. CHAPTER 140 Department of External Services
114. CHAPTER 141 Department of Economic Development
115. CHAPTER 143 Department of Planning
116. CHAPTER 145 Department of Building Services
117. CHAPTER 146 Department of Resident Services
118. CHAPTER 147 Traffic Commission
119. CHAPTER 149 Planning Commission
120. CHAPTER 150 Department of Internal Services
121. CHAPTER 151 Sinking Fund Commission
122. CHAPTER 152 Ordinance Review Commission
123. CHAPTER 153 Board of Health
124. CHAPTER 154 Hamilton Tree Advisory Board
125. CHAPTER 155 Diversity adn Inclusion Commission
126. CHAPTER 157 Hamilton Youth Commission
127. CHAPTER 158 Fees and Charges
128. CHAPTER 160 Municipal Records Commission
129. CHAPTER 161 Bonds
130. CHAPTER 163 Deposits
131. CHAPTER 165 Investments
132. CHAPTER 167 Public Records
133. CHAPTER 168 Procedures for Special Assessment Projects and The Board of Revision of Assessments
134. CHAPTER 169 Public Work and Improvement Contracts
135. CHAPTER 171 Purchasing
136. CHAPTER 172 Grant Application Procedures and Requirements
137. CHAPTER 173 City Property
138. CHAPTER 175 Urban Renewal
139. CHAPTER 177 Officers Generally
140. CHAPTER 178 Residency Requirements for Certain Municipal Employees
141. CHAPTER 179 Employment Conditions
142. CHAPTER 180 Substance Abuse Testing For Certain Employees
143. CHAPTER 181 Employee Fringe Benefits
144. CHAPTER 183 Compensation
145. CHAPTER 185 Indemnification of Public Officials and Employees
146. CHAPTER 186 Substance Abuse Testing For All Municipal Employees Not Covered under Chapter 180
147. TITLE SEVEN - Judicial
148. CHAPTER 187 Municipal Court
149. TITLE NINE - Taxation
150. CHAPTER 191 Income Tax
151. CHAPTER 192 Income Tax Effective January 1, 2016
152. CHAPTER 193 Transient Occupancy Excise Tax
153. CHAPTER 195 Motor Vehicle License Tax
154. CHAPTER 197 Municipal Permissive Motor Vehicle License Tax
155. PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
156. TITLE ONE - Administration
157. CHAPTER 301 Definitions
158. CHAPTER 303 Enforcement, Impounding and Penalty
159. CHAPTER 305 Traffic Engineer
160. TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
161. CHAPTER 311 Street Obstructions and Special Uses
162. CHAPTER 313 Traffic Control Devices
163. CHAPTER 315 Special Events
164. TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
165. CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
166. CHAPTER 333 DUI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
167. CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
168. CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
169. CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
170. CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
171. CHAPTER 343 Civil Penalties for Automated Mobile Speed Enforcement System Violations
172. CHAPTER 345 Sight Seeing Cars
173. CHAPTER 347 Carriages
174. CHAPTER 349 Low-Speed for Hire Vehicles
175. CHAPTER 350 Commercial Quadricycles Pilot Program
176. TITLE SEVEN - Parking
177. CHAPTER 351 Parking Generally
178. CHAPTER 353 Parking Meters, Lots and Garages
179. CHAPTER 355 Junk and Abandoned Vehicles
180. TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
181. CHAPTER 371 Pedestrians
182. CHAPTER 373 Bicycles and Motorcycles
183. CHAPTER 375 Skateboards
184. TITLE ELEVEN - Watercraft
185. CHAPTER 381 Watercraft and Waterways
186. PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
187. CHAPTER 505 Animals and Fowl
188. CHAPTER 507 Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products
189. CHAPTER 509 Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
190. CHAPTER 511
191. CHAPTER 513 Drug Abuse Control
192. CHAPTER 515 Fair Housing
193. CHAPTER 517 Gambling
194. CHAPTER 521 Health, Safety and Sanitation
195. CHAPTER 525 Law Enforcement and Public Office
196. CHAPTER 529 Liquor Control
197. CHAPTER 531 Minor's Curfew
198. CHAPTER 533 Obscenity and Sex Offenses
199. CHAPTER 537 Offenses Against Persons
200. CHAPTER 539 Professional Strikebreakers
201. CHAPTER 541 Property Offenses
202. CHAPTER 542 Unsolicited Written Materials
203. CHAPTER 543 Chronic Nuisance Premises
204. CHAPTER 545 Theft and Fraud
205. CHAPTER 549 Weapons and Explosives
206. CHAPTER 553 Railroads
207. PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
208. CHAPTER 705 Ambulance Service
209. CHAPTER 709 Billiard and Pool Rooms
210. CHAPTER 711 Amusement Devices and Arcades
211. CHAPTER 713 Circuses, Carnivals and Carrousels
212. CHAPTER 717 City Market
213. CHAPTER 719 City-Wide Garage or Yard Sales
214. CHAPTER 720 Cultivators, Processors and Retail Dispensaries of Medical Marijuana
215. CHAPTER 721 Dances and Dance Halls
216. CHAPTER 723 Cultivators, Processors and Dispensaries of Adult Use Cannabis
217. CHAPTER 725 Distress Merchandise Sales
218. CHAPTER 733 Firearms Dealers (Repealed)
219. CHAPTER 735 Swap Shops/Second-Hand Dealers
220. CHAPTER 737 Scrap Metal Facilities
221. CHAPTER 741 Laundries
222. CHAPTER 745 Mechanical Musical Devices
223. CHAPTER 747 Motor Coaches
224. CHAPTER 749 Pawnbrokers
225. CHAPTER 753 Peddlers, Solicitors, Itinerant Vendors and Canvassers
226. CHAPTER 754 Street Vending
227. CHAPTER 755 Banners and City Show Wagons
228. CHAPTER 756 Sweepstakes/Internet Cafes
229. CHAPTER 757 Price Gouging
230. CHAPTER 758 Short-Term Rentals
231. CHAPTER 761 Taxicabs
232. PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
233. TITLE ONE - Street and Sidewalk Areas
234. CHAPTER 901 General Provisions
235. CHAPTER 903 Streets
236. CHAPTER 905 Building Numbering
237. CHAPTER 907 Excavations
238. CHAPTER 909 Sidewalks
239. CHAPTER 910 Constructing or Repairing Sidewalks, Curbs, Gutters and Driveways: Private Contractors
240. CHAPTER 911 Poles
241. CHAPTER 913 Trees
242. CHAPTER 915 Comprehensive Tree and Planting Plan
243. CHAPTER 917 Sidewalk Café Regulations
244. TITLE THREE - Utilities
245. CHAPTER 925 Public Utilities Commission
246. CHAPTER 927 Public Utilities Generally
247. CHAPTER 929 Storm Water Management System
248. CHAPTER 930 Storm Water Advisory Board
249. CHAPTER 931 Sewer Regulations
250. CHAPTER 935 Sewer Rates
251. CHAPTER 939 Water
252. CHAPTER 940 Wellhead Protection Program
253. CHAPTER 941 Backflow and Backsiphonage Prevention
254. CHAPTER 943 Electricity
255. CHAPTER 947 Gas Service
256. CHAPTER 948 Sale of Compost
257. CHAPTER 949 Miscellaneous Charges and Fees
258. TITLE FIVE - Other Public Services
259. CHAPTER 973 Collection and Recycling of Solid Waste
260. CHAPTER 977 Recreational Facilities
261. CHAPTER 980 Small Cell Facilities and Wireless Support Structures Within the Right-of-Way
262. PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
263. TITLE ONE - Zoning
264. TITLE THREE - Subdivision Control
265. CHAPTER 1189 General Provisions
266. CHAPTER 1191 Procedures
267. CHAPTER 1193 Drawing Specifications
268. CHAPTER 1195 Design Standards
269. CHAPTER 1197 Modifications
270. CHAPTER 1199 Improvements
271. PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
272. CHAPTER 1307 Contractor License Registrations
273. CHAPTER 1309 Fees
274. CHAPTER 1311 Private Residential Swimming Pool Requirements
275. CHAPTER 1313 Development Fee Waiver Pilot Program
276. PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
277. CHAPTER 1507 Registration of Vacant Residential, Commercial and Industrial Buildings
278. PART SEVENTEEN - HEALTH CODE
279. CHAPTER 1733 Fees and Charges
280. CHAPTER 1737 Adulteration and Misbranding of Food and Drugs (Repealed)
281. CHAPTER 1739 Retail Food Establishments and Food Service Operations (Repealed)
282. CHAPTER 1743 Frozen Desserts (Repealed)
283. CHAPTER 1745 Meat Sales (Repealed)
284. CHAPTER 1747 Disposal of the Dead (Repealed)
285. CHAPTER 1751 Mass Gatherings (Repealed)
286. CHAPTER 1755 Swimming Pools (Repealed)
287. CHAPTER 1757 Skin Tanning Facilities (Repealed)
288. CHAPTER 1759 Offensive Objects and Substances
289. CHAPTER 1771 Animals
290. CHAPTER 1775 Miscellaneous Sanitary Requirements (Repealed)
291. CHAPTER 1776 Household Sewage Treatment Systems (Repealed)
292. CHAPTER 1781 Tobacco-Free Public Places
293. CHAPTER 1783 Cigarette and Tobacco Vendors; Sales to Persons Under Twenty-One (21); Tobacco Retailer License
294. PART NINETEEN - HOUSING AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
295. TITLE ONE - Housing Code
296. CHAPTER 1901 General Provisions
297. CHAPTER 1905 Administration and Enforcement
298. CHAPTER 1907 Foreclosed Property Registration and Notification Program
299. CHAPTER 1909 Definitions
300. CHAPTER 1913 Environmental Requirements
301. CHAPTER 1917 Space and Occupancy Requirements
302. CHAPTER 1921 Responsibilities of Persons
303. TITLE THREE -Property Maintenance Code
304. CHAPTER 1931 Littering
305. CHAPTER 1933 Weeds and Grass
306. CHAPTER 1935 Nuisances Generally
307. CHAPTER 1937 Non-Residential Property Maintenance Code