Mentor, Ohio, OH — the municipal code, in plain language

Current through March 17, 2026 | State legislation current through June 25, 2025. Official source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/mentor/latest/overview

Every town writes its own rules, and Mentor, Ohio's live in its municipal code — 258 chapters covering day-to-day questions like fences, parking, pets, permits and property upkeep. Below is the full map of what the code covers.

What's in the Mentor, Ohio code

• 1. Mentor, Ohio
• 2. CODIFIED ORDINANCES
• 3. CERTIFICATION
• 4. ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. 07-O-49
• 5. EDITOR'S NOTE
• 6. COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
• 7. CHARTER OF MENTOR, OHIO
• 8. PREAMBLE
• 9. ARTICLE I. NAME AND BOUNDARIES
• 10. Sec. 1.01 Name and boundaries
• 11. ARTICLE II. FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND POWERS
• 12. Sec. 2.01 Form of government
• 13. Sec. 2.02 Powers
• 14. ARTICLE III. THE COUNCIL
• 15. Sec. 3.01 Composition, terms and wards
• 16. Sec. 3.02 Meetings
• 17. Sec. 3.03 President of Council
• 18. Sec. 3.04 Vice President of Council
• 19. Sec. 3.05 Clerk of Council
• 20. Sec. 3.06 Powers
• 21. Sec. 3.07 Journal
• 22. Sec. 3.08 Quorum and procedure
• 23. Sec. 3.09 Ordinances and resolutions
• 24. Sec. 3.10 Emergency ordinances and resolutions
• 25. Sec. 3.11 Salaries and compensation
• 26. Sec. 3.12 Vacancies
• 27. Sec. 3.13 Council relations with manager
• 28. Sec. 3.14 Removal
• 29. Sec. 3.15 Departments
• 30. Sec. 3.16 Administrative code
• 31. ARTICLE IV. MANAGER
• 32. Sec. 4.01 Appointment, removal and qualifications
• 33. Sec. 4.02 Powers and duties
• 34. Sec. 4.03 Absence, disability or other vacancy in office
• 35. ARTICLE V. ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS AND LAW DIRECTOR
• 36. Sec. 5.01 Departments
• 37. Sec. 5.02 Department of Safety
• 38. Sec. 5.03 Department of Public Works
• 39. Sec. 5.04 Department of Finance
• 40. Sec. 5.05 Law Director
• 41. ARTICLE VI. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
• 42. Sec. 6.01 Municipal Planning Commission
• 43. Sec. 6.02 Board of Zoning and Building Appeals
• 44. Sec. 6.03 Civil Service Commission
• 45. Sec. 6.04 Tree Commission
• 46. Sec. 6.05 Procedure of Boards and Commissions
• 47. ARTICLE VII. FINANCE
• 48. Sec. 7.01 Fiscal year
• 49. Sec. 7.02 Budget
• 50. Sec. 7.03 Contracts and purchases
• 51. Sec. 7.04 Limitation on rate of taxation
• 52. ARTICLE VIII. NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS
• 53. Sec. 8.01 Nominations
• 54. Sec. 8.02 Ballots
• 55. Sec. 8.03 Elections
• 56. Sec. 8.04 Qualifications
• 57. Sec. 8.05 Oath of office
• 58. Sec. 8.06 Official bonds
• 59. Sec. 8.07 Personal interest
• 60. Sec. 8.08 Personal interest (Boards, Commissions, Committees)
• 61. ARTICLE IX. INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
• 62. Sec. 9.01 Initiative and referendum
• 63. Sec. 9.02 Recall
• 64. ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER
• 65. Sec. 10.01 Methods and procedures
• 66. ARTICLE XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
• 67. Sec. 11.02 Effect of Partial invalidity
• 68. Sec. 11.03 Effect of the Charter upon existing laws and rights
• 69. ARTICLE XII. CHARTER REVIEW
• 70. Sec. 12.01 Charter Review Committee
• 71. Sec. 12.02 Appointments to Committee
• 72. PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
• 73. TITLE ONE - General Provisions
• 74. CHAPTER 101 Codified Ordinances
• 75. CHAPTER 103 Official Standards
• 76. CHAPTER 105 Wards and Ward Boundaries
• 77. TITLE THREE - Legislative
• 78. CHAPTER 113 Council
• 79. CHAPTER 115 Rules of Council
• 80. CHAPTER 117 Ordinances and Resolutions
• 81. CHAPTER 119 Democracy Day
• 82. TITLE FIVE - Offices and Departments
• 83. CHAPTER 121 City Manager
• 84. CHAPTER 123 Departments Generally
• 85. CHAPTER 125 Department of Safety
• 86. CHAPTER 127 Department of Public Works
• 87. CHAPTER 131 Department of Engineering and Building
• 88. CHAPTER 135 Department of Finance
• 89. CHAPTER 139 Department of Law
• 90. CHAPTER 143 Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities
• 91. CHAPTER 147 Department of Planning and Development
• 92. CHAPTER 151 Employment Policies
• 93. CHAPTER 153 Identity Theft Prevention Program
• 94. TITLE SEVEN - Boards and Commissions
• 95. CHAPTER 155 Municipal Planning Commission Rules and Regulations
• 96. CHAPTER 157 Board of Building and Zoning Appeals Rules and Procedures
• 97. CHAPTER 159 Civil Service Commission
• 98. CHAPTER 161 Tree Commission
• 99. CHAPTER 163 City Beautification Commission
• 100. CHAPTER 165 Community Arts Commission
• 101. CHAPTER 167 Fair Housing Board
• 102. CHAPTER 169 The Greater Mentor Port Authority (Repealed)
• 103. TITLE NINE - Taxation
• 104. CHAPTER 181 Income Tax
• 105. CHAPTER 183 Admission Tax
• 106. CHAPTER 185 Hotel-Motel Tax
• 107. CHAPTER 187 Land Reutilization Program
• 108. CHAPTER 189 Public Land Sale Program
• 109. CHAPTER 191 Income Tax Effective January 1, 2016
• 110. PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
• 111. TITLE ONE - Administration
• 112. CHAPTER 301 Definitions
• 113. CHAPTER 303 Enforcement, Impounding and Penalty
• 114. CHAPTER 305 Traffic Control
• 115. TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
• 116. CHAPTER 311 Street Obstructions and Special Uses
• 117. CHAPTER 313 Traffic Control Devices
• 118. TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
• 119. CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
• 120. CHAPTER 333 OVI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
• 121. CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
• 122. CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
• 123. CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
• 124. CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
• 125. TITLE SEVEN - Parking
• 126. CHAPTER 351 Parking Generally
• 127. TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
• 128. CHAPTER 371 Pedestrians
• 129. CHAPTER 373 Bicycles and Motorcycles
• 130. CHAPTER 375 Snowmobiles, Off-Highway Motorcycles and All Purpose Vehicles
• 131. TITLE ELEVEN - Watercraft
• 132. CHAPTER 381 Watercraft Regulations
• 133. CHAPTER 383 Transportation of Radioactive Materials
• 134. CHAPTER 385 Helicopters and Heliports
• 135. CHAPTER 389 Shopping Centers and Public Grounds
• 136. MENTOR TRAFFIC COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
• 137. PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
• 138. CHAPTER 505 Animals and Fowl
• 139. CHAPTER 507 Curfew for Minors
• 140. CHAPTER 509 Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
• 141. CHAPTER 513 Drug Abuse Control
• 142. CHAPTER 517 Gambling
• 143. CHAPTER 521 Health, Safety and Sanitation
• 144. CHAPTER 525 Law Enforcement and Public Office
• 145. CHAPTER 529 Liquor Control
• 146. CHAPTER 531 Noise Control
• 147. CHAPTER 533 Obscenity and Sex Offenses
• 148. CHAPTER 537 Offenses Against Persons
• 149. CHAPTER 541 Property Offenses
• 150. CHAPTER 545 Theft and Fraud
• 151. CHAPTER 549 Weapons and Explosives
• 152. CHAPTER 553 Railroads
• 153. MENTOR GENERAL OFFENSES COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
• 154. PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
• 155. CHAPTER 721 Marihuana Establishments
• 156. CHAPTER 723 Massage Parlors
• 157. CHAPTER 729 Mechanical and Electronic Amusement Devices
• 158. CHAPTER 735 Oil and Gas Wells
• 159. CHAPTER 741 Private Security Officers
• 160. CHAPTER 747 Pool and Billiards
• 161. CHAPTER 751 Self-Service Laundries and Dry Cleaning Establishments
• 162. CHAPTER 752 Short Term Rentals
• 163. CHAPTER 753 Solicitors and Temporary Businesses
• 164. CHAPTER 759 Taxicabs
• 165. CHAPTER 761 Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishments
• 166. PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
• 167. TITLE ONE - Streets and Sidewalk Areas
• 168. CHAPTER 907 Streets
• 169. CHAPTER 913 Sidewalks
• 170. CHAPTER 919 Tree Regulations
• 171. CHAPTER 925 Right of Way Construction Code
• 172. CHAPTER 931 Rights of Way Administration
• 173. CHAPTER 933 Small Cell Facilities and Wireless Support Structures Within the Right-of-Way
• 174. TITLE THREE - Utilities
• 175. CHAPTER 937 Water Regulations and Rates
• 176. CHAPTER 941 Street Lighting District
• 177. CHAPTER 945 Storm Sewer District
• 178. CHAPTER 947 Illicit Discharge and Illegal Connection Control
• 179. TITLE FIVE - Other Public Services
• 180. CHAPTER 961 Community Antenna Television Systems
• 181. CHAPTER 965 Alarm Systems
• 182. CHAPTER 973 Refuse Disposal
• 183. PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
• 184. TITLE ONE - Subdivision Control
• 185. CHAPTER 1103 General Provisions
• 186. CHAPTER 1105 Definitions
• 187. CHAPTER 1107 Administration and Enforcement
• 188. CHAPTER 1109 Bonds, Deposits and Insurance
• 189. CHAPTER 1111 Application Procedure and Approval Process
• 190. CHAPTER 1113 Plat Requirements
• 191. CHAPTER 1115 Required Improvements
• 192. CHAPTER 1117 Design Criteria
• 193. TITLE THREE - Zoning Administration
• 194. CHAPTER 1125 General Provisions
• 195. CHAPTER 1127 Definitions
• 196. CHAPTER 1129 Administration and Enforcement
• 197. CHAPTER 1131 Board of Building and Zoning Appeals
• 198. CHAPTER 1133 Site Development Plans
• 199. CHAPTER 1135 Conditional Use Permits
• 200. CHAPTER 1137 Amendments
• 201. CHAPTER 1139 Nonconforming Uses, Lots and Structures
• 202. TITLE FIVE - Zoning Districts and Regulations
• 203. CHAPTER 1153 Districts Established and Zoning Map
• 204. CHAPTER 1155 Schedule of District Regulations
• 205. CHAPTER 1157 Residential Districts
• 206. CHAPTER 1158 Planned Development (PD) Overlay District Regulations
• 207. CHAPTER 1159 Old Village District (OV)
• 208. CHAPTER 1161 Industrial and Commercial Districts
• 209. CHAPTER 1162 Landscaping, Screening and Buffering
• 210. CHAPTER 1165 Supplemental District Regulations
• 211. CHAPTER 1167 Sexually Oriented Businesses
• 212. CHAPTER 1169 Outdoor Lighting
• 213. CHAPTER 1171 Signs
• 214. CHAPTER 1173 Off-Street Parking and Loading
• 215. CHAPTER 1175 Fair Housing
• 216. PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
• 217. TITLE ONE - Building Administration
• 218. CHAPTER 1301 Administration and Enforcement
• 219. CHAPTER 1305 Fees and Deposits
• 220. CHAPTER 1307 Registration of Contractors
• 221. CHAPTER 1309 Registration of Electrical, Plumbing, and Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors
• 222. CHAPTER 1311 Registration of Tree Maintenance or Tree Removal Contractors
• 223. CHAPTER 1313 Architectural Control
• 224. TITLE THREE - Technical Codes Adopted
• 225. CHAPTER 1321 Residential Dwelling Code
• 226. CHAPTER 1325 Ohio Building Code
• 227. TITLE FIVE - Additional Building Regulations
• 228. CHAPTER 1341 General Construction Requirements
• 229. CHAPTER 1343 Relocation of Structures
• 230. CHAPTER 1345 Dangerous Buildings
• 231. CHAPTER 1347 House Numbering Systems
• 232. CHAPTER 1349 Nuisances
• 233. CHAPTER 1351 Flood Hazard Regulations
• 234. CHAPTER 1352 Comprehensive Stormwater Management
• 235. CHAPTER 1353 Erosion and Sediment Control
• 236. CHAPTER 1355 Top Soil, Sand and Gravel Removal
• 237. CHAPTER 1357 Tree Preservation
• 238. CHAPTER 1359 Conservation Easements in Real Property
• 239. TITLE SEVEN - Property Maintenance Code
• 240. CHAPTER 1365 General Provisions
• 241. CHAPTER 1367 Residential Premises
• 242. CHAPTER 1369 Non-Residential Premises
• 243. CHAPTER 1371 Administration and Enforcement
• 244. CHAPTER 1373 Vacant Dwelling Registration
• 245. TITLE NINE - Rental Housing Maintenance Code
• 246. CHAPTER 1375 General Provisions
• 247. CHAPTER 1377 Exterior Structure
• 248. CHAPTER 1379 Interior Structure
• 249. CHAPTER 1381 Light and Ventilation Requirements
• 250. CHAPTER 1383 Plumbing Requirements
• 251. CHAPTER 1385 Mechanical Requirements
• 252. CHAPTER 1387 Electrical Requirements
• 253. CHAPTER 1389 Fire Safety
• 254. CHAPTER 1391 Administration and Enforcement
• 255. PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
• 256. CHAPTER 1505 Fire Hydrants and Water Supply
• 257. CHAPTER 1507 Fire Lanes
• 258. CHAPTER 1509 General Provisions