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

Current through January 1, 2026 | State legislation current through June 5, 2025. Official source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/norwalkoh/latest/overview

Every town writes its own rules, and Norwalk, Ohio's live in its municipal code — 275 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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1. Norwalk, Ohio
2. Codified Ordinances of the City of Norwalk, Ohio
3. ROSTER OF OFFICIALS
4. ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO.
5. EDITOR'S NOTE
6. GENERAL INDEX
7. COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
8. CHARTER
9. PREAMBLE
10. ARTICLE I INCORPORATION, POWERS, SUCCESSION AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT
11. SECTION 1.01. INCORPORATION.
12. SECTION 1.02. POWERS OF THE CITY.
13. SECTION 1.03. CONSTRUCTION.
14. SECTION 1.04. MANNER OF EXERCISE OF POWERS.
15. SECTION 1.05. FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
16. ARTICLE II THE MAYOR
17. SECTION 2.01. TERM OF OFFICE.
18. SECTION 2.02. QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY.
19. SECTION 2.03. POWERS AND DUTIES.
20. SECTION 2.04. ACTING MAYOR.
21. SECTION 2.05. VACANCY, CREATION OF.
22. SECTION 2.06. VACANCY, FILLING OF.
23. SECTION 2.07. SALARY.
24. ARTICLE III THE CITY COUNCIL
25. SECTION 3.01. NUMBER, SELECTION, TERM.
26. SECTION 3.02. QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY.
27. SECTION 3.03. VACANCY, CREATION OF.
28. SECTION 3.04. VACANCY, FILLING OF.
29. SECTION 3.05. RULES, JOURNAL.
30. SECTION 3.06. POWERS OF COUNCIL.
31. SECTION 3.07. ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS OF COUNCIL.
32. SECTION 3.08. PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL.
33. SECTION 3.09. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
34. SECTION 3.10. CLERK OF COUNCIL.
35. ARTICLE IV ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
36. SECTION 4.01. ACTION BY COUNCIL.
37. SECTION 4.02. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES.
38. SECTION 4.03. PROCEDURE IN ORDINANCE MAKING.
39. SECTION 4.04. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES.
40. SECTION 4.05. EMERGENCY ORDINANCES.
41. SECTION 4.06. PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCES.
42. SECTION 4.07. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDINANCES.
43. SECTION 4.08. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
44. SECTION 4.09. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES BY REFERENCE.
45. SECTION 4.10. RESOLUTIONS.
46. SECTION 4.11. REVISION AND CODIFICATION OF ORDINANCES.
47. ARTICLE V ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS
48. SECTION 5.01. ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS CREATED.
49. SECTION 5.02. DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
50. SECTION 5.03. DEPARTMENT OF LAW.
51. SECTION 5.04. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
52. SECTION 5.05. DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY.
53. SECTION 5.06. DEPARTMENT OF SERVICE.
54. SECTION 5.07 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
55. ARTICLE VI BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
56. SECTION 6.01. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
57. SECTION 6.02. PLANNING COMMISSION.
58. SECTION 6.03. POWERS AND DUTIES OF PLANNING COMMISSION.
59. SECTION 6.04. COUNCIL ACTION ON PLANNING.
60. SECTION 6.05. BOARD OF BUILDING AND ZONING APPEALS.
61. SECTION 6.06. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF BUILDING AND ZONING APPEALS.
62. SECTION 6.07. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.
63. SECTION 6.08. POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD AND PARK COMMISSIONERS.
64. SECTION 6.09. BOARD OF CONTROL.
65. SECTION 6.10. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF CONTROL.
66. ARTICLE VII FINANCES
67. SECTION 7.01. GENERAL.
68. SECTION 7.02. ADJUSTMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS.
69. SECTION 7.03. ACCOUNTING.
70. SECTION 7.04. PURCHASING.
71. SECTION 7.05. COMPETITIVE BIDDING.
72. SECTION 7.06. OVER EXPENDITURES.
73. SECTION 7.07. ILLEGAL CONTRACTS VOIDABLE.
74. SECTION 7.08. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RESERVE FUND.
75. SECTION 7.09. CAPITAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND.
76. ARTICLE VIII TAXATION, INDEBTEDNESS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
77. SECTION 8.01. POWER TO LEVY TAXES AND INCUR INDEBTEDNESS.
78. SECTION 8.02. SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.
79. ARTICLE IX NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
80. SECTION 9.01. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
81. SECTION 9.02. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS.
82. SECTION 9.03. TERMS OF OFFICE.
83. SECTION 9.04. SUPERVISION OF ELECTIONS.
84. SECTION 9.05. SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
85. ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS
86. SECTION 10.01. OATH OF OFFICE.
87. SECTION 10.02. OFFICIAL BONDS.
88. SECTION 10.03. ASSESSMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
89. SECTION 10.04. FEES.
90. SECTION 10.05. RECALL.
91. SECTION 10.06. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.
92. SECTION 10.07. ENFORCEMENT OF SUBPOENAS.
93. SECTION 10.08. GENERAL LAW.
94. SECTION 10.09. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
95. SECTION 10.10. AMENDMENTS TO THIS CHARTER.
96. SECTION 10.11. CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
97. SECTION 10.12. INTERPRETATION.
98. SECTION 10.13. INCOMPATIBLE OFFICES.
99. ARTICLE XI TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
100. SECTION 11.01. CONTINUATION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND OTHER ENACTMENTS.
101. SECTION 11.02. CONTINUATION OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
102. SECTION 11.03. PENDING MATTERS.
103. SECTION 11.04. CONTINUATION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
104. SECTION 11.05. TRANSFER OF POWERS.
105. SECTION 11.06. PROPERTY AND RECORDS.
106. SECTION 11.07. EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHARTER.
107. PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
108. TITLE ONE - General Provisions
109. CHAPTER 101 Codified Ordinances
110. CHAPTER 103 Official Standards
111. CHAPTER 105 Wards and Boundaries
112. TITLE THREE - Legislative
113. CHAPTER 121 Council
114. CHAPTER 123 Ordinances and Resolutions
115. TITLE FIVE - Administration
116. CHAPTER 131 Mayor
117. CHAPTER 133 Department of Finance
118. CHAPTER 135 Department of Law
119. CHAPTER 139 Departments of Service and Safety
120. CHAPTER 141 Public Works and Utilities
121. CHAPTER 145 Police Department
122. CHAPTER 147 Fire Department
123. CHAPTER 149 Health Services
124. CHAPTER 151 Board of Control
125. CHAPTER 153 Treasury Investment Board
126. CHAPTER 155 Civil Service Commission
127. CHAPTER 157 Board of Architectural Review
128. CHAPTER 159 Board of Park Commissioners
129. CHAPTER 161 Self Insurance Board
130. CHAPTER 165 Officers and Employees Generally
131. TITLE SEVEN - Judicial
132. CHAPTER 171 Municipal Court
133. TITLE NINE - Taxation
134. CHAPTER 181 Income Tax
135. CHAPTER 183 Park and Recreation Capital Improvement Tax
136. CHAPTER 185 Transient Occupancy Tax
137. CHAPTER 187 Transient Guest Tax
138. CHAPTER 189 Motor Vehicle License Tax
139. PART THREE -TRAFFIC CODE
140. TITLE ONE - Administration
141. CHAPTER 301 Definitions
142. CHAPTER 303 Enforcement, Impounding and Penalty
143. CHAPTER 305 Traffic Control
144. TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
145. CHAPTER 311 Street Obstructions and Special Uses
146. CHAPTER 313 Traffic Control Devices
147. TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
148. CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
149. CHAPTER 333 OVI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
150. CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
151. CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
152. CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
153. CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
154. TITLE SEVEN - Parking
155. CHAPTER 351 Parking Generally
156. CHAPTER 355 Parking Violations
157. CHAPTER 379 Under-Speed Vehicles
158. TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
159. CHAPTER 371 Pedestrians
160. CHAPTER 373 Bicycles and Motorcycles
161. CHAPTER 375 Snowmobiles, Off-Highway Motorcycles and All Purpose Vehicles
162. PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
163. CHAPTER 505 Animals and Fowl
164. CHAPTER 507 Dangerous and Vicious Dogs (Repealed)
165. CHAPTER 509 Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
166. CHAPTER 513 Drug Abuse Control
167. CHAPTER 515 Fair Housing
168. CHAPTER 517 Gambling
169. CHAPTER 521 Health, Safety and Sanitation
170. CHAPTER 523 Abandoned Junked Vehicles
171. CHAPTER 525 Law Enforcement and Public Office
172. CHAPTER 529 Liquor Control
173. CHAPTER 533 Obscenity and Sex Offenses
174. CHAPTER 537 Offenses Against Persons
175. CHAPTER 541 Property Offenses
176. CHAPTER 545 Theft and Fraud
177. CHAPTER 549 Weapons and Explosives
178. CHAPTER 553 Railroads
179. PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
180. CHAPTER 709 Circuses, Shows and Exhibitions
181. CHAPTER 713 Peddlers, Canvassers and Solicitors (Repealed)
182. CHAPTER 715 Pizza Delivery Vehicles
183. CHAPTER 717 Oil and Gas Wells
184. CHAPTER 719 Temporary Sales and Direct Solicitation
185. CHAPTER 720 Transient Food Vendors
186. CHAPTER 721 Taxicabs
187. CHAPTER 723 Adult Entertainment Businesses
188. CHAPTER 725 Video Service Providers
189. PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
190. TITLE ONE - Street and Sidewalk Areas
191. CHAPTER 901 Street Excavations and Obstructions
192. CHAPTER 903 Street Grading and Naming
193. CHAPTER 905 Sidewalks
194. TITLE THREE - Public Utilities
195. CHAPTER 921 Sanitary Sewers
196. CHAPTER 923 Water
197. CHAPTER 925 Storm Water Utility
198. CHAPTER 927 Poles and Wires
199. TITLE FIVE - Other Public Services
200. CHAPTER 941 Reservoirs and Memorial Lake Park
201. CHAPTER 943 Trees
202. CHAPTER 945 Garbage and Rubbish
203. PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
204. TITLE ONE - Planning
205. CHAPTER 1101 Planning Commission
206. TITLE THREE - Subdivision Regulations
207. CHAPTER 1111 General Provisions
208. CHAPTER 1112 Definitions
209. CHAPTER 1113 Procedures for Subdivision Approval
210. CHAPTER 1114 Subdivision Design Standards
211. CHAPTER 1115 Improvement Requirements
212. CHAPTER 1116 Plat Requirements; Penalties
213. CHAPTER 1117 Industrial Subdivisions
214. TITLE FOUR- Industrial Subdivision Regulations
215. CHAPTER 1121 General Provisions
216. CHAPTER 1122 Definitions
217. CHAPTER 1123 Procedures for Industrial Subdivision Approval
218. CHAPTER 1124 Industrial Subdivision Design Standards
219. TITLE FIVE - Zoning Administration
220. CHAPTER 1130 General Provisions
221. CHAPTER 1131 Applicability
222. CHAPTER 1133 Enforcement
223. CHAPTER 1135 Administration
224. CHAPTER 1137 Appeals, Variances, and Conditional Use Permits
225. TITLE SEVEN - Zoning District and Map; Amendments
226. CHAPTER 1141 Zoning Districts and Zoning Map
227. CHAPTER 1143 Amendments
228. CHAPTER 1145 Flood Damage Reduction
229. TITLE NINE - Zoning Use Districts
230. CHAPTER 1151 R-1 One-Family Residence District
231. CHAPTER 1153 R-2 One- and Two-Family Residence District
232. CHAPTER 1155 R-3 Multi-Family Residence District
233. CHAPTER 1156 MHP Manufactured Home Park District
234. CHAPTER 1157 PRO Professional Research Office District
235. CHAPTER 1158 B-1 Local Business District
236. CHAPTER 1159 B-2 Downtown Business District
237. CHAPTER 1160 B-3 Outlying Business District
238. CHAPTER 1161 B-4 General Business District
239. CHAPTER 1162 MB Manufacturing-Business District
240. CHAPTER 1163 M-1 Manufacturing District
241. CHAPTER 1165 M-2 Heavy Manufacturing District
242. CHAPTER 1167 PUD Planned Unit Development District
243. CHAPTER 1168 B-5 Transportation Business District
244. CHAPTER 1169 B-6 Commercial Amusement Business District
245. TITLE ELEVEN - Zoning General Provisions
246. CHAPTER 1171 Non-Conformities
247. CHAPTER 1173 Supplementary District Regulations
248. CHAPTER 1174 Internet Sweepstakes Cafes
249. CHAPTER 1175 Site Plan Review Process
250. CHAPTER 1177 Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements
251. CHAPTER 1179 Signs
252. CHAPTER 1181 Landscaping
253. CHAPTER 1183 Rights-of-Way Ordinance
254. CHAPTER 1187 Oil and Gas Drilling and Production
255. CHAPTER 1189 Definitions
256. PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
257. CHAPTER 1303 Satellite Dish Antennas
258. CHAPTER 1305 House Numbering
259. CHAPTER 1306 Exterior Property Maintenance Code
260. CHAPTER 1307 Dangerous or Fire Damaged Structures
261. CHAPTER 1309 Compliance and General Provisions; Penalty
262. CHAPTER 1313 Contractor's and Workmen's License (Repealed)
263. CHAPTER 1317 Awnings and Marquees
264. CHAPTER 1321 Residential Building Code
265. CHAPTER 1325 House Moving
266. CHAPTER 1333 Downtown Architectural Design Standards
267. CHAPTER 1335 Civil Enforcement of the Property Maintenance Codes
268. PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
269. CHAPTER 1509 Open Burning
270. CHAPTER 1510 Exterior Furnaces
271. CHAPTER 1511 Local Provisions
272. CHAPTER 1513 Rubber Material
273. CHAPTER 1514 Spent Motor Vehicle Batteries
274. CHAPTER 1519 Fireworks
275. CHAPTER 1523 Plans for Commercial and Multi-Family Dwellings