Every town writes its own rules, and Ottawa, Ohio's live in its municipal code — 243 chapters covering day-to-day questions like fences, parking, pets, permits and property upkeep. Below is the full map of what the code covers.
Ask Ottawa, Ohio's code a questionWhat's in the Ottawa, Ohio code
- 1. Ottawa, Ohio
- 2. CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF OTTAWA, OHIO
- 3. CERTIFICATION
- 4. ROSTER OF OFFICIALS
- 5. ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. 1143
- 6. EDITOR'S NOTE
- 7. GENERAL INDEX
- 8. COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
- 9. TABLES OF SPECIAL ORDINANCES OF OTTAWA
- 10. TABLE A - FRANCHISES
- 11. TABLE B - EASEMENTS
- 12. TABLE C - VACATING STREETS AND ALLEYS
- 13. TABLE D - DEDICATION AND PLAT APPROVAL
- 14. TABLE E - ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL OF REAL PROPERTY
- 15. TABLE F - LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY
- 16. TABLE G - STREET GRADE LEVELS AND CHANGE OF STREET NAME
- 17. TABLE H - ANNEXATION AND DETACHMENT OF TERRITORY
- 18. TABLE I - ZONING MAP CHANGES
- 19. CHARTER OF THE VILLAGE OF OTTAWA
- 20. ARTICLE I. NAME, BOUNDARIES AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT
- 21. SECTION 1.01 Name
- 22. SECTION 1.02 Boundaries
- 23. SECTION 1.03 Form of Government
- 24. ARTICLE II. INCORPORATION AND POWERS
- 25. SECTION 2.01 Powers
- 26. SECTION 2.02 Manner of Exercising Powers
- 27. SECTION 2.03 Construction
- 28. ARTICLE III. MAYOR
- 29. SECTION 3.01 Election and Term
- 30. SECTION 3.02 Qualifications
- 31. SECTION 3.03 Judicial Powers
- 32. SECTION 3.04 Executive and Administrative Powers
- 33. SECTION 3.05 Annual Address
- 34. SECTION 3.06 Acting Mayor
- 35. SECTION 3.07 Mayoral Vacancy
- 36. ARTICLE IV. COUNCIL
- 37. SECTION 4.01 Authority
- 38. SECTION 4.02 Composition, Selection and Term
- 39. SECTION 4.03 Qualifications
- 40. SECTION 4.04 Quorum; Majority Vote
- 41. SECTION 4.05 Salaries; Compensation
- 42. SECTION 4.06 Council Vacancies
- 43. SECTION 4.07 Organization
- 44. SECTION 4.08 President of Council
- 45. SECTION 4.09 Rules and Journal
- 46. SECTION 4.10 Ordinances, Resolutions and Motions
- 47. SECTION 4.11 Authentication, Recording and Publication of Ordinances
- 48. SECTION 4.12 Meetings
- 49. SECTION 4.13 Removal of Elected Officials
- 50. SECTION 4.14 Contracting Procedures
- 51. ARTICLE V. FINANCE
- 52. SECTION 5.01 Fiscal matters, contracts and taxation
- 53. SECTION 5.02 Limitation on Rate of Taxation
- 54. SECTION 5.03 Clerk-Treasurer
- 55. SECTION 5.04 Duties; Qualifications
- 56. SECTION 5.05 Accounting Procedures and Budgetary Control
- 57. SECTION 5.06 Custody of Funds
- 58. SECTION 5.07 Disbursements
- 59. ARTICLE VI. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
- 60. SECTION 6.01 Nominations
- 61. SECTION 6.02 Elections
- 62. ARTICLE VII. GENERAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
- 63. SECTION 7.01 Conflicts of Interest
- 64. SECTION 7.02 Election Date and Effective Date
- 65. SECTION 7.03 Pending Actions and Proceedings
- 66. SECTION 7.04 Contracts and Public Improvements
- 67. SECTION 7.05 Transfer of Records and Property
- 68. SECTION 7.06 Continuation of Officers and Employees
- 69. SECTION 7.07 Continuation of Ordinances and Resolutions
- 70. SECTION 7.08 Succession
- 71. SECTION 7.09 Open Meetings
- 72. ARTICLE VIII. BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
- 73. SECTION 8.01 Utilities
- 74. SECTION 8.02 Membership
- 75. SECTION 8.03 Other Boards, Commission and Committees
- 76. ARTICLE IX. CIVIL SERVICE
- 77. SECTION 9.01 Creation
- 78. SECTION 9.02 Exclusion
- 79. SECTION 9.03 Intent
- 80. ARTICLE X. PLANNING AND ZONING
- 81. SECTION 10.01 General
- 82. ARTICLE XI. INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
- 83. SECTION 11.01 Initiative
- 84. SECTION 11.02 Referendum
- 85. SECTION 11.03 Recall
- 86. ARTICLE XII. CHARTER AMENDMENTS AND REVIEW
- 87. SECTION 12.01 Procedure
- 88. SECTION 12.02 Charter Review Advisory Commission
- 89. SECTION 12.03 Duties of Charter Review Advisory Commission
- 90. ARTICLE XIII. FRANCHISES
- 91. SECTION 13.01 General
- 92. ARTICLE XIV. PURCHASE, SALE AND LEASING OF PROPERTY
- 93. SECTION 14.01 General
- 94. SECTION 14.02 Economic and Community Development
- 95. SECTION 14.03 Prohibited Transactions
- 96. PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
- 97. TITLE ONE - General Provisions
- 98. CHAPTER 101 Codified Ordinances
- 99. CHAPTER 103 Official Standards
- 100. TITLE THREE - Legislative
- 101. CHAPTER 121 Council
- 102. CHAPTER 123 Ordinances and Resolutions
- 103. TITLE FIVE - Administrative
- 104. CHAPTER 131 Mayor
- 105. CHAPTER 133 Solicitor
- 106. CHAPTER 135 Clerk-Treasurer
- 107. CHAPTER 137 Police Department
- 108. CHAPTER 139 Fire Department
- 109. CHAPTER 141 Streets Department
- 110. CHAPTER 143 Sewer Department
- 111. CHAPTER 145 Water Department
- 112. CHAPTER 147 Planning Commission
- 113. CHAPTER 149 Shade Tree Commission
- 114. CHAPTER 151 Utilities Board
- 115. CHAPTER 153 Board of Park Trustees
- 116. CHAPTER 155 Treasury Investments
- 117. CHAPTER 157 Employment Provisions
- 118. TITLE SEVEN - Judicial
- 119. CHAPTER 171 Mayor’s Court
- 120. TITLE NINE - TAXATION
- 121. CHAPTER 191 Income Tax
- 122. CHAPTER 193 Income Tax Effective January 1, 2016
- 123. CHAPTER 195 Community Reinvestment Area
- 124. PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
- 125. TITLE ONE - Administration
- 126. CHAPTER 301 Definitions
- 127. CHAPTER 303 Enforcement, Impounding and Penalty
- 128. CHAPTER 305 Traffic Control
- 129. TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
- 130. CHAPTER 311 Street Obstructions and Special Uses
- 131. CHAPTER 313 Traffic Control Devices
- 132. TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
- 133. CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
- 134. CHAPTER 333 OVI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
- 135. CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
- 136. CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
- 137. CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
- 138. CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
- 139. CHAPTER 345 Golf Carts
- 140. CHAPTER 346 Trolley Bar Bikes
- 141. TITLE SEVEN - Parking
- 142. CHAPTER 351 Parking Generally
- 143. CHAPTER 353 Parking Meters
- 144. TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
- 145. CHAPTER 371 Pedestrians
- 146. CHAPTER 373 Bicycles and Motorcycles
- 147. CHAPTER 375 Snowmobiles, Off-Highway Motorcycles and All Purpose Vehicles
- 148. PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
- 149. CHAPTER 505 Animals and Fowl
- 150. CHAPTER 509 Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
- 151. CHAPTER 513 Drug Abuse Control
- 152. CHAPTER 517 Gambling
- 153. CHAPTER 521 Health, Safety and Sanitation
- 154. CHAPTER 523 Junk
- 155. CHAPTER 524 Junk Vehicles
- 156. CHAPTER 525 Law Enforcement and Public Office
- 157. CHAPTER 529 Liquor Control
- 158. CHAPTER 531 Minors’ Curfew
- 159. CHAPTER 532 Noise
- 160. CHAPTER 533 Obscenity and Sex Offenses
- 161. CHAPTER 537 Offenses Against Persons
- 162. CHAPTER 541 Property Offenses
- 163. CHAPTER 545 Theft and Fraud
- 164. CHAPTER 549 Weapons and Explosives
- 165. CHAPTER 553 Railroads
- 166. CHAPTER 557 Weeds
- 167. CHAPTER 559 Vibrations
- 168. PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
- 169. CHAPTER 705 Advertising
- 170. CHAPTER 709 Amusement Devices
- 171. CHAPTER 713 Community Antenna Television System
- 172. CHAPTER 717 Dances and Dance Halls
- 173. CHAPTER 721 Peddlers and Solicitors
- 174. CHAPTER 725 Self-Service Dry Cleaning
- 175. CHAPTER 727 Video Service Provider Fee
- 176. PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
- 177. TITLE ONE - Street and Sidewalk Areas
- 178. CHAPTER 901 Sidewalks
- 179. CHAPTER 905 Streets
- 180. TITLE THREE - Utilities
- 181. CHAPTER 921 Water
- 182. CHAPTER 925 Sewers
- 183. CHAPTER 929 Tap-in Charges
- 184. TITLE FIVE - Other Public Services
- 185. CHAPTER 941 Garbage and Rubbish
- 186. CHAPTER 945 Shade Tree Commission
- 187. CHAPTER 949 Reservoir
- 188. CHAPTER 955 Parks
- 189. CHAPTER 959 Municipal Garage
- 190. PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
- 191. TITLE ONE - Subdivision Regulations
- 192. CHAPTER 1101 Definitions
- 193. CHAPTER 1103 Jurisdiction and Procedures
- 194. CHAPTER 1105 Preliminary Plats
- 195. CHAPTER 1107 Improvements
- 196. CHAPTER 1109 Final Plats
- 197. CHAPTER 1111 Design Standards and Criteria
- 198. CHAPTER 1113 Modifications and Exceptions
- 199. TITLE THREE - Zoning Administration
- 200. CHAPTER 1121 Definitions
- 201. CHAPTER 1123 Scope and Purpose
- 202. CHAPTER 1125 Enforcement, Validity and Repeal
- 203. CHAPTER 1127 Zoning Appeals
- 204. TITLE FIVE - Zoning Map and Districts
- 205. CHAPTER 1131 Districts and Boundaries Generally
- 206. CHAPTER 1133 A-1 Agricultural District
- 207. CHAPTER 1135 R-1 Residential District
- 208. CHAPTER 1137 R-2 Residential District
- 209. CHAPTER 1139 R-3 Residential District
- 210. CHAPTER 1141 B-1 Neighborhood Business District
- 211. CHAPTER 1143 B-2 Central Business District
- 212. CHAPTER 1145 B-3 Highway-Oriented Business District
- 213. CHAPTER 1147 I-1 Industrial; Manufacturing District
- 214. CHAPTER 1149 I-2 Industrial; Nonmanufacturing District
- 215. TITLE SEVEN - Zoning Standards and Special Provisions
- 216. CHAPTER 1161 Height and Density Requirements
- 217. CHAPTER 1163 Off-Street Parking and Loading
- 218. CHAPTER 1165 Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks
- 219. CHAPTER 1167 Nonconforming Uses
- 220. CHAPTER 1169 Fences
- 221. CHAPTER 1170 Screening and Buffer Zones
- 222. CHAPTER 1171 Signs
- 223. CHAPTER 1173 Cellular or Wireless Communications Systems
- 224. CHAPTER 1174 Small Cell Design Guidelines
- 225. CHAPTER 1175 Ponds
- 226. TITLE NINE - Exceptions and Modifications
- 227. CHAPTER 1181 Area, Yard and Court Requirements
- 228. CHAPTER 1183 Height Modifications
- 229. CHAPTER 1185 Yard Projections
- 230. CHAPTER 1187 Open Space Requirements
- 231. PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
- 232. TITLE ONE - Administration
- 233. CHAPTER 1311 Building Inspector
- 234. CHAPTER 1315 Permits and Fees
- 235. TITLE THREE - Miscellaneous Building Regulations
- 236. CHAPTER 1321 Moving Buildings
- 237. CHAPTER 1325 Building Numbering
- 238. CHAPTER 1329 Unsafe Structures
- 239. CHAPTER 1333 Flood Hazard Areas
- 240. CHAPTER 1337 Wind Farms and Solar Facilities
- 241. PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
- 242. CHAPTER 1511 Open Burning
- 243. CHAPTER 1519 Fireworks