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

Current through February 12, 2026 | State legislation current through June 5, 2025. Official source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/stow/latest/overview

Every town writes its own rules, and Stow, Ohio's live in its municipal code — 297 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 Stow, Ohio code

• 1. Stow, Ohio
• 2. CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF STOW, OHIO
• 3. CERTIFICATION
• 4. ROSTER OF OFFICIALS
• 5. ADOPTING ORDINANCE
• 6. EDITOR'S NOTE
• 7. COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
• 8. CHARTER
• 9. PREAMBLE
• 10. ARTICLE I Name and Boundaries
• 11. SECTION 1.01 NAME.
• 12. SECTION 1.02 BOUNDARIES.
• 13. ARTICLE II Municipal Powers
• 14. SECTION 2.01 MUNICIPAL POWERS.
• 15. ARTICLE III Mayor
• 16. SECTION 3.01 ELECTION AND TERM.
• 17. SECTION 3.02 QUALIFICATIONS.
• 18. SECTION 3.03 JUDICIAL POWERS.
• 19. SECTION 3.04 EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS.
• 20. SECTION 3.05 VETO POWER.
• 21. SECTION 3.06 ACTING MAYOR.
• 22. SECTION 3.07 VACANCY - MAYOR.
• 23. SECTION 3.08 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.
• 24. ARTICLE IV The Council
• 25. SECTION 4.01 LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.
• 26. SECTION 4.02 COMPOSITION AND TERM.
• 27. SECTION 4.03 QUALIFICATIONS.
• 28. SECTION 4.04 PRESIDENT, AND VICE PRESIDENT, OF COUNCIL.
• 29. SECTION 4.05 CLERK OF COUNCIL.
• 30. SECTION 4.06 RULES AND JOURNAL OF COUNCIL.
• 31. SECTION 4.07 OPENING PRAYER AT MEETINGS.
• 32. SECTION 4.08 REGULAR MEETINGS.
• 33. SECTION 4.09 SPECIAL MEETINGS.
• 34. SECTION 4.10 QUORUM.
• 35. SECTION 4.11 LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE.
• 36. SECTION 4.12 PUBLIC NOTICE.
• 37. SECTION 4.13 EFFECTIVE DATE OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES.
• 38. SECTION 4.14 EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES.
• 39. SECTION 4.15 COMPENSATION AND BONDS.
• 40. SECTION 4.16 VACANCIES.
• 41. SECTION 4.17 REMOVAL OF ELECTIVE OFFICERS.
• 42. SECTION 4.18 DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
• 43. ARTICLE V Wards
• 44. SECTION 5.01 DIVISION OF MUNICIPALITY INTO WARDS.
• 45. ARTICLE VI Department of Finance
• 46. SECTION 6.01 ELECTION.
• 47. SECTION 6.02 QUALIFICATIONS.
• 48. SECTION 6.03 DUTIES IN GENERAL.
• 49. SECTION 6.04 ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES AND BUDGETARY CONTROL.
• 50. SECTION 6.05 CUSTODY OF FUNDS.
• 51. SECTION 6.06 DISBURSEMENTS.
• 52. SECTION 6.07 VACANCY.
• 53. ARTICLE VII Department of Public Service
• 54. SECTION 7.01 APPOINTMENT.
• 55. SECTION 7.02 QUALIFICATIONS.
• 56. SECTION 7.03 DUTIES IN GENERAL.
• 57. SECTION 7.04 PURCHASING FUNCTION.
• 58. SECTION 7.05 EMPLOYEES.
• 59. ARTICLE VIII Department of Public Safety
• 60. SECTION 8.01 APPOINTMENT.
• 61. SECTION 8.02 DUTIES IN GENERAL.
• 62. SECTION 8.03 POLICE DEPARTMENT.
• 63. SECTION 8.04 FIRE DEPARTMENT.
• 64. SECTION 8.05 SAFETY SERVICES COMMUNICATION CENTER.
• 65. ARTICLE IX Department of Law
• 66. SECTION 9.01 ELECTION.
• 67. SECTION 9.02 QUALIFICATIONS.
• 68. SECTION 9.03 DUTIES IN GENERAL.
• 69. SECTION 9.04 CHARTER CHANGE.
• 70. SECTION 9.05 VACANCY.
• 71. SECTION 9.06 OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL.
• 72. ARTICLE X Planning Commission and Zoning Procedure
• 73. SECTION 10.01 PLANNING COMMISSION - COMPOSITION AND TERM.
• 74. SECTION 10.02 PLANNING COMMISSION - ORGANIZATION.
• 75. SECTION 10.03 PLANNING COMMISSION - POWERS AND DUTIES.
• 76. SECTION 10.04 MANDATORY REFERRAL TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
• 77. SECTION 10.05 PUBLIC HEARINGS BY COUNCIL.
• 78. SECTION 10.06 ACTION BY COUNCIL.
• 79. ARTICLE XI Board of Zoning and Building Appeals
• 80. SECTION 11.01 COMPOSITION AND TERM.
• 81. SECTION 11.02 ORGANIZATION.
• 82. SECTION 11.03 JURISDICTION.
• 83. SECTION 11.04 MEETINGS AND PROCEDURE.
• 84. SECTION 11.05 APPEALS TO THE BOARD.
• 85. ARTICLE XII Civil Service Commission
• 86. SECTION 12.01 ESTABLISHMENT.
• 87. SECTION 12.02 POWERS AND DUTIES - GENERAL.
• 88. ARTICLE XIII Parks and Recreation Board
• 89. SECTION 13.01 APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
• 90. SECTION 13.02 ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.
• 91. SECTION 13.03 POWERS AND DUTIES.
• 92. ARTICLE XIV Cemetery Board
• 93. SECTION 14.01 COMPOSITION AND TERM.
• 94. SECTION 14.02 ORGANIZATION.
• 95. SECTION 14.03 POWERS AND DUTIES.
• 96. ARTICLE XV Finances
• 97. SECTION 15.01 LIMITATION OF RATE OF TAXATION.
• 98. SECTION 15.02 SIGNATURE ON CHECKS.
• 99. ARTICLE XVI Nominations and Elections
• 100. SECTION 16.01 REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
• 101. SECTION 16.02 NOMINATIONS.
• 102. SECTION 16.03 SELECTION OF CANDIDATES. (DELETED)
• 103. SECTION 16.04 BALLOTS.
• 104. SECTION 16.05 SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
• 105. SECTION 16.06 THE LAWS OF OHIO APPLICABLE TO ELECTIONS.
• 106. ARTICLE XVII Initiative, Referendum and Recall
• 107. SECTION 17.01 INITIATIVE.
• 108. SECTION 17.02 REFERENDUM.
• 109. SECTION 17.03 RECALL.
• 110. SECTION 17.04 RECALL PETITIONS.
• 111. ARTICLE XVIII Franchise
• 112. SECTION 18.01 GRANTING OF FRANCHISES.
• 113. SECTION 18.02 REGULATIONS.
• 114. ARTICLE XIX Amendments to Charter
• 115. SECTION 19.01 SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS.
• 116. SECTION 19.02 ADOPTION.
• 117. SECTION 19.03 CHANGES TO CHARTER
• 118. ARTICLE XX Charter Review Commission
• 119. SECTION 20.01 COMPOSITION AND TERM.
• 120. SECTION 20.02 DUTIES.
• 121. SECTION 20.03 SUBMISSION TO ELECTORS.
• 122. ARTICLE XXI General Provisions
• 123. SECTION 21.01 PERSONAL INTEREST.
• 124. SECTION 21.02 REMOVAL OF APPOINTIVE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
• 125. SECTION 21.03 EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHARTER.
• 126. SECTION 21.04 EFFECT OF PARTIAL INVALIDITY.
• 127. SECTION 21.05 EFFECT OF THE CHARTER UPON EXISTING LAWS AND RIGHTS.
• 128. SECTION 21.06 INTERPRETATION OF THE CHARTER.
• 129. SECTION 21.07 RESIDENCY OF CITY EMPLOYEES.
• 130. SECTION 21.08 TERM LIMITS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
• 131. SECTION 21.09 TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT.
• 132. ARTICLE XXII Budgeting Procedures
• 133. SECTION 22.01 GENERAL.
• 134. SECTION 22.02 OPERATING BUDGET.
• 135. SECTION 22.03 CAPITAL PROGRAM.
• 136. SECTION 22.04 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS.
• 137. PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
• 138. TITLE ONE - General Provisions
• 139. CHAPTER 101 Codified Ordinances
• 140. CHAPTER 103 Official Standards
• 141. CHAPTER 105 Wards and Boundaries
• 142. CHAPTER 107 Municipal Building
• 143. CHAPTER 109 Disposal of Property
• 144. CHAPTER 111 Meetings of Municipal Bodies
• 145. CHAPTER 113 Residency of City Employees
• 146. CHAPTER 115 Personnel Policies, Procedures, and Payroll
• 147. CHAPTER 117 Transparency and Green Savings
• 148. CHAPTER 119 Capital Improvement Plan
• 149. TITLE THREE - Legislative
• 150. CHAPTER 123 Council
• 151. CHAPTER 125 Ordinances and Resolutions
• 152. TITLE FIVE - Administrative
• 153. CHAPTER 131 Mayor
• 154. CHAPTER 132 Department of Human Resources
• 155. CHAPTER 133 Department of Finance
• 156. CHAPTER 134 Department of Community Outreach
• 157. CHAPTER 135 Department of Public Service
• 158. CHAPTER 136 Department of Information Technology
• 159. CHAPTER 137 Department of Engineering
• 160. CHAPTER 139 Department of Public Safety
• 161. CHAPTER 141 Police Department
• 162. CHAPTER 143 Fire Department
• 163. CHAPTER 145 Department of Law
• 164. CHAPTER 147 Department of Development
• 165. CHAPTER 149 Parks and Recreation Department
• 166. CHAPTER 159 General Provisions
• 167. CHAPTER 161 Civil Service Commission
• 168. CHAPTER 163 Parks and Recreation Board
• 169. CHAPTER 165 Cemetery Board
• 170. CHAPTER 167 Public Safety Services Commission
• 171. CHAPTER 169 Civil Rights Commission (Repealed)
• 172. CHAPTER 171 Urban Forestry Commission
• 173. CHAPTER 173 Board of Control
• 174. CHAPTER 175 Senior Citizen's Commission
• 175. CHAPTER 177 Records Commission
• 176. CHAPTER 179 Arts Commission
• 177. CHAPTER 181 Administrative Hearing Board
• 178. CHAPTER 183 Historical Preservation Review Commission (Repealed)
• 179. CHAPTER 185 Environmental Commission
• 180. TITLE SEVEN - Judicial
• 181. CHAPTER 191 Municipal Court
• 182. TITLE NINE - Taxation
• 183. CHAPTER 194 Municipal Income Tax Effective January 1, 2016
• 184. CHAPTER 195 Income Tax
• 185. CHAPTER 196 Income Tax Grant Program
• 186. CHAPTER 197 Transient Accommodations Tax
• 187. CHAPTER 198 Business Retention Grant Program
• 188. CHAPTER 199 Motor Vehicle License Tax
• 189. PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
• 190. TITLE ONE - Administration
• 191. CHAPTER 301 Definitions
• 192. CHAPTER 303 Enforcement, Impounding and Penalty
• 193. CHAPTER 305 Traffic Control
• 194. TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
• 195. CHAPTER 311 Street Obstructions and Special Uses
• 196. CHAPTER 313 Traffic Control Devices
• 197. TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
• 198. CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
• 199. CHAPTER 333 OVI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
• 200. CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
• 201. CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
• 202. CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
• 203. CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
• 204. TITLE SEVEN - Parking
• 205. CHAPTER 351 Parking Generally
• 206. TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
• 207. CHAPTER 371 Pedestrians
• 208. CHAPTER 373 Bicycles and Motorcycles
• 209. CHAPTER 375 Snowmobiles, Off-Highway Motorcycles and All Purpose Vehicles
• 210. PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
• 211. CHAPTER 505 Animals and Fowl
• 212. CHAPTER 509 Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
• 213. CHAPTER 513 Drug Abuse Control
• 214. CHAPTER 515 Fair Housing
• 215. CHAPTER 517 Gambling
• 216. CHAPTER 521 Health, Safety and Sanitation
• 217. CHAPTER 523 Nuisance Abatement Code
• 218. CHAPTER 525 Law Enforcement and Public Office
• 219. CHAPTER 529 Liquor Control
• 220. CHAPTER 533 Obscenity and Sex Offenses
• 221. CHAPTER 537 Offenses Against Persons
• 222. CHAPTER 541 Property Offenses
• 223. CHAPTER 545 Theft and Fraud
• 224. CHAPTER 549 Weapons and Explosives
• 225. CHAPTER 553 Railroads
• 226. PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
• 227. CHAPTER 703 Ambulances and Emergency Medical Services
• 228. CHAPTER 705 Automobile Wrecking Companies
• 229. CHAPTER 711 Licensing and Operation of Sexually Oriented Businesses
• 230. CHAPTER 713 Charitable Fund Raisers (Repealed)
• 231. CHAPTER 717 Drive-in Restaurants
• 232. CHAPTER 725 Late Night Sales
• 233. CHAPTER 731 Mechanical Amusement Devices (Repealed)
• 234. CHAPTER 737 Peddlers, Solicitors and Vendors
• 235. CHAPTER 739 Mobile Ice Cream Vendors
• 236. CHAPTER 741 Private Haulers
• 237. CHAPTER 747 Secondhand Dealers
• 238. CHAPTER 755 Taxicabs
• 239. CHAPTER 759 Medical Marijuana
• 240. PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
• 241. TITLE ONE - Street and Sidewalk Areas
• 242. CHAPTER 901 Excavations
• 243. CHAPTER 903 Annual Road Plan
• 244. CHAPTER 905 Culverts, Curb Cuts and Driveways
• 245. CHAPTER 909 Sidewalk and Curb Construction
• 246. CHAPTER 913 Trees and Shrubbery
• 247. CHAPTER 917 Mailboxes
• 248. TITLE THREE - Utilities
• 249. CHAPTER 921 Water System Fees and User Charges
• 250. CHAPTER 923 Water System Backflow/Cross Connection Control
• 251. CHAPTER 925 Sewers
• 252. CHAPTER 927 Stormwater Management Utility
• 253. CHAPTER 929 CATV
• 254. CHAPTER 933 Erosion and Sediment Control and Post Construction Storm Water Quality
• 255. CHAPTER 935 Illicit Discharge and Illegal Connection Control
• 256. CHAPTER 939 Small Cell Technology in the Right of Way
• 257. TITLE FIVE - Other Public Services
• 258. CHAPTER 951 Municipal Cemetery
• 259. CHAPTER 955 Park and Recreation Areas
• 260. CHAPTER 959 Solid Waste Collection
• 261. CHAPTER 963 Recycling Collection Program
• 262. CHAPTER 965 Permit Fees and Costs and Bonding Requirements
• 263. PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
• 264. CHAPTER 1102 Base District Standards
• 265. CHAPTER 1103 Overlay District Standards
• 266. CHAPTER 1104 Use Standards
• 267. CHAPTER 1105 Subdivision Standards
• 268. CHAPTER 1106 General Development Standards
• 269. CHAPTER 1107 Building Design Standards
• 270. CHAPTER 1108 Social Gathering and Open Space,Tree Preservation and Landscape Standards
• 271. CHAPTER 1109 Access and Mobility Standards
• 272. CHAPTER 1110 Sign Standards
• 273. CHAPTER 1111 Floodplain Development Standards
• 274. CHAPTER 1112 Review, Decision Making, and Enforcement Procedures
• 275. CHAPTER 1113 Nonconformities
• 276. CHAPTER 1114 Definitions
• 277. PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
• 278. TITLE ONE - Administration
• 279. CHAPTER 1305 Building Department
• 280. CHAPTER 1309 Building Permits and Fees
• 281. CHAPTER 1311 Dangerous Buildings
• 282. CHAPTER 1313 Clandestine Drug Labs
• 283. TITLE THREE - Registering of Contractors
• 284. CHAPTER 1317 Contractor Registration
• 285. TITLE FIVE - Technical Codes Adopted
• 286. CHAPTER 1333 Ohio Building Code
• 287. CHAPTER 1337 Residential Code of Ohio
• 288. TITLE SEVEN - Local Standards
• 289. CHAPTER 1347 Trailers
• 290. CHAPTER 1349 Numbering of Buildings
• 291. CHAPTER 1355 Historic Preservation
• 292. PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
• 293. CHAPTER 1507 Ohio Fire Code
• 294. CHAPTER 1509 General Regulations
• 295. CHAPTER 1511 Open Burning
• 296. CHAPTER 1519 Fireworks
• 297. CHAPTER 1523 Kerosene Sales