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

Current through December 16, 2025 | State legislation current through June 5, 2025. Official source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/urbana/latest/overview

Every town writes its own rules, and Urbana, Ohio's live in its municipal code — 245 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 Urbana, Ohio code

• 1. Urbana, Ohio
• 2. CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF URBANA, OHIO
• 3. CERTIFICATION
• 4. ROSTER OF OFFICIALS
• 5. ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. 3790
• 6. EDITOR'S NOTE
• 7. COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
• 8. CHARTER
• 9. ARTICLE I: INCORPORATION, FORM OF GOVERNMENT, AND POWERS
• 10. SECTION 1.01. NAME AND BOUNDARIES.
• 11. SECTION 1.02. FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
• 12. SECTION 1.03. POWERS OF THE CITY.
• 13. SECTION 1.04. MANNER OF EXERCISE OF POWERS.
• 14. SECTION 1.05. CONSTRUCTION.
• 15. SECTION 1.06. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
• 16. ARTICLE II: THE COUNCIL
• 17. SECTION 2.01. POWERS, COMPOSITION, AND TERM.
• 18. SECTION 2.02. COUNCIL AS A CONTINUING BODY.
• 19. SECTION 2.03. COMPENSATION.
• 20. SECTION 2.04. PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL.
• 21. SECTION 2.05. ORGANIZATION.
• 22. SECTION 2.06. VACANCIES.
• 23. SECTION 2.07. MEETING OF COUNCIL.
• 24. SECTION 2.08. COUNCIL RULES AND JOURNAL.
• 25. SECTION 2.09. LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE.
• 26. SECTION 2.10. READING REQUIREMENTS.
• 27. SECTION 2.11. EMERGENCY ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
• 28. SECTION 2.12. ACTIONS NOT PERMITTED AS EMERGENCIES.
• 29. SECTION 2.13. AMENDING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
• 30. SECTION 2.14. AUTHENTICATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
• 31. SECTION 2.15. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
• 32. SECTION 2.16. PUBLIC NOTICE BEFORE FINAL ENACTMENT.
• 33. SECTION 2.17. PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
• 34. SECTION 2.18. ADOPTION BY REFERENCE OF TECHNICAL CODES.
• 35. SECTION 2.19. CODIFICATION.
• 36. SECTION 2.20. COUNCIL RELATIONSHIP TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS.
• 37. SECTION 2.21. TERM LIMITS.
• 38. ARTICLE III: THE MAYOR
• 39. SECTION 3.01. QUALIFICATION, TERM.
• 40. SECTION 3.02. GENERAL POWERS.
• 41. SECTION 3.03. SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS.
• 42. SECTION 3.04. VETO POWER.
• 43. SECTION 3.05 VACANCY.
• 44. ARTICLE IV: ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS, DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS.
• 45. SECTION 4.01. DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION.
• 46. SECTION 4.02. DIRECTOR OF LAW.
• 47. SECTION 4.03. DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
• 48. SECTION 4.04. CITY DEPARTMENTS.
• 49. SECTION 4.05. DIRECTORS OF DEPARTMENTS.
• 50. SECTION 4.06. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
• 51. SECTION 4.07. ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION.
• 52. ARTICLE V: THE CIVIL SERVICE
• 53. SECTION 5.01. GENERAL PROVISION.
• 54. SECTION 5.02. MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
• 55. SECTION 5.03. CIVIL SERVICE - CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED.
• 56. SECTION 5.04. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS.
• 57. SECTION 5.05. PROMOTION TO POLICE CHIEF AND FIRE CHIEF.
• 58. SECTION 5.06. DISCIPLINE OF CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL.
• 59. SECTION 5.07. RETIREMENT. (REPEALED)
• 60. SECTION 5.08. POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
• 61. ARTICLE VI: FINANCE
• 62. SECTION 6.01. FISCAL YEAR.
• 63. SECTION 6.02. ANNUAL BUDGET.
• 64. SECTION 6.03. TEMPORARY APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.
• 65. SECTION 6.04. ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.
• 66. SECTION 6.05. TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATIONS.
• 67. SECTION 6.06. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
• 68. SECTION 6.07. ANNUAL AUDITS.
• 69. ARTICLE VII: NOMINATIONS, QUALIFICATIONS, ELECTIONS, INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, AND RECALL
• 70. SECTION 7.01. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
• 71. SECTION 7.02. DEFINITIONS.
• 72. SECTION 7.03. QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTED OFFICERS.
• 73. SECTION 7.04. VOTING DISTRICTS.
• 74. SECTION 7.05. ELECTIONS.
• 75. SECTION 7.06. BEGINNING OF TERM OF OFFICE.
• 76. SECTION 7.07. ELECTION TO FILL AN UNEXPIRED TERM.
• 77. SECTION 7.08. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
• 78. SECTION 7.09. EMERGENCY ORDINANCES NOT EXEMPTED FROM REFERENDUM.
• 79. SECTION 7.10. RECALL.
• 80. ARTICLE VIII: GENERAL PROVISIONS
• 81. SECTION 8.01. CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
• 82. SECTION 8.02. CHARTER AMENDMENT.
• 83. SECTION 8.03. CHARTER REVIEW.
• 84. SECTION 8.04. SEPARABILITY.
• 85. SECTION 8.05. OATH OF OFFICE.
• 86. SECTION 8.06. GENDER TERMINOLOGY.
• 87. ARTICLE IX: TRANSITION
• 88. SECTION 9.01. AMENDMENTS.
• 89. SECTION 9.02. PENDING MATTERS.
• 90. SECTION 9.03. EXISTING LAWS.
• 91. SECTION 9.04. SUBMISSION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER TO THE ELECTORS.
• 92. SECTION 9.05. YEAR 2000 AMENDMENTS.
• 93. PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
• 94. CHAPTER 105 Wards and Boundaries
• 95. CHAPTER 107 Open Meetings
• 96. TITLE THREE - Legislative
• 97. CHAPTER 111 Council
• 98. TITLE FIVE - Administrative
• 99. CHAPTER 121 Mayor
• 100. CHAPTER 125 Department of Administration
• 101. CHAPTER 129 Department of Law
• 102. CHAPTER 133 Department of Finance
• 103. CHAPTER 137 Police Division
• 104. CHAPTER 141 Fire Division
• 105. CHAPTER 145 Board of Control
• 106. CHAPTER 149 Civil Service
• 107. CHAPTER 153 Employment Provisions
• 108. CHAPTER 155 Drug and Alcohol Policy
• 109. CHAPTER 161 Municipal Court
• 110. TITLE NINE - Taxation
• 111. CHAPTER 171 Municipal Income Tax Effective January 1, 2024
• 112. CHAPTER 173 Income Tax
• 113. CHAPTER 175 Motor Vehicle License Tax
• 114. CHAPTER 177 Transient Lodging Tax
• 115. CHAPTER 179 Additional Motor Vehicle License Tax
• 116. PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
• 117. TITLE ONE - Administration
• 118. CHAPTER 301 Definitions
• 119. CHAPTER 303 Enforcement, Impounding and Penalty
• 120. CHAPTER 305 Traffic Control
• 121. TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
• 122. CHAPTER 311 Street Obstructions and Special Uses
• 123. CHAPTER 313 Traffic Control Devices
• 124. TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
• 125. CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
• 126. CHAPTER 333 OVI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
• 127. CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
• 128. CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
• 129. CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
• 130. CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
• 131. TITLE SEVEN - Parking
• 132. CHAPTER 351 Parking Generally
• 133. TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
• 134. CHAPTER 371 Pedestrians
• 135. CHAPTER 373 Bicycles and Motorcycles
• 136. CHAPTER 375 Snowmobiles, Off-Highway Motorcycles and All Purpose Vehicles
• 137. PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
• 138. CHAPTER 502 Noise
• 139. CHAPTER 505 Animals and Fowl
• 140. CHAPTER 509 Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
• 141. CHAPTER 510 Curfew for Minors
• 142. CHAPTER 511 Drug Paraphernalia Use or Possession
• 143. CHAPTER 513 Drug Abuse
• 144. CHAPTER 515 Fair Housing
• 145. CHAPTER 521 Health, Safety and Sanitation
• 146. CHAPTER 525 Law Enforcement and Public Office
• 147. CHAPTER 529 Liquor Control
• 148. CHAPTER 533 Obscenity and Sex Offenses
• 149. CHAPTER 537 Offenses Against Persons
• 150. CHAPTER 541 Property Offenses
• 151. CHAPTER 549 Weapons and Explosives
• 152. CHAPTER 553 Railroads
• 153. PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
• 154. CHAPTER 711 Billiard Rooms
• 155. CHAPTER 717 Bowling Alleys
• 156. CHAPTER 721 Circuses and Carnivals
• 157. CHAPTER 723 Coin-Operated Devices
• 158. CHAPTER 727 Dance Halls and Skating Rinks
• 159. CHAPTER 733 Going Out of Business Sales
• 160. CHAPTER 737 Home Sales
• 161. CHAPTER 743 Junk and Secondhand Dealers
• 162. CHAPTER 749 Motor Vehicle Races
• 163. CHAPTER 755 Solicitors, Peddlers and Vendors
• 164. CHAPTER 761 Shooting and Archery Ranges (Repealed)
• 165. CHAPTER 767 Taxicabs
• 166. CHAPTER 769 Oil and Gas Wells
• 167. CHAPTER 770 Junk Yards
• 168. CHAPTER 771 Recycling Centers
• 169. CHAPTER 775 Video Service Provider Fee
• 170. PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
• 171. TITLE ONE - Street and Sidewalk Area
• 172. CHAPTER 901 General Provisions
• 173. CHAPTER 905 Trees
• 174. CHAPTER 909 Excavations
• 175. CHAPTER 913 Construction and Repair of Sidewalks and Curbs
• 176. CHAPTER 917 Numbering of Buildings
• 177. TITLE THREE - Utilities
• 178. CHAPTER 927 General Provisions
• 179. CHAPTER 929 Stormwater Utility
• 180. CHAPTER 931 Sewer Regulations
• 181. CHAPTER 933 Mulching/Compost Regulations
• 182. CHAPTER 935 Industrial Pretreatment
• 183. CHAPTER 936 Domestic Septage Waste Disposal
• 184. CHAPTER 937 Grease Control Program
• 185. CHAPTER 939 Water Regulations
• 186. CHAPTER 940 Water Quality Protection
• 187. CHAPTER 945 Payment of Charges
• 188. CHAPTER 947 Residential Recycling
• 189. TITLE FIVE - Other Public Services
• 190. CHAPTER 963 Oak Dale Cemetery
• 191. PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
• 192. TITLE ONE - Zoning Administration
• 193. CHAPTER 1101 General Provisions
• 194. CHAPTER 1102 Definitions
• 195. CHAPTER 1103 District Establishment and Map
• 196. CHAPTER 1105 Administration and Enforcement
• 197. CHAPTER 1110 Site Plan Review Guidelines and Standards
• 198. CHAPTER 1112 City Center Heritage Overlay District
• 199. CHAPTER 1113 District Changes and Regulation Amendments
• 200. CHAPTER 1117 Nonconforming Uses
• 201. TITLE THREE - Zoning Districts and Regulations
• 202. CHAPTER 1120 R-1 Low Density Residential District
• 203. CHAPTER 1121 R-2 Medium Density Residential District
• 204. CHAPTER 1122 R-3 High Density Residential District
• 205. CHAPTER 1123 BR-1 Business Residential District
• 206. CHAPTER 1124 B-2 General Business District
• 207. CHAPTER 1125 B-3 Central Business District
• 208. CHAPTER 1126 M-1 Manufacturing District
• 209. CHAPTER 1127 Urbana Corridor Overlay District
• 210. CHAPTER 1129 Supplemental Regulations
• 211. CHAPTER 1133 Off-Street Parking and Loading
• 212. CHAPTER 1137 Urbana Sign Code
• 213. CHAPTER 1141 Planned Unit Development
• 214. CHAPTER 1149 Violation, Remedies and Fees
• 215. TITLE FIVE - Subdivision Regulations
• 216. CHAPTER 1155 General Provisions
• 217. CHAPTER 1159 Minor Subdivision
• 218. CHAPTER 1161 Major Subdivision
• 219. CHAPTER 1163 Design Standards
• 220. CHAPTER 1167 Improvements
• 221. CHAPTER 1171 Hillside Regulations
• 222. CHAPTER 1175 Mobile Home Subdivisions
• 223. CHAPTER 1179 Plat Statements and Signatures
• 224. TITLE SEVEN - Telecommunications
• 225. CHAPTER 1181 Wireless Telecommunication Facilities
• 226. CHAPTER 1182 Small Cell Facilities and Wireless Support Structures
• 227. TITLE NINE - Storm Water Management
• 228. CHAPTER 1183 New Development and Redevelopment
• 229. CHAPTER 1185 Illegal Discharge and Illegal Connection
• 230. PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
• 231. CHAPTER 1305 Dwelling Code
• 232. CHAPTER 1307 Registration of Contractors
• 233. CHAPTER 1315 Electrical Regulations
• 234. CHAPTER 1321 Swimming Pools
• 235. CHAPTER 1333 Community Reinvestment Areas
• 236. CHAPTER 1339 Nuisances
• 237. CHAPTER 1341 Vacant Building Enforcement Program
• 238. CHAPTER 1343 Weed Control
• 239. CHAPTER 1351 Flood Damage Reduction
• 240. PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
• 241. CHAPTER 1502 Fire Loss Claims
• 242. CHAPTER 1503 Fire Alarm Systems
• 243. CHAPTER 1505 Fire Prevention Bureau
• 244. CHAPTER 1511 Open Burning
• 245. CHAPTER 1519 Fireworks