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

Current through February 2, 2026 | State legislation current through December 31, 2025. Official source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/wooster/latest/overview

Every town writes its own rules, and Wooster, Ohio's live in its municipal code — 249 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 Wooster, Ohio's code a question

What's in the Wooster, Ohio code

1. Codified Ordinances of the City of Wooster, Ohio
2. ROSTER OF OFFICIALS AND ADMINISTRATORS
3. COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
4. TABLES OF SPECIAL ORDINANCES
5. TABLE A - FRANCHISES
6. TABLE B - EASEMENTS
7. TABLE C - VACATING OF STREETS AND ALLEYS
8. TABLE D - DEDICATION AND PLAT APPROVAL
9. TABLE E - SALE AND PURCHASE OF PROPERTY
10. TABLE F - LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY
11. TABLE G - CHANGE OF NAME AND GRADE LEVELS
12. TABLE H - ANNEXATION AND DETACHMENT OF TERRITORY
13. TABLE I - ZONING MAP CHANGES
14. CHARTER OF THE CITY OF WOOSTER, OHIO
15. ARTICLE I INCORPORATION, FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND POWERS
16. SECTION 1.01. NAME AND BOUNDARIES.
17. SECTION 1.02. FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
18. SECTION 1.03. POWERS OF THE CITY.
19. SECTION 1.04. MANNER OF EXERCISE OF POWERS.
20. SECTION 1.05. CONSTRUCTION.
21. SECTION 1.06. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
22. ARTICLE II THE COUNCIL
23. SECTION 2.01. POWERS, COMPOSITION, AND TERM.
24. SECTION 2.02. COUNCIL AS A CONTINUING BODY.
25. SECTION 2.03. COMPENSATION AND BONDS.
26. SECTION 2.04. PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL.
27. SECTION 2.05. ORGANIZATION.
28. SECTION 2.06. VACANCIES.
29. SECTION 2.07. MEETINGS OF COUNCIL.
30. SECTION 2.08. COUNCIL RULES AND JOURNAL.
31. SECTION 2.09. LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE.
32. SECTION 2.10. READING REQUIREMENTS.
33. SECTION 2.11. ORDINANCES IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE ENACTMENT.
34. SECTION 2.12. ACTIONS NOT PERMITTED TO BE IMMEDIATELY ENACTED.
35. SECTION 2.13. AMENDING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
36. SECTION 2.14. AUTHENTICATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
37. SECTION 2.15. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDINANCES.
38. SECTION 2.16. PUBLIC NOTICE BEFORE FINAL ENACTMENT.
39. SECTION 2.17. PUBLICATION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES.
40. SECTION 2.18. COUNCIL RELATIONSHIP TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.
41. SECTION 2.19. ADOPTION BY REFERENCE - CODIFICATION.
42. ARTICLE III THE MAYOR
43. SECTION 3.01. TERM.
44. SECTION 3.02. ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS.
45. SECTION 3.03. MAYOR'S RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNCIL MEETINGS.
46. SECTION 3.04. MAYOR'S VETO POWER.
47. SECTION 3.05. VACANCY.
48. SECTION 3.06. RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE ELECTORATE.
49. ARTICLE IV ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS, DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS
50. SECTION 4.01. THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION.
51. SECTION 4.02. DIRECTOR OF LAW.
52. SECTION 4.03. DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
53. SECTION 4.04. CITY DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS.
54. SECTION 4.05. MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES.
55. SECTION 4.06. COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS.
56. SECTION 4.07. DEPARTMENTAL REORGANIZATION.
57. ARTICLE V THE CIVIL SERVICE
58. SECTION 5.01. GENERAL PROVISION.
59. SECTION 5.02. MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
60. SECTION 5.03. CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED SERVICE.
61. SECTION 5.04. CIVIL SERVICE.
62. SECTION 5.05. NEW EMPLOYEES.
63. SECTION 5.06. PROMOTIONS IN THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE.
64. SECTION 5.07. PROMOTION TO CHIEF IN THE POLICE AND FIRE DIVISIONS.
65. SECTION 5.08. DISCIPLINE.
66. SECTION 5.09. POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
67. ARTICLE VI TAXATION AND FINANCE
68. SECTION 6.01. FISCAL YEAR.
69. SECTION 6.02. ANNUAL BUDGET.
70. SECTION 6.03. TEMPORARY APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.
71. SECTION 6.04. ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.
72. SECTION 6.05. TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATIONS.
73. SECTION 6.06. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
74. SECTION 6.07. LIMITATION ON RATE OF TAXATION.
75. SECTION 6.08. ANNUAL AUDITS.
76. ARTICLE VII NOMINATION, ELECTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS, INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
77. SECTION 7.01. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
78. SECTION 7.02. DEFINITIONS.
79. SECTION 7.03. QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTED OFFICERS.
80. SECTION 7.04. VOTING DISTRICTS.
81. SECTION 7.05. ELECTIONS.
82. SECTION 7.06. BEGINNING OF TERM OF OFFICE.
83. SECTION 7.07. ELECTION TO FILL AN UNEXPIRED TERM.
84. SECTION 7.08. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM .
85. SECTION 7.09. RECALL.
86. ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS
87. SECTION 8.01. CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
88. SECTION 8.02. CHARTER AMENDMENT.
89. SECTION 8.03. CHARTER REVIEW.
90. SECTION 8.04. SEPARABILITY.
91. SECTION 8.05. OATH OF OFFICE.
92. SECTION 8.06. PUBLIC MEETING REQUIREMENT.
93. ARTICLE IX TRANSITION
94. SECTION 9.01. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
95. SECTION 9.02. TRANSITION OF DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES AND AGENCIES.
96. SECTION 9.03. PENDING MATTERS.
97. SECTION 9.04. EXISTING LAWS.
98. SECTION 9.05. TRANSITION FROM CLASSIFIED TO UNCLASSIFIED SERVICE.
99. ARTICLE X WOOSTER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
100. SECTION 10.01. GENERAL PROVISION.
101. SECTION 10.02. BOARD OF GOVERNORS.
102. SECTION 10.03. POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD OF GOVERNORS.
103. SECTION 10.04. FISCAL AFFAIRS.
104. SECTION 10.05. LEASE OF HOSPITAL FACILITIES.
105. SECTION 10.06. TRANSITION.
106. PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
107. TITLE ONE - General Provisions
108. CHAPTER 101 Codified Ordinances
109. CHAPTER 103 Official Standards
110. CHAPTER 105 Wards and Boundaries
111. CHAPTER 107 Rules for Notification of Meetings
112. CHAPTER 108 Moral Claims Board
113. CHAPTER 109 Personal Information Systems
115. TITLE THREE - Legislative
116. CHAPTER 111 Council
117. CHAPTER 113 Clerk of Council
118. TITLE FIVE - Administrative
119. CHAPTER 121 Mayor
120. CHAPTER 123 Department of Administration
121. CHAPTER 125 Department of Finance
122. CHAPTER 127 Department of Law
123. CHAPTER 129 Police Division
124. CHAPTER 131 Fire Division
125. CHAPTER 133 Civil Service Rules and Regulations
126. CHAPTER 135 Parks and Recreation Commission
127. CHAPTER 137 Urban Forestry Commission
128. CHAPTER 139 Board of Health
129. CHAPTER 141 Transportation Commission
130. CHAPTER 143 Senior Citizens Commission
131. CHAPTER 145 Parking Commission
132. CHAPTER 147 Traffic Commission
133. CHAPTER 153 Records Commission
134. CHAPTER 155 Design and Review Board (Repealed)
135. CHAPTER 157 Insurance Claims Board
136. CHAPTER 159 Linked Deposit Program
137. CHAPTER 160 Bidding Procedures and Contract Requirements
138. CHAPTER 161 Financial Procedures
139. TITLE SIX - Employment Provisions
140. CHAPTER 162 Management Benefits
141. CHAPTER 163 Part-Time, Seasonal, Temporary, Special and Auxiliary Employees
142. CHAPTER 164 Collective Bargaining
143. CHAPTER 165 Travel Expenses
144. CHAPTER 166 Affirmative Action Program
145. CHAPTER 167 Bonds
146. CHAPTER 168 Employees Generally
147. TITLE SEVEN - Judicial
148. CHAPTER 171 Municipal Court
149. PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
150. TITLE ONE - Administration
151. CHAPTER 301 Definitions
152. CHAPTER 303 Enforcement, Impounding and Penalty
153. CHAPTER 305 Traffic Control Map and File
154. CHAPTER 307 Traffic Engineering
155. CHAPTER 309 Traffic Division
156. CHAPTER 311 Street Obstructions and Special Uses
157. CHAPTER 313 Traffic Control Devices
158. CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
159. CHAPTER 333 OVI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
160. CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
161. CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
162. CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
163. CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
164. TITLE SEVEN - Parking
165. CHAPTER 351 Parking Generally
166. CHAPTER 355 Off-Street Parking Facilities
167. CHAPTER 357 Parking Violations Bureau (Repealed)
168. TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
169. CHAPTER 371 Pedestrians
170. CHAPTER 373 Bicycles and Motorcycles
171. CHAPTER 375 Snowmobiles, Off-Highway Motorcycles and All Purpose Vehicles
172. PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
173. CHAPTER 505 Animals and Fowl
174. CHAPTER 509 Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
175. CHAPTER 511 Alarm Systems
176. CHAPTER 521 Health, Safety and Sanitation
177. CHAPTER 529 Liquor Control
178. CHAPTER 539 Park Regulations
179. CHAPTER 541 Property Offenses
180. CHAPTER 543 Storage of Vehicles and Materials
181. CHAPTER 545 Theft and Fraud
182. CHAPTER 549 Weapons and Explosives
183. CHAPTER 553 Railroads
184. PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
185. CHAPTER 719 Jewelry Auctions
186. CHAPTER 725 Peddlers and Solicitors
187. CHAPTER 731 Sexually Oriented Businesses
188. CHAPTER 737 Strikebreakers
189. CHAPTER 743 Taxicabs
190. CHAPTER 767 Oil and Gas Wells
191. CHAPTER 771 Video Service Providers
192. PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
193. TITLE ONE - Street and Sidewalk Areas
194. CHAPTER 901 Excavations and Curb Cuts
195. CHAPTER 903 Sidewalks and Driveways
196. CHAPTER 905 Trees, Tree Lawns and Weeds
197. CHAPTER 907 Erosion and Storm Runoff Controls (Repealed)
198. TITLE THREE - Utilities
199. CHAPTER 921 Water
200. CHAPTER 923 Sewerage
201. CHAPTER 924 Sewer Charges
202. CHAPTER 925 Storm Drainage
203. TITLE FIVE - Other Public Services
204. CHAPTER 943 Wooster Community Hospital
205. CHAPTER 945 Collection and Disposal of Waste Materials and Recyclables
206. CHAPTER 947 Cable Television
207. CHAPTER 949 Wireless Communication Facilities in the Public Way
208. PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
209. PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
210. TITLE ONE - Building
211. CHAPTER 1301 Residential Building Code
212. CHAPTER 1303 Ohio Building Code
213. CHAPTER 1305 Fire Limits
214. CHAPTER 1307 Moving of Buildings
215. CHAPTER 1309 Demolition
216. CHAPTER 1311 Appeals
217. TITLE THREE - Electrical
218. CHAPTER 1321 Electric Code
219. CHAPTER 1323 Electrical Contractor's Licenses
220. TITLE FIVE - Plumbing
221. CHAPTER 1331 Plumbing Code
222. CHAPTER 1333 Plumbing Contractor's Licenses
223. TITLE SEVEN - Heating and Ventilating
224. CHAPTER 1335 Heating and Ventilating Code
225. TITLE EIGHT - Trades Contractors
226. CHAPTER 1337 Trades Contractor's Registration
227. TITLE NINE - Billboards and Signs
228. CHAPTER 1341 Signs and Sign Structures (Repealed)
229. TITLE TEN - Fees
230. CHAPTER 1349 Permit Fees
231. TITLE ELEVEN - Housing
232. CHAPTER 1351 Minimum Housing Standards and Property Maintenance Code
233. CHAPTER 1353 Fair Housing Practices
234. TITLE THIRTEEN - Flood Damage Reduction
235. CHAPTER 1361 General Provisions
236. CHAPTER 1363 Definitions
237. CHAPTER 1365 Administration
238. CHAPTER 1367 Use and Development Standards
239. CHAPTER 1369 Appeals and Variances
240. CHAPTER 1371 Enforcement
241. PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
242. CHAPTER 1503 Fire Prevention Board
243. CHAPTER 1505 Local Provisions
244. CHAPTER 1507 Open Burning
245. CHAPTER 1512 Emergency Ambulance Service
246. CHAPTER 1519 Fireworks
247. PART SEVENTEEN - TAXATION CODE
248. CHAPTER 1703 Motor Vehicle License Tax
249. CHAPTER 1705 Transient Occupancy Tax
250. CHAPTER 1707 Job Creation Income Tax Credit