As your local partner, we ensure you stay on the right side of the law.

1. What is Residential Rental Registration?

Ohio law requires owners of residential rental property in counties with populations over 200,000 to register their properties with the County Auditor.

• What Must Be Registered: Any real property where at least one dwelling unit is leased or rented solely for residential purposes. This includes single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, and mobile home lots.
• The Dependency (Toledo Lead Law): If your property is a 1-4 unit rental built before 1978, you cannot get your mandatory Lead-Safe Certificate until you have first registered the property with the Auditor. The City of Toledo now uses the Auditor’s database as “Step 1” for all lead safety compliance.

2. Who Must File (And New 2024 Updates)

The registry applies to almost all non-owner-occupied residential property.

• In-State vs. Out-of-State: If you live outside Ohio, you must designate an in-state agent (over 18 years old) to accept legal service.
• Agent Authority (Effective Oct 2024): As of October 24, 2024, Ohio law was updated to allow your designated property manager (like Buckeye Northwest Realty) to legally file, update, or handle all registration requirements on your behalf.
• No Filing Fee: There is currently no cost to file this registration with Lucas County.

3. Deadlines and Logistics

Owners often forget that this is an ongoing requirement, not a one-time task.

• 60-Day Rule: You must file within 60 days of a property transfer or 60 days after receiving a notice to file.
• Updating Info: If your phone number, address, or ownership structure (like moving the property into an LLC) changes, you have 60 days to update the Auditor.
• How to File: You can file electronically via the Lucas County Form Center, email a scanned PDF to RentalRegistration@co.lucas.oh.us, or mail a physical copy to the Auditor’s office at One Government Center.
• Public Record: All registered information is public and searchable daily via the AREIS Online database.

4. The High Stakes: Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Fines: Failure to register can result in a special assessment on your property taxes of up to $150 per violation.
• Misdemeanor: Legally, failing to comply with the filing or updating requirements is a minor misdemeanor in the state of Ohio.
• Lead Law Violations: Because the City of Toledo enforces the lead ordinance through this registry, missing your registration could lead to much larger administrative fines for lead non-compliance.

Navigating Compliance with Ease

Managing the paperwork for the County Auditor and the City’s Lead Safe office can be overwhelming. We handle the heavy lifting for our owners:

• Automatic Agent Designation: We serve as your required in-state agent for out-of-state owners.
• Direct Filing: We manage the registration process through the Auditor’s portal to ensure your data is accurate and up to date.
• Integrated Compliance: We align your registration with your lead inspection schedule to ensure you never miss a deadline.

Ready to protect your asset with professional compliance management?

Learn how Buckeye Northwest Realty can handle your Lucas County rental registration and lead safety requirements.

Contact us today at buckeyenw.com/contact or call us at (419) 385-5555 to discuss your investment strategy!

Disclaimer: The following content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements can change; always consult with the Lucas County Auditor or legal counsel to ensure your specific property is in full compliance.