Homesteading in Ohio
Explore 88 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in Ohio.
Ohio uses a Riparian water rights system , enforces statewide IRC building codes , and has constitutional carry. The effective property tax rate is 1.53%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Riparian
Follows riparian doctrine. Facilities with capacity to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons per day must register with ODNR. Lake Erie basin withdrawals regulated under Great Lakes Compact.
Statute: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1521.16 et seq.
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: Yes (statewide)
Ohio Residential Code of Ohio applies statewide, based on IRC. Administered by the Board of Building Standards.
Statute: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3781.10 et seq.
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: Yes
Permitless concealed carry for persons 21 and older effective June 2022. Open carry legal without a permit. Duty to notify law enforcement of carrying removed.
Statute: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2923.111; Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2923.12
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects agricultural operations from nuisance suits if the operation has been in existence for at least one year and is conducted in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices.
Statute: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 929.04
Counties in Ohio
88 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 27,509 | $138,700 | $1,268 | 93 | Relatively Low |
| Allen County | 102,087 | $147,000 | $1,690 | 84 | Relatively Low |
| Ashland County | 52,522 | $163,600 | $1,731 | 84 | Relatively Low |
| Ashtabula County | 97,666 | $139,000 | $1,824 | 79 | Relatively Low |
| Athens County | 61,276 | $161,700 | $1,976 | 91 | Relatively Low |
| Auglaize County | 46,263 | $168,200 | $1,691 | 85 | Very Low |
| Belmont County | 66,554 | $130,200 | $1,369 | 88 | Relatively Low |
| Brown County | 43,715 | $164,500 | $1,473 | 93 | Relatively Low |
| Butler County | 388,327 | $224,300 | $2,918 | 90 | Relatively Moderate |
| Carroll County | 26,761 | $157,500 | $1,598 | 85 | Very Low |
| Champaign County | 38,715 | $166,900 | $1,884 | 87 | Very Low |
| Clark County | 135,877 | $144,900 | $1,889 | 88 | Relatively Low |
| Clermont County | 208,851 | $224,800 | $2,939 | 92 | Relatively Low |
| Clinton County | 42,077 | $172,800 | $1,708 | 90 | Very Low |
| Columbiana County | 101,723 | $124,400 | $1,414 | 84 | Relatively Low |
| Coshocton County | 36,629 | $128,600 | $1,292 | 86 | Relatively Low |
| Crawford County | 41,861 | $117,000 | $1,386 | 84 | Very Low |
| Cuyahoga County | 1,256,620 | $168,700 | $3,684 | 80 | Relatively High |
| Darke County | 51,751 | $157,800 | $1,485 | 87 | Relatively Low |
| Defiance County | 38,300 | $147,600 | $1,732 | 81 | Very Low |
| Delaware County | 216,074 | $393,000 | $6,671 | 86 | Relatively Low |
| Erie County | 75,299 | $169,400 | $2,295 | 81 | Relatively Low |
| Fairfield County | 159,371 | $247,800 | $2,856 | 89 | Relatively Low |
| Fayette County | 28,901 | $151,400 | $1,490 | 90 | Very Low |
| Franklin County | 1,318,149 | $243,100 | $3,977 | 88 | Relatively High |
| Fulton County | 42,602 | $163,100 | $2,202 | 80 | Very Low |
| Gallia County | 29,276 | $134,000 | $1,324 | 93 | Relatively Low |
| Geauga County | 95,455 | $288,000 | $4,386 | 80 | Relatively Low |
| Greene County | 167,567 | $222,300 | $3,901 | 89 | Relatively Low |
| Guernsey County | 38,409 | $145,800 | $1,479 | 87 | Very Low |
| Hamilton County | 827,671 | $205,000 | $3,297 | 92 | Relatively High |
| Hancock County | 75,072 | $179,600 | $1,847 | 83 | Relatively Low |
| Hardin County | 30,622 | $125,600 | $1,412 | 84 | Very Low |
| Harrison County | 14,528 | $112,500 | $1,161 | 86 | Very Low |
| Henry County | 27,601 | $157,500 | $1,885 | 81 | Very Low |
| Highland County | 43,285 | $146,300 | $1,414 | 92 | Relatively Low |
| Hocking County | 28,104 | $164,100 | $1,705 | 90 | Relatively Low |
| Holmes County | 44,273 | $245,800 | $2,688 | 85 | Relatively Low |
| Huron County | 58,518 | $151,600 | $1,607 | 82 | Relatively Low |
| Jackson County | 32,563 | $127,500 | $1,283 | 92 | Very Low |
| Jefferson County | 65,280 | $115,100 | $1,198 | 86 | Relatively Low |
| Knox County | 62,657 | $197,400 | $2,128 | 86 | Relatively Low |
| Lake County | 232,236 | $189,600 | $3,286 | 79 | Relatively Low |
| Lawrence County | 57,994 | $127,900 | $1,132 | 94 | Relatively Low |
| Licking County | 178,844 | $232,200 | $3,050 | 87 | Relatively Low |
| Logan County | 46,098 | $168,300 | $1,812 | 86 | Relatively Low |
| Lorain County | 313,101 | $191,900 | $2,906 | 81 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lucas County | 430,014 | $144,200 | $2,623 | 80 | Relatively Moderate |
| Madison County | 43,961 | $201,200 | $2,301 | 88 | Very Low |
| Mahoning County | 227,979 | $132,000 | $1,934 | 83 | Relatively Moderate |
| Marion County | 65,366 | $135,900 | $1,414 | 85 | Relatively Low |
| Medina County | 182,347 | $249,700 | $3,314 | 82 | Relatively Low |
| Meigs County | 22,242 | $104,400 | $1,049 | 92 | Relatively Low |
| Mercer County | 42,321 | $192,800 | $2,055 | 85 | Very Low |
| Miami County | 108,818 | $190,900 | $1,968 | 87 | Relatively Low |
| Monroe County | 13,401 | $122,800 | $1,071 | 89 | Very Low |
| Montgomery County | 536,121 | $154,300 | $2,893 | 89 | Relatively Moderate |
| Morgan County | 13,851 | $121,200 | $1,116 | 90 | Very Low |
| Morrow County | 35,049 | $185,800 | $2,192 | 85 | Very Low |
| Muskingum County | 86,393 | $156,100 | $1,491 | 88 | Relatively Low |
| Noble County | 14,216 | $137,500 | $1,141 | 89 | Very Low |
| Ottawa County | 40,367 | $179,100 | $1,992 | 80 | Relatively Low |
| Paulding County | 18,827 | $122,200 | $1,365 | 82 | Very Low |
| Perry County | 35,451 | $161,300 | $1,534 | 89 | Very Low |
| Pickaway County | 58,809 | $219,900 | $2,276 | 89 | Relatively Low |
| Pike County | 27,151 | $131,300 | $1,181 | 92 | Relatively Low |
| Portage County | 161,217 | $197,100 | $2,662 | 82 | Relatively Low |
| Preble County | 40,929 | $158,700 | $1,771 | 89 | Relatively Low |
| Putnam County | 34,400 | $176,200 | $1,752 | 83 | Very Low |
| Richland County | 125,008 | $140,500 | $1,902 | 84 | Relatively Low |
| Ross County | 76,957 | $153,500 | $1,552 | 91 | Relatively Low |
| Sandusky County | 58,885 | $142,300 | $1,619 | 81 | Relatively Low |
| Scioto County | 73,716 | $122,900 | $1,364 | 93 | Relatively Low |
| Seneca County | 55,062 | $128,100 | $1,448 | 82 | Relatively Low |
| Shelby County | 48,145 | $174,200 | $1,842 | 86 | Relatively Low |
| Stark County | 374,199 | $164,900 | $2,257 | 84 | Relatively Moderate |
| Summit County | 539,361 | $182,500 | $2,928 | 82 | Relatively Moderate |
| Trumbull County | 201,749 | $121,400 | $1,746 | 81 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tuscarawas County | 92,840 | $163,700 | $1,802 | 86 | Relatively Low |
| Union County | 63,411 | $282,900 | $3,587 | 86 | Very Low |
| Van Wert County | 28,833 | $129,300 | $1,293 | 84 | Very Low |
| Vinton County | 12,790 | $123,400 | $1,352 | 91 | Very Low |
| Warren County | 243,189 | $290,900 | $3,907 | 90 | Relatively Low |
| Washington County | 59,639 | $164,000 | $1,550 | 90 | Relatively Low |
| Wayne County | 116,680 | $189,800 | $2,369 | 84 | Relatively Low |
| Williams County | 36,973 | $131,100 | $1,606 | 80 | Relatively Low |
| Wood County | 131,564 | $203,300 | $2,826 | 81 | Relatively Low |
| Wyandot County | 21,818 | $154,200 | $1,298 | 84 | Very Low |
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