The SOLAR Project - Sex Offender Legal Advocacy & Reform
📍 STATE GUIDE

Ohio — Registry Rules

Official-source summary for Ohio.

10/12/2025

Key Highlights

  • Residency Restrictions: Under R.C. 2950.034, a registrant may not establish residence within 1,000 feet of any school or specified childcare site, and the Ohio Supreme Court has held that this statute preempts all local ordinances—cities and counties may not add their own distance or location bans; see R.C. 2950.034 and State ex rel. Ohio ACLU v. Cleveland, 2015-Ohio-5347.
  • Presence / Proximity Rules: Ohio law contains no general statewide ban on presence or loitering near schools, parks, or other places; any such limits apply only as conditions of supervision or parole, not under Chapter 2950; see R.C. 2950 and Ohio AG SORN Guide.
  • Duration of Registration: Registration lasts 15 years for Tier I, 25 years for Tier II, and life for Tier III, with time tolled during any violation or absconding; see R.C. 2950.07.
  • Tiering / Level System: Tiers in Ohio determine only duration, verification frequency, and community notification—Tier I verifies yearly, Tier II every 180 days, Tier III every 90 days, and only Tier III triggers neighborhood mailings; see R.C. 2950.01, R.C. 2950.06, and R.C. 2950.11.

At a Glance

  • People with qualifying sexually oriented or child-victim oriented offenses must register with the county sheriff; see R.C. 2950.04.
  • Initial deadline: Register within 3 days of coming into a county to reside or if temporarily domiciled more than 3 days; employment/school triggers are described in R.C. 2950.04(A).
  • Verification: Tier I annually; Tier II every 180 days; Tier III every 90 days; see R.C. 2950.06(B).
  • Primary method: In-person at the sheriff’s office; bring required documents and keep dated receipts; see R.C. 2950.06(C).
  • ⚠️ Provide 20-day prior notice for residence (Tier III notice-to-reside) or school changes; 3 days after for employment changes; see R.C. 2950.04(G) and R.C. 2950.05(B).
  • ⚠️ Register work/school in each county that applies; thresholds appear in R.C. 2950.04(A).
  • ⚠️ Report international travel 21 days before departure and temporary lodging absences of 7+ days; see AG duty form.
  • ⚠️ Certain contact data (e.g., phone numbers, emails/online identifiers) must be provided/updated per forms and guidance; see R.C. 2950.04(C) and AG materials.
  • ⚠️ Housing is barred within 1,000 feet of schools and certain childcare sites; see R.C. 2950.034.

Official Links

What this means in practice

  • Register in person with the sheriff within 3 days when you move into a county.
  • Verification: Tier I yearly; Tier II twice a year; Tier III every 90 days.
  • Ohio posts records online and sends neighborhood letters for some Tier III cases.

Watch-outs

  • Address/school changes require advance notice in some cases (e.g., Tier III residence intent).
  • International trips need 21-day advance notice.
  • Internet usernames and phone numbers must be listed and kept current.

Summarized from R.C. 2950.04, R.C. 2950.05, R.C. 2950.06, R.C. 2950.034, and AG forms/guidance.

Reviewed 10/12/2025

Who Must Register & Duration

Adults and juveniles with qualifying convictions/adjudications must register, including nonresidents who live, work, or attend school in Ohio beyond the short-stay thresholds; see R.C. 2950.01 and R.C. 2950.04.

Duration: Registration lasts 15 years for Tier I, 25 years for Tier II, and life for Tier III, with time tolled during any violation or absconding; see R.C. 2950.07.

What this means in practice

  • Ohio applies duties to qualifying adults and juveniles.
  • Out-of-state workers/students must register here while present.

See R.C. 2950.01 and R.C. 2950.04.

Deadlines & Reporting Triggers

  • Initial registration within 3 days of entering a county to live or if temporarily domiciled more than 3 days; work/school duties are immediate or after 3 days/14 aggregate days as specified; see R.C. 2950.04(A).
  • Provide written notice 20 days before certain Tier III residence moves (intent to reside) and no later than 3 days after changing employment address; verify as directed; see R.C. 2950.04(G) and R.C. 2950.05(B).
  • Update vehicle info, email addresses, internet identifiers, and telephone numbers promptly per forms/guidance; see R.C. 2950.04(C) and AG duty form.
  • Report temporary lodging when away 7+ days and give 21-day advance notice of international travel; see AG Adult Duty Form (7/10/2019).

What this means in practice

  • Register within 3 days of arrival; work/school triggers may start immediately.
  • Give required advance/after notices for moves, school, and employment changes.
  • Update identifiers/phones promptly; report 7+ day trips; give 21-day notice for foreign travel.

See R.C. 2950.04, R.C. 2950.05(B), and AG Adult Duty Form.

Verification & In-Person Requirements

  • Appear in person for address verification on your schedule (Tier I annual; Tier II every 180 days; Tier III every 90 days); see R.C. 2950.06(B)-(C).
  • Verification may occur no earlier than 10 days before your due date; see AG Adult Duty Form.
  • Keep proof of each visit and confirm any county-specific fee or paperwork; see R.C. 311.171.

What this means in practice

  • Go to the sheriff on your due dates; you can verify up to 10 days early.
  • Bring ID and any changes; keep the receipt.
  • Missing a date can be a felony.

See R.C. 2950.06 and AG Adult Duty Form.

Residency, Presence, & Loitering Restrictions

State law bars establishing residence within 1,000 feet of school premises, preschools/childcare, children’s crisis care, or residential infant care facilities; enforcement is by civil injunction; see R.C. 2950.034.

What this means in practice

  • Do not move within 1,000 ft of schools or specified childcare sites.
  • Local rules may add conditions (check leases and city codes).

See R.C. 2950.034.

Employment, Education, & Internet Use

  • Register the county of employment and school/college attendance as required; thresholds and timing in R.C. 2950.04(A).
  • Provide and update email addresses, internet identifiers, and phone numbers per forms/guidance; see R.C. 2950.04(C).
  • Employer information may appear on the public database; internet identifiers are not posted; see R.C. 2950.13 and AG guidance.

What this means in practice

  • Register work and school counties when thresholds are met.
  • Keep contact and online identifier info current per forms/guidance.

See R.C. 2950.04 and AG materials.

Public Website Exposure

  • The Attorney General maintains a statewide public database populated from sheriff submissions; see R.C. 2950.13.
  • Community notification mailings apply to certain offenders (typically Tier III) and may be suspended by court order; see R.C. 2950.11(H).
  • Sheriffs may host local eSORN pages and may link to state data; see R.C. 2950.081 and R.C. 2950.131.

What this means in practice

  • Ohio runs a public website; some data is posted, some is not.
  • Community letters may go out for certain Tier III cases.

See R.C. 2950.13 and R.C. 2950.11.

Travel & Relocation (Interstate Moves)

  • If you attend school or work in another state, you must register there immediately as required; see R.C. 2950.04(A)(1)(e).
  • Ohio advises notice of international travel 21 days in advance; see AG Adult Duty Form.

What this means in practice

  • Work/school in another state triggers that state’s registration too.
  • International travel requires advance notice.

See R.C. 2950.04(A)(1)(e) and AG Adult Duty Form.

Visiting or Traveling in the State

  • Nonresidents working in Ohio more than 3 days or 14 aggregate days in a calendar year must register in the employment county; see R.C. 2950.04(A)(1)(d).
  • Visitors temporarily domiciled in a county more than 3 days must register; see R.C. 2950.04(A).
  • Report temporary lodging away from your residence when gone 7+ days; see AG Adult Duty Form.

What this means in practice

  • Short stays can still trigger duties if over 3 days or 14 aggregate days for work.
  • Register in each Ohio county that applies.

See R.C. 2950.04(A).

Compliance & Enforcement

Failure to register, update, or verify is a felony; degree generally tracks the underlying offense, and time may be tolled while in violation; see R.C. 2950.99 and duration rules in R.C. 2950.07. Ohio’s high court has also clarified credit toward Ohio duties in certain out-of-state scenarios; see State v. Schilling, 2023-Ohio-3027.

What this means in practice

  • Failure to register/update/verify is a felony.
  • Time can be extended for periods of noncompliance.

See R.C. 2950.99 and R.C. 2950.07.

Relief Paths

  • Tier I adults may petition to terminate registration after 10 years if eligibility criteria are met; see R.C. 2950.15.
  • Courts may suspend community notification for eligible cases on motion; see R.C. 2950.11(H).
  • Juvenile-specific modification/termination is available under R.C. 2152.82–.85.
  • Persons originally under Megan’s Law and later reclassified may have non-retroactivity protections; see State v. Williams, 2011-Ohio-3374.

What this means in practice

  • Tier I adults can ask a court to end duties after 10 years if they meet all criteria.
  • Courts can suspend community notification in eligible cases.
  • Juveniles have additional options to modify/terminate.

See R.C. 2950.15, R.C. 2950.11(H), and AG SORN guide.

Special Populations

  • Juveniles have different durations and possible court discretion on public posting/notification; see AG SORN guide and R.C. 2152.82 et seq..
  • Homeless/transient persons must give descriptive location details and update every 30 days until a fixed address is obtained; see R.C. 2950.05(B).

What this means in practice

  • Juvenile posting and tiers differ and may be discretionary.
  • Homeless persons must give location descriptions and update every 30 days.

See R.C. 2152.82–.85 and R.C. 2950.05(B).

Costs & Payments

  • Sheriff may charge annual fees up to $25 (most tiers) or $100 (Tier III) per registration year; see R.C. 311.171.
  • One-time $100 initial registration fee at first registration after conviction; nonpayment cannot block registration; see R.C. 311.172.
  • Local fee schedules vary by county; confirm with your sheriff (policy grounded in R.C. 311.171).

Recent Changes & Litigation

  • Case: State v. Schilling — Supreme Court of Ohio (2023-08-31) — Out-of-state registration under Megan’s Law counted toward completing Ohio’s 10-year period; no tolling while living/registered out of state absent violation. link
  • Case: State v. Williams — Supreme Court of Ohio (2011-07-13) — Applying Adam Walsh Act registration retroactively to pre-2008 offenses violates Ohio’s Retroactivity Clause. link
  • Rule: Ohio Admin. Code 109:5-2 (community notification rules); effective ongoing. Implements notice procedures and timelines for sheriffs under R.C. 2950.11. link
  • Statute: H.B. 289 (135th G.A.) — 2024–2025; effective 2025-03-20. Amends several 2950 provisions (including tolling for certain noncompliance, notice/identifier details, and juvenile cross-references). link

Compliance Checklists & Scripts

New Arrival: First 30 Days

  • Call the county sheriff where you live within 24 hours to confirm registration hours, fees, and documents; see R.C. 2950.04 and R.C. 311.171.
  • Bring ID, judgment entry, discharge papers, vehicle and employer info, school letter, email/handles/phone numbers, and proof of address; see R.C. 2950.04(C).
  • Ask for your verification schedule and the 10-day early window; see R.C. 2950.06.
  • Map housing to avoid 1,000-ft restricted zones; see R.C. 2950.034.
  • If travel is coming up, calendar the 21-day notice for foreign travel and 7-day temporary lodging rule; see AG duty form.

Moving Out / Traveling

  • File required advance/after notices for address, school, and employment changes; see R.C. 2950.04(G) and R.C. 2950.05(B).
  • If relocating out of state, ask the destination state about immediate school/employment registration; see R.C. 2950.04(A)(1)(e).
  • Keep copies of all receipts and any fee payments; see R.C. 311.171.

Records Request Template

To: County Sheriff Sex Offender Registration Unit

Subject: Request for Copies of Registration/Verification Records

I am requesting copies of my registration and verification records, fee receipts, and any notices sent or received under R.C. 2950.04, 2950.05, and 2950.06 for [Your Name, DOB, Case No.]. Please include dates of all appearances and any community notification determinations under R.C. 2950.11. I request electronic copies if available. Thank you.

Relief Petition Outline

Caption; background (tier, dates, offense); statutory basis ([R.C. 2950.15] for Tier I termination or [R.C. 2950.11(H)] for notification relief); eligibility facts (years compliant, treatment, supervision completed, no disqualifying convictions, fee receipts); exhibits (BCI report, sheriff letters, proof of residence history); proposed order; service.

Tips for using these checklists

  • Use the new-arrival and moving-out checklists to time notices and avoid fees or missed dates.
  • The template and outline help request records and prepare relief petitions.

Modeled on R.C. 2950.04–.06 and R.C. 311.171–.172.

Citations

🤝 This guide was created from official legal sources and checked with the help of AI-assisted research. We strive for accuracy and clarity — if you spot something that seems off or out of date, please let us know so we can correct it for everyone.

Informational only; not legal advice.