OHIO FIELD FILE

What Ohio law actually says, in the words people use, with the statute on every line. Free, every tool too, and no account.

234 sections118 deadlinesverified September 2026How this works

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Traffic stopsGetting pulled over, documents, searches, and what happens roadside.
Being stoppedOn foot, on the street, and what you owe an officer who stops you.
Marijuana and drugsWhat the state legalized, what it did not, and where state and federal law disagree.
Impaired drivingImpaired driving stops, field tests, breath and blood tests, and implied consent.
Court and moneyDebt, eviction, work, family and records. The side of the system with no officer in it.
Your homeRenting and the landlord, and when the police may come inside.
RecordingFilming police, recording calls, and whose consent the law requires.
Carrying a firearmCarry rules, the duty to disclose, where guns are barred, and self defense.
Charges and penaltiesHow offenses are graded, jail ranges, fines, and repeat offense steps.
How you carry yourselfSilence, counsel, complying now and contesting later.

New in Ohio

Someone asked

“How long does a landlord in Ohio have to return a deposit?”

Getting the Deposit Back

Any deduction has to be itemized and identified in a written notice delivered to the tenant along with whatever amount is due, within thirty days after the rental agreement ends and possession is delivered. Where the landlord does not comply, the tenant may recover the property and money due, together with damages equal to the amount wrongfully withheld, and reasonable attorney fees.

ORC 5321.16

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Legal information, not legal advice. Every block on this site carries the source it rests on.

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70 situations taken one decision at a time, with what the law asks of each side written out at every step. Each opens on its own page.

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About this guide — education built from Ohio statute and current legal reporting, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Ohio attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of September 2026.

This guide covers common and uncommon situations in real Ohio encounters. Not the whole legal code, not a replacement for a lawyer.