Chapter 14 – Counties, Cities, Villages & Townships

14.4 Cities, Villages & Townships

The Ohio Revised Code lays out the rules by which local governments operate. You are not required to read those statutes; I just want you to know they exist and the state controls much about local government.

Again, the Ohio Revised Code is a collection of all permanent laws enacted by the Ohio General Assembly, organized by subject matter into titles, chapters, and sections. It serves as the primary source of state law in Ohio, detailing the statutes and regulations that govern various aspects of life in the state.

Localities (e.g., Cities, Villages & Townships) 

In Ohio, localities include cities, villages, and townships, each serving unique roles in managing community needs.

Cities are larger municipalities with populations over 5,000 and provide a wide range of services like police, fire protection, and utilities.

Villages are smaller, with populations under 5,000, offering similar services but on a smaller scale.

Townships, often found in rural areas, are the most basic form of local government, focusing on services like road maintenance, zoning, and sometimes fire and police services. These different forms of local government help ensure that communities, whether large or small, have the appropriate resources and governance to meet their residents’ needs.

Foundational Facts

The Ohio Revised Code specifies the powers and responsibilities of local governments. Titles 3, 5, and 7 of the Ohio Revised Code outline the authority and duties of each local entity: Title 3 governs counties, Title 5 covers townships, and Title 7 addresses municipal corporations such as cities and villages.

Reference

Bethel, Alyssa. 2015. Overview of Ohio Local Government. Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Columbus, OH.

License

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An Ohioan’s Guide to State & Local Government by R. Clayton Wukich is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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