Ohio Rev. Code § 5321 § 5321.08
Rent deposits - duty of clerk of court.
Operative Text
(A) Whenever a tenant deposits rent with the clerk of a court as provided in section 5321.07 of the Revised Code, the clerk shall give written notice of this fact to the landlord and to his agent, if any. (B) The clerk shall place all rent deposited with him in a separate rent escrow account in the name of the clerk in a bank or building and loan association domiciled in this state. (C) The clerk shall keep in a separate docket an account of each deposit, with the name and address of the tenant, and the name and address of the landlord and of his agent, if any. (D) For his costs, the clerk may charge a fee of one per cent of the amount of the rent deposited, which shall be assessed as court costs. (E) All interest that has accrued on the rent deposited by the clerk of a county court under division (B) of this section shall be paid into the treasury of the political subdivision for which the clerk performs his duties. All interest that has accrued on the rent deposited by the clerk of a municipal court under division (B) of this section shall be paid into the city treasury as defined in division (B) of section 1901.03 of the Revised Code.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.08 governs how a court clerk handles rent that a tenant deposits under the escrow procedure established in § 5321.07. Once funds are received, the clerk must notify the landlord (and any agent) in writing, hold the money in a dedicated escrow account at an Ohio-chartered bank or savings institution, and maintain a separate docket recording each deposit along with the parties' names and addresses. The clerk may charge a fee of one percent of the deposited amount as court costs, and any interest earned on the account flows to the appropriate government treasury rather than to either party.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.08, a landlord whose tenant has initiated a rent-escrow deposit will receive written notice from the court clerk, along with notice to any designated agent. Compliant property operators typically maintain current contact information on file with their agents so that escrow notices reach the right parties promptly. Reviewing the separate docket the clerk is required to keep can help a landlord track the status of any deposited funds and respond appropriately through the court process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.08 establishes procedural protections once a tenant deposits rent with the court clerk under § 5321.07, including a requirement that the clerk hold funds in a dedicated escrow account rather than commingling them. Tenants should be aware that a one-percent administrative fee may be assessed as court costs against the deposited amount. Tenants who have questions about the escrow process or their rights under Chapter 5321 may find it helpful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general information.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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