Ohio Rev. Code § 5321 § 5321.17
Termination of tenancy.
Operative Text
(A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, the landlord or the tenant may terminate or fail to renew a week-to-week tenancy by notice given the other at least seven days prior to the termination date specified in the notice. (B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, the landlord or the tenant may terminate or fail to renew a month-to-month tenancy by notice given the other at least thirty days prior to the periodic rental date. (C) If a tenant violates division (A)(9) of section 5321.05 of the Revised Code and if the landlord has actual knowledge of or has reasonable cause to believe that the tenant, any person in the tenant's household, or any person on the residential premises with the consent of the tenant previously has or presently is engaged in a violation as described in division (A)(6)(a)(i) of section 1923.02 of the Revised Code, the landlord shall terminate the week-to-week tenancy, month-to-month tenancy, or other rental agreement with the tenant by giving a notice of termination to the tenant in accordance with this division. The notice shall specify that the tenancy or other rental agreement is terminated three days after the giving of the notice, and the landlord may give the notice whether or not the tenant or other person has been charged with, has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of, or has been determined to be a delinquent child for an act that, if committed by an adult, would be a violation as described in division (A)(6)(a)(i) of section 1923.02 of the Revised Code. If the tenant fails to vacate the premises within three days after the giving of that notice, then the landlord promptly shall comply with division (A)(9) of section 5321.04 of the Revised Code. For purposes of this division, actual knowledge or reasonable cause to believe as described in this division shall be determined in accordance with division (A)(6)(a)(i) of section 1923.02 of the Revised Code. (D) This section does not apply to a termination based on the breach of a condition of a rental agreement or the breach of a duty and obligation imposed by law, except that it does apply to a breach of the obligation imposed upon a tenant by division (A)(9) of section 5321.05 of the Revised Code.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17 establishes the notice periods required to end periodic tenancies in Ohio. For week-to-week tenancies, either party must give at least seven days' written notice before the termination date; for month-to-month tenancies, at least thirty days' notice before the next periodic rental date is required. A special exception applies when a tenant or someone in the household is believed to be engaged in certain criminal activity—in that situation, the landlord is required to issue a three-day termination notice, and this obligation exists regardless of whether criminal charges have been filed or a conviction has occurred. This section generally does not govern terminations based on lease-condition breaches, with one specific exception tied to tenant obligations under § 5321.05(A)(9).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17, compliant operators maintain clear records of when and how termination notices are delivered, ensuring week-to-week tenants receive at least seven days' notice and month-to-month tenants receive at least thirty days' notice before the applicable rental date. When a landlord has actual knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that a tenant or household member is engaged in the specific criminal activity referenced in § 5321.17(C), the statute mandates—not merely permits—a three-day termination notice, and the landlord must then promptly pursue eviction proceedings if the tenant does not vacate. Operators generally document the basis for any accelerated notice carefully, since the statute specifies how 'actual knowledge or reasonable cause to believe' is to be determined by reference to § 1923.02.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17 gives tenants the right to receive proper advance notice before a landlord can end a periodic tenancy—seven days for week-to-week arrangements and thirty days for month-to-month arrangements. If a landlord issues a three-day notice under § 5321.17(C), tenants should be aware that this is a distinct, mandatory process tied to specific statutory criteria involving alleged criminal activity, and that a notice issued without meeting those criteria may be challengeable. Tenants who believe a termination notice does not comply with § 5321.17's requirements may consider raising the deficiency as a defense in any eviction proceeding, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about their options.
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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