know the law
No More Than Three!
Make sure you’re renting a home that complies with city law. If you’re not, you could be evicted!
- No more than three, non-related individuals may reside in a single-family home; 90 percent of homes in neighborhoods around Main Campus are single-family homes.
- Duplexes and apartment buildings/complexes are not zoned single-family and are not covered by this law.
- A small number of homes have obtained city permits allowing more than three. Your landlord may believe, or want you to believe, he/she has a permit, but make sure you see a permit and have a copy posted inside your front door. If you want to check if there is a permit, contact the City of Toledo’s Division of Code Enforcement at 419.245.1220.
Noise
The City of Toledo has a noise ordinance. You're violating the ordinance if your noise is "unnecessary, excessive” or is “any offensive noise which annoys and/or disturbs the comfort, health, peace or safety of others." This includes yelling and loud music! Unless your neighbors are students, they probably go to bed earlier than you. They may get up early the next day, or they may have children who need to sleep, etc. If the sound from your house or apartment can be clearly heard several yards away, someone is likely to be disturbed. You are responsible for the noise of your guests, as well, so keep the music/TV turned down after 9 p.m. Toledo Municipal Code (TMC) 507.03 and 507.04
Parking
- Make sure you park on the right – NOT the left – side of the street, unless it's a one-way street.
- Be sure you're not parked within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Never block a crosswalk.
- Keep vehicles 30 feet from a stop sign, yield sign, flashing light or traffic signal.
- Never block a driveway.
- Keep your cars out of the front yard; no parking permitted. Also, make certain you're not parked across a sidewalk.
- If you park on the street, do not leave your car for more than 18 hours. TMC 351.07
Open Containers
Open containers are not permitted in public or in a motor vehicle, whether you’re a passenger or driving, and whether you're moving or parked. TMC 331.43
Litter/Property Upkeep
This is one of neighborhood residents' most common complaints. You will be cited for messy property! Litter includes garbage, trash, waste, rubbish, cans, bottles, paper, boxes or anything unsightly or unsanitary. ORC 3767. 32.
City inspectors monitor neighborhoods around The University of Toledo on a consistent basis. If they spot code violations on your property, a photo will be taken and a "Notice of Liability" will be mailed with the photo to the property owner and/or tenant. Examples of problems that could cause a ticket are:
- Trash, garbage, junk and/or debris
- Tall grass
- Car(s) parked in the yard
- Couches/inside furniture on porch or in yard
- Property considered a general nuisance
Large item pickups can be scheduled once per month. Call 419.936.2511 to schedule a bulk pickup before placing bulk/brush to the curb. Otherwise, this is considered an illegal set out, and the property owner can be charged for the cleanup and issued a $75 fine. If you have questions about how to do a proper set-out, please call Republic Services or Engage Toledo at 419.936.2020.
Front Porches
There is a law against placing couches on the front porch, even if it is for comfortable or extra seating. These items have caused house fires, and they also attract rodents.
Acceptable Open Burning
Open burning is allowed for the following purposes without notification to or permission from the Toledo Fire Department:
- Bonfires, campfires, recreational fires and outdoor fireplace equipment, weather for
cooking food for human consumption, pleasure, religious ceremonial, warmth, recreational,
or similar purposes, if the following conditions are met:
- They are fueled with clean, seasoned firewood, natural gas or an equivalent, or any clean-burning fuel with emissions equivalent to or lower than those created from the burning of seasoned firewood
- They are not used for waste disposal purposes
- They have a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height
- Adhere to Ohio Fire Code OAC3745-19-03
or
Student Legal Services
Snyder Memorial Building, room 1020
419.530.7230