Ohio eviction process: steps, timeline and Franklin County costs

Last checked: October 15, 2026

In Ohio, an eviction is a court case called forcible entry and detainer, governed by Chapter 1923 of the Ohio Revised Code. A landlord cannot lawfully skip the court steps. This guide walks through them and adds the Franklin County (Columbus) details from the court clerk's own documents.

The steps at a glance

Step 1: the notice to leave the premises

Before filing, the landlord must give the tenant notice to leave at least three days before starting the action. ORC 1923.04 allows service by certified mail, by handing it to the tenant, or by leaving it at the tenant's usual place of abode or at the premises. For residential property the notice must contain specific conspicuous wording. Our 3-day notice guide covers the wording and delivery in detail.

Grounds for eviction are listed in ORC 1923.02. They include a tenant who stays past the end of the term or fails to pay rent under an oral tenancy, a tenant who breaches a written rental agreement, and a tenant who materially breaches the health and safety duties in section 5321.05 after required notice. The same section lists drug-related conduct grounds with their own notice rules.

Step 2: filing the complaint

ORC 1923.05 requires a written complaint that describes the premises and states that the tenant is unlawfully detaining them. In Franklin County, the clerk's instructions say you file:

• The original eviction complaint, filled out clearly, with complete names and addresses including any unit number and ZIP code.
• A copy of the Notice to Leave the Premises that was served.
• A copy of the written lease, if the claim is based on one (Local Rule 9(G)).
• Two extra copies of the complaint and all attachments for each defendant. More copies are needed if you add certified mail or a process server.

The court posts official complaint forms: a one-cause complaint (eviction only) and a two-cause complaint (eviction plus money owed). Use the court's forms rather than a template from elsewhere.

Who can file

This is the rule that catches small landlords. In Franklin County Municipal Court, only the deeded property owner can sign and file an eviction without an attorney. Property managers need an attorney. Corporations, LLCs and trusts must be represented by an attorney at every stage, including the hearing. A power of attorney does not allow you to represent another person.

Franklin County costs

The numbers below come from the clerk's cost schedule effective 8/1/2026 unless noted.

An older clerk document, "The Eviction Filing Process" (rev. 07/2025), lists filing fees of $123.00 for one cause and $160.00 for two causes. That is the $123 figure you may have seen elsewhere. The newer cost schedule shows higher totals, so treat $123 as out of date and confirm the current amount with the clerk. Those figures do not include the cost of moving a tenant's belongings: the plaintiff must supply the moving crew for the set-out (see below).

Steps 3 and 4: service and the hearing

The tenant receives a summons with the hearing date. ORC 1923.06 requires service at least seven days before trial and says a restitution claim cannot be set sooner than the seventh day after service is complete. The Franklin County clerk says the hearing is set 14 to 21 days from filing, depending on the service type. Courts also publish an answer form and a counterclaim form for tenants, which signals that tenants can and do contest cases.

Steps 5 and 6: writ, red tag and set-out

After you win a judgment for possession, the court issues a writ of restitution when the plaintiff requests it (ORC 1923.13). The Franklin County instruction sheet says:

• You can obtain the writ up to 30 days after the date of judgment.
• The writ costs $35.00 and the set-out $45.00, or $80.00 if bought together. The writ goes to the Service Bailiffs in approximately 1 to 7 business days.
• A bailiff places a red tag on the premises. The tenants have five days, counted from the day of tagging and including weekends and holidays, to vacate.
• After that period you check for occupancy and schedule a supervised set-out with the bailiffs. The court ties the timing to the limit in ORC 1923.14, which requires the officer to act within ten days of receiving the writ.
• You must provide at least four working adults, bags, boxes, tools and a way to move heavy items. You get 90 minutes, cannot enter before the bailiff arrives, and cannot change the locks until the set-out is done.

Missing the scheduling window can mean the bailiff is not available inside the statutory deadline, so keep the dates written down.

Official forms

The Franklin County Municipal Court publishes these eviction forms on its Court Forms page: eviction complaint (1 cause and 2 cause), notice to leave premises, request for set-out, supplemental writ, affidavit, answer and counterclaim. This site does not reproduce or fill in forms.

Related reading: what you owe the tenant on the deposit after move-out, and the new Columbus registry if the unit is in the city.