Bolthole Index

Marion County, Ohio

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Marion County, Ohio

42Index Score / 100
#64 of 88 in Ohio

Unincorporated Marion County, Ohio has no confirmed certified countywide residential building department, so identify the department serving the parcel before applying for a building permit1. Zoning approval comes from the parcel's township, village or the City of Marion, not the county2. Septic permits for every address in Marion County, city or township, come from Marion Public Health3.

Do you need a building permit in Marion County, Ohio?

Unincorporated Marion County has no confirmed certified countywide residential building department, while the City of Marion operates its own building departments within city limits.

Unincorporated Marion County has no confirmed certified countywide residential building department, while the City of Marion operates its own building departments within city limits1. Ohio has statewide residential and nonresidential codes, but a local department may enforce only the code types for which it is certified4. Ask the township or Marion County Regional Planning to identify the certified authority serving the parcel before construction7. An owner-builder must submit plans and wait for approval where a certified municipal, township or county building department has jurisdiction; when no certified residential department has jurisdiction, that state submission requirement does not apply6.

Who issues building permits, zoning approval and septic permits in Marion County, Ohio?

Building permit responsibility depends on the parcel and the work, and zoning approval is separate from both building and septic permits.

Building permit responsibility depends on the parcel and the work, and zoning approval is separate from both building and septic permits. Marion County Regional Planning Commission publishes separate township and village zoning documents and can direct a landowner to the applicable zoning authority; call (740) 223-4140 or visit 222 West Center Street, Second Floor, Marion, OH 433022,7. The City of Marion publishes a universal commercial permit application, fee schedule, plan-review materials and inspection checklists for commercial projects within the city8. The city process runs from plan review and approval through inspections to a certificate of occupancy or completion1. Marion Public Health handles household septic systems countywide and answers septic questions at 740-692-91173.

Does Marion County have zoning?

Zoning controls vary among Marion County townships, villages and the City of Marion; the county indexes separate local documents, but does not administer every local ordinance.

Zoning controls vary among Marion County townships, villages and the City of Marion; the county indexes separate local documents, but does not administer every local ordinance2. Identify the parcel's township or municipality before relying on a zoning rule2. In Marion Township's A-1 Agricultural District, a dwelling needs at least 1 acre and 150 feet of frontage unless the lot is grandfathered9. Dwellings there have a 50-foot front setback, 20-foot side setback and 50-foot rear setback9. An individual manufactured home in Marion Township's A-1 or R-1B District must have at least 900 square feet of floor area and be at least 23 feet wide at its narrowest point, while a mobile home in a township mobile-home park must have at least 575 square feet9. These Marion Township dimensions do not apply countywide2.

How do septic permits work in Marion County?

Marion Public Health permits household sewage treatment systems throughout Marion County, including the many areas without public sewer.

Marion Public Health permits household sewage treatment systems throughout Marion County, including the many areas without public sewer3. Staff evaluate the property and proposed system to determine whether it can be installed and operate safely3,10. Sewage installers, liquid-waste haulers and service providers are registered and inspected by the health district; complaints about malfunctioning systems may lead to repair orders and follow-up action3. Only 0.5% of county soils rate free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation an early purchase contingency rather than assuming a standard system will work5. Call Marion Public Health at 740-692-9117 before choosing a house site or septic design3. Septic approval stays with Marion Public Health even inside the City of Marion or a village that runs its own zoning3.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Marion County?

Marion County has no confirmed countywide answer for living in an RV or tiny home on private land because zoning varies by township, village and municipality.

Marion County has no confirmed countywide answer for living in an RV or tiny home on private land because zoning varies by township, village and municipality2. Ask the applicable zoning authority whether the use is allowed in the parcel's district and what sanitation or placement conditions apply7. A home outside sewer service still needs an approved household sewage treatment approach through Marion Public Health3. Marion Township allows an individual mobile or manufactured dwelling only in a mobile-home park or on an individual lot in specified districts, with single-family standards, HUD certification and a permanent concrete or masonry foundation9. That Marion Township rule does not answer RV, tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy elsewhere in Marion County2.

Building a home in Marion County: the steps, in order

Identify the township or municipality and zoning district through Marion County Regional Planning.

  1. Identify the township or municipality and zoning district through Marion County Regional Planning2,7.
  2. If dividing land, obtain Regional Planning approval before the address and septic steps11.
  3. Ask which certified building department has jurisdiction and what submissions apply1,4.
  4. If building as the owner, submit plans and wait for approval when a certified building department has jurisdiction6.
  5. Have Marion Public Health evaluate the site and approve the septic approach10.
  6. Obtain a private-water-system permit from the board of health before drilling or altering a well10,12.
  7. Complete the inspections and occupancy steps required by the authority serving the parcel; the City of Marion's published process applies to city projects, not rural land1,8.

What to check before you buy land in Marion County

Make the septic evaluation an early purchase contingency because only 0.5% of Marion County soils rate free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field.

Make the septic evaluation an early purchase contingency because only 0.5% of Marion County soils rate free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field3,5. Confirm the township, municipality and zoning district because uses and dimensions vary locally2. Check flood mapping and local overlays: structures in Montgomery Township's Flood Plain District must meet county floodplain-development standards13. A lot split needs Marion County Regional Planning approval before the address and septic steps, and private well drilling requires a permit10,11. Ask the Marion County Engineer's Office which access rules apply before designing an entrance because countywide driveway-permit requirements remain unconfirmed14. The effective property-tax rate is about 1%, with a median annual bill of about $1,4325.

Watch-outs

  • Do not apply City of Marion permit fees or inspection procedures to rural land; those published materials cover projects administered by the city8,15.
  • Owner-builders are not excused from plan approval where a certified building department has jurisdiction, and local specialty-trade rules may still apply6,16.

Sources

16 official pages, each quoted and re-checked · written October 9, 2026

  1. City of Marion Building Department Permit Guide (2026 county census)
  2. Marion County Regional Planning Commission Zoning
  3. Household Sewage Treatment Systems
  4. Chapter 3781 - Ohio Revised Code
  5. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  6. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (2026 county census)
  7. Marion County Regional Planning Commission (co.marion.oh.us)
  8. Commercial Building Department
  9. Marion Township Zoning Resolution
  10. Sewage Treatment Systems
  11. Guide for Obtaining Permit to Install a Household Septic System
  12. Chapter 3701-28 | Private water systems (Ohio statewide rule)
  13. Montgomery Township Zoning Resolution
  14. Marion County Engineer's Office (co.marion.oh.us)
  15. City of Marion Building Department Fee Schedule Tabulation
  16. Section 4740.01 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws (Ohio statewide rule)

Written October 9, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like 4 of its 6 neighbors, Marion County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleMarion CountyUnion CountyWyandot CountyDelaware CountyMorrow CountyCrawford CountyHardin County
Building permitLimitedRequiredLimitedRequiredLimitedLimitedLimited
County zoningYesNoNot publishedYesYesNoYes
Septic permitsMarion Public HealthCounty Health Dept.County Public HealthDelaware Public Health DistrictCounty Health DistrictCounty Public HealthKenton-Hardin Health Dept.

County locator

Marion County in Ohio

42
County map
Marion County highlighted among the Ohio counties · colored by Index score

How Marion County scores

42 / 100 · #64 of 88 in Ohio · six factors, land price, tax, rain and climate

Seclusion16100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency47100% ev.
Admin Boringness5490% ev.
Durability83100% ev.
Property Autonomy35100% ev.
Carry Cost69100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$186kTypical home
1%Property tax
$8,262Land / acre
38.1"Annual rain
0.5% of yrsSevere drought
4.3 / yr (+4.2)Mid-century 100°F days
11.9 daysMid-century dry spell
1.51" (+10.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.78×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,351Home insurance / yr
2.3% / yrInsurance growth
1.41%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
124,139People within 30 min
8,079,672People within 2 hr
84,080Radius comparison (15 mi)
160.6People / sq mi
1.4%Federal land
100%Land at 15% slope or less
0.5%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
1,222 acWorkable land screen
9.7%Wooded land
82.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51.2°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Marion County

Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.

Not yet covered: Big Island Township · Bowling Green Township · Village of Caledonia · Grand Township · Grand Prairie Township · Green Camp Township · Village of Green Camp · Village of La Rue · Marion · Marion Township · Montgomery Township · Village of Morral · Village of New Bloomington · Pleasant Township · Prospect Township · Richland Township · Salt Rock Township · Tully Township · Waldo Township · Village of Waldo

Answers from the rulebook for Marion County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Marion County rules

  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate local zoning across Marion County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated township areas.

    • The conclusion aggregates subordinate local rules; the actual rule-maker is the applicable city, village, or township.
    • Parcel-specific requirements must be checked against the applicable local zoning document.
    “City of Marion Zoning [...] Big Island Township Zoning Resolution [...] Caledonia Village Zoning Code”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Varies (with conditions) — Aggregate conclusion for Marion County: zoning controls vary by township, village, and the City of Marion; the county page publishes separate local zoning documents.
      “City of Marion 1 document [...] Big Island Township 1 document [...] Caledonia Village 1 document [...] Claridon Township 1 document [...] Grand Township 1 document”
    • Varies (with conditions) — County aggregate of locally administered zoning materials for municipalities, villages, and townships in Marion County; this does not mean the County administers each ordinance or resolution.
      “### City of Marion 1 document City of Marion Zoning [...] ### Marion Township 1 document Marion Township Zoning Code”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Publication of local zoning documents and maps for Marion County jurisdictions.

    • The county page lists separate documents by township, village, and the City of Marion.
    • Publication on the county page does not establish that the county administers each local zoning ordinance.
    “Pleasant Township 2 documents [...] Pleasant Township Zoning Resolution [...] Pleasant Township Zoning Map”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Household sewage treatment systems in Marion County.

    • Much of Marion County is unsewered.
    • Staff sanitarians evaluate each property and the proposed system.
    • Sewage installers, liquid waste haulers, and service providers are registered and inspected by the health district.
    • Malfunctioning systems may result in repair orders and follow-up action.
    “The Sewage Wastewater Program at Marion Public Health permits household sewage treatment systems (HSTS).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County — Household sewage treatment systems throughout Marion County.
      “The Sewage Wastewater Program at Marion Public Health permits household sewage treatment systems (HSTS). Much of Marion County is unsewered and individual home sewage systems are necessary in order to build your home.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Household sewage treatment systems in Marion County.

    • Individual home sewage systems are necessary in order to build a home in much of the county where the area is unsewered.
    • The health program evaluates each property to determine whether a system can be installed and whether the designed system will work safely.
    “Work MAY NOT begin until the design drawing has been reviewed and approved and the PTI ($534) and OP ($10) have been paid.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Sewage installers, liquid waste haulers, and service providers associated with household sewage treatment systems in Marion County.

    • The page expressly states registration and inspection of sewage installers, liquid waste haulers, and service providers.
    • This claim does not establish that every household system receives the same type or frequency of inspection.
    “Sewage installers, liquid waste haulers, and service providers are also registered and inspected by the health district.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Sewage installers, liquid waste haulers, and service providers operating in Marion County.
      “Sewage installers, liquid waste haulers, and service providers are also registered and inspected by the health district.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Household sewage treatment systems serving properties in Marion County where public sewer is unavailable.

    • Marion Public Health permits HSTS.
    • Much of Marion County is unsewered, and individual home sewage systems are necessary in order to build a home.
    • A site evaluation, applicable fees, design documents, a permit with a registered installer, inspection, and as-built documentation may be required.
    • For NPDES systems, an operation permit and applicable fee are required and may require annual renewal.
    • A service contract may be required for routine inspections of some systems.
    “The Sewage Wastewater Program at Marion Public Health permits household sewage treatment systems (HSTS). Much of Marion County is unsewered and individual home sewage systems are necessary in order to build your home.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — On-site household sewage treatment systems serving homes in unsewered portions of Marion County.
      “Much of Marion County is unsewered and individual home sewage systems are necessary in order to build your home. Our goal is to work with homeowners and contractors to make installing a septic tank a seamless process. Staff sanitarians evaluate each property to determine if a home sewage system can be installed, and if the designed system will work efficiently in a safe, healthy manner.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Private water-system and well drilling activity in Marion County.

    • The official page states that permits for well drilling occur throughout the year.
    • The program works with homeowners and contractors to prevent contamination and protect the well.
    “No construction of any kind is allowed prior to obtaining all necessary Marion Public Health permits (Sewage and/or Water).”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Lot splits and land subdivision in Marion County.

    • The Marion Public Health guide states that lot splits require Marion County Regional Planning approval before proceeding to the address and septic-permit steps.
    • Additional zoning, health, floodplain, and utility requirements may apply.
    “If splitting a lot, Fill out Marion Public Health Lot Split Feasibility Application and Fee”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Zoning in unincorporated areas is administered at the township level (e.g., Marion, Big Island, Claridon Township zoning resolutions) coordinated through the Marion City/County Regional Planning Commission rather than a single county-wide code.

    Marion County Regional Planning - Zoning ↗From the county’s own site, awaiting a second reviewer

Ohio rules that apply here

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, erection, manufacture, equipment, alteration, or addition of buildings subject to Ohio Revised Code section 3781.06, including industrialized units, statewide.

    • Plans or drawings, specifications, and data must be submitted before beginning the work.
    • Submission is made to the municipal, township, or county building department having jurisdiction.
    • If no certified municipal, township, or county building department certified for nonresidential buildings has jurisdiction, submission is made to the superintendent of industrial compliance.
    • If no certified municipal, township, or county building department certified for residential buildings has jurisdiction, the owner is not required to make the submission described in division (A)(1).
    “No owner shall proceed with the construction, erection, alteration, or equipment of any building until the plans or drawings, specifications, and data have been approved as this section requires, or the industrialized unit inspected at the point of origin.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Electrical and heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning work performed as contracting within an Ohio county; the statute authorizes, but does not itself impose, county licensing rules.

    • A board of county commissioners may adopt licensing rules by resolution for electrical and HVAC contractors not required to hold a valid and unexpired Chapter 4740 license.
    • County rules may be enforced in unincorporated areas and in municipalities that contract with the county for enforcement.
    • A county rule may require examinations, technical-skill demonstrations, fees, and additional licensing requirements.
    • A county board may accept a valid and unexpired Chapter 4740 license for construction, replacement, maintenance, or repair of one-, two-, or three-family dwellings or incidental accessory structures.
    • The statute does not establish a statewide owner-builder electrical or HVAC contractor-license exemption; county and municipal rules must be checked for the specific location.
    “Each board of county commissioners may adopt, by resolution, rules establishing standards and providing for the licensing of electrical and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractors who are not required to hold a valid and unexpired license pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — An owner-builder constructing, erecting, altering, or equipping a building covered by Ohio Revised Code section 3781.06, including residential buildings, where a certified municipal, township, or county building department has jurisdiction.
      “No owner shall proceed with the construction, erection, alteration, or equipment of any building until the plans or drawings, specifications, and data have been approved as this section requires, or the industrialized unit inspected at the point of origin.”
    • Conditional — An owner performing contractor-regulated construction, improvement, or renovation on the owner's own primary residential building in Ohio.
      “(F) "Construction project" means a construction project involving a building or structure subject to Chapter 3781. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted under that chapter, but not an industrialized unit or a residential building as defined in section 3781.06 of the Revised Code.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings and classes of buildings regulated under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3781, including residential and nonresidential buildings and industrialized units.

    • The Ohio Board of Building Standards formulates and adopts separate residential and nonresidential building codes.
    • Residential-code requirements are uniform in areas with a building department certified to enforce the state residential building code.
    • A local code or regulation may differ from the state residential building code only when it addresses subject matter not addressed by the state residential building code or is adopted pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 3781.01.
    • Enforcement authority is exercised by certified municipal, township, and county building departments or other certified personnel as provided by law.
    “The board of building standards shall formulate and adopt rules governing the erection, construction, repair, alteration, and maintenance of all buildings or classes of buildings specified in section 3781.06 of the Revised Code, including land area incidental to those buildings, the construction of industrialized units, the installation of equipment, and the standards or requirements for materials used in connection with those buildings. The board shall incorporate those rules into separate residential and nonresidential building codes.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — State residential and nonresidential building-code enforcement in Ohio, including certified local departments serving Marion County.
      “The board shall incorporate those rules into separate residential and nonresidential building codes.”
    • Adopted — Ohio's statewide residential and nonresidential building codes governing covered building construction, repair, alteration, and maintenance.
      “The board shall incorporate those rules into separate residential and nonresidential building codes.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building work subject to Ohio building-code enforcement after certificate of plan approval, and inspections initiated after complaints, accidents, or natural disasters.

    • Inspections are directed after a certificate of plan approval has been issued, or after a complaint, accident, or natural disaster.
    • The building official identifies special conditions affecting inspection timing and schedules inspection times mutually agreed upon by the building official and owner.
    • Special inspections required under section 1704 of rule 4101:1-1-01 are excepted from the stated scheduling rule.
    • Certified inspectors inspect work within the limits of their certification and the approved construction documents.
    “Once a certificate of plan approval has been issued in accordance with rule 4101:1-1-01 or 4101:8-1-01 of the Administrative Code, or upon receipt of a complaint or occurrence of an accident or natural disaster, the building official directs necessary inspections and investigations to determine whether the work which has been performed and the installations which have been made are in conformity with the approved construction documents.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Residential buildings and structures (one-, two- and three-family dwellings) in Ohio, where a certified residential building department enforces the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO section 111.1)

    • The requirement is enforced through a residential building official of a building department the Board of Building Standards certifies. Where no certified residential building department has jurisdiction, no residential building official issues the certificate, so the requirement does not apply in practice.
    • The residential building official may issue a certificate of completion instead of a certificate of occupancy, for example for work on part of a building. Spaces in the building that the work does not affect may keep being occupied if the official finds they can be occupied safely.
    • The certificate states the conditions of use, and the owner may use the structure only in compliance with those conditions.
    • Time-limited occupancy is possible under RCO 111.1.1.4 when no violations or orders are pending and the use does not endanger public safety.
    • The state copy cited is the Board's July 2019 resource package, which reproduces RCO section 111. I did not confirm the current codes.ohio.gov rule text; the PDF of the current rule was not retrievable.
    “no residential building or structure, in whole or in part, shall be used or occupied until the residential building official has issued an approval in the form of a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion in compliance with this section.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — A building or structure erected, enlarged, or extended and regulated by the Ohio Building Code.
      “111.1.1.1 New buildings and additions. A building or structure erected, enlarged or extended is not permitted to be used or occupied, in whole or in part, until the certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building official. Occupancy of spaces within a building which are unaffected by the work may be permitted to continue if the building official determines the existing spaces can be occupied safely.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    General rules adopted by a city or village planning commission, platting commissioner, or village legislative authority for plats and subdivisions within its jurisdiction.

    • The rule applies to municipal or village planning authorities operating under Ohio Revised Code section 711.09.
    • The statute limits, rather than establishes, the local minimum lot area; local zoning and other subdivision rules may impose additional requirements where authorized.

    maximum local minimum lot area: <= 4800 square feet (The rule concerns city or village planning-authority subdivision rules under section 711.09.)

    “but shall not impose a greater minimum lot area than forty-eight hundred square feet.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Township zoning regulation of setback building lines for agricultural buildings or structures on lots greater than one acre but not greater than five acres in qualifying platted subdivisions or qualifying areas of fifteen or more contiguous lots.

    • The local regulation must arise under a township zoning resolution or amendment.
    • The subdivision or area must meet the statutory qualification in section 519.21(B).
    • The statute does not provide a statewide numeric setback distance.
    • Township zoning may not regulate agriculture, agricultural buildings or structures, or dairying and animal and poultry husbandry on lots greater than five acres under division (B).

    lot size lower threshold: > 1 acre · lot size upper threshold: <= 5 acres

    “not greater than five acres by: set back building lines;”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Township zoning regulation of height for agricultural buildings or structures on lots greater than one acre but not greater than five acres in qualifying platted subdivisions or qualifying areas of fifteen or more contiguous lots.

    • The local regulation must arise under a township zoning resolution or amendment.
    • The subdivision or area must meet the statutory qualification in section 519.21(B).
    • The statute does not provide a statewide numeric height limit.
    • Township zoning may not regulate agriculture, agricultural buildings or structures, or dairying and animal and poultry husbandry on lots greater than five acres under division (B).

    lot size lower threshold: > 1 acre · lot size upper threshold: <= 5 acres

    “Buildings or structures incident to the use of land for agricultural purposes [...] height;”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary park-camps (tracts used to park five or more recreational vehicles, dependent recreational vehicles or portable camping units for event-type short periods) in Ohio

    • A separate license is required for each temporary campground, obtained from the licensor not less than seven days before beginning operation during the calendar year, and only after written approval of the plans for the temporary campground.
    • The licensor reviews and approves or disapproves temporary campground plans; it may waive plan submission/review and the location evaluation if the plans were approved less than two years before the proposed opening and the required information has not changed since last licensed.
    • Each license is valid for no more than seven consecutive days and cannot be transferred.
    • No tract may be used as a temporary campground for more than 21 days in a calendar year; operating more than 21 days requires a license as a recreational vehicle park, recreation camp, or combined park-camp.
    • No license is required of a person who neither intends to receive nor receives anything of value from the use of, or sale of goods or services in connection with, the camp.
    • Exemptions: county/state fairs and independent agricultural societies for participant units during the fair; motorsports park participant-only areas; historical reenactment sites (seven days total); equestrian event facility participant-only areas.
    • Any person subject to the chapter or rules may apply to the director of health for a waiver or variance, which may be granted if the person demonstrates it will not adversely affect public health and safety (ORC 3729.05(i)).
    • Plan approval does not exempt a park or camp from local land use and building requirements; development in a 100-year flood plain requires a local floodplain permit (ORC 3729.04).

    maximum days per tract per calendar year: <= 21 days (beyond 21 days a campground license applies; no license required if nothing of value is received) · maximum license period: <= 7 consecutive days · license obtained before beginning operation: >= 7 days (plan approval required first, subject to waiver in rule 3701-26-03(G)(1))

    “no tract of land shall be permitted for use as a temporary campground for more than twenty-one days in a calendar year.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Occupancy of manufactured homes installed in Ohio and regulated under Chapter 4781 of the Revised Code and implementing rules.

    • A manufactured home generally may not be occupied until the inspector issues the inspection seal.
    • The inspection seal must be paid for when the permit is issued.
    • A temporary occupancy permit may provide the applicable exception under Rule 4781-7-01(C).
    • The home must meet Ohio manufactured-home installation standards; local ordinances and other regulations may also apply to site placement.
    “Except as provided in paragraph (C) of this rule, no manufactured home shall be occupied until the inspector has issued the inspection seal.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Disposal of sewage where an existing publicly owned or regional sanitary sewer is accessible and available.

    • The sewer connection may not conflict with an areawide waste-treatment plan, approved regional sewage-service and treatment plan, or connection ban.
    • The receiving disposal system must have or be expected to have capacity to collect and treat the sewage.
    • For an existing structure, any part of the structure generating waste must be within 300 feet of the nearest sanitary-sewer right-of-way boundary.
    • For a proposed structure outside a larger common plan, any lot property line must be within 300 feet.
    • For two or more proposed structures, the threshold is 200 feet multiplied by the number of proposed structures, up to 5,000 feet.
    • The director may grant an exemption when technical, financial, environmental, legal, or physical barriers prevent connection and the alternative will not adversely affect human health or the environment.
    • When a sewer later becomes accessible and available, a non-public or non-regional disposal system must generally be abandoned and connection made within three years unless the director authorizes another timeframe.

    existing structure sewer-distance threshold: <= 300 feet (Measured to the nearest boundary of the sanitary-sewer right-of-way.) · proposed structure sewer-distance threshold: <= 300 feet (Measured from any property line of the lot.) · multiple proposed structures threshold: 200 feet multiplied by the number of proposed structures (Maximum distance is 5,000 feet.) · connection deadline after accessibility becomes available: 3 years (Unless an alternative timeframe is authorized by the director.)

    “Connection into existing publicly owned or regional sanitary sewers is required for the disposal of sewage when said sewers are accessible and available.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Buildings or structures incident to agricultural use of the land, and a specific building or structure declared by a county or township zoning inspector to be used in agriculture.

    • The exemption in section 3781.06 applies to buildings or structures incident to agricultural use of the land.
    • The buildings or structures must not be used in the business of retail trade.
    • A building or structure is not considered used in the business of retail trade if fifty per cent or more of gross income from sales of products in the building or structure comes from products produced or raised in a normal crop year on farms owned or operated by the seller.
    • Under section 3781.061, a county zoning inspector under section 303.16 or township zoning inspector under section 519.16 must issue a zoning certificate declaring the specific building or structure is to be used in agriculture for the additional exemption described there.
    • The cited section 3781.06 is effective January 1, 2025; section 3781.061 is effective October 17, 2019.

    retail-sales agricultural-product threshold: >= 50 percent of gross income (Products must be produced or raised in a normal crop year on farms owned or operated by the seller.)

    “issues a zoning certificate that declares a specific building or structure is to be used in agriculture, such building is not subject to sections”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionConditional

    One-story detached accessory structures to one-, two-, and three-family dwellings within the scope of the Residential Code of Ohio.

    • The structure must be one-story and detached.
    • The structure must be used as a tool shed, storage shed, playhouse, similar use, or be a playground structure.
    • Floor area must not exceed 200 square feet (18.58 square meters).
    • Although approval is exempt, the work must comply with all applicable rules of the Ohio Board of Building Standards.

    maximum floor area: <= 200 square feet (Applies to one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses.) · maximum floor area: <= 18.58 square meters (Applies to one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses.)

    “102.10 Work exempt from approval. Approval shall not be required for the following work; however, this work shall comply with all applicable provisions of the rules of the board: Building: 1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed two hundred square feet (18.58 m²) and playground structures.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in a recreational vehicle park, recreation camp, combined park-camp, or temporary park-camp located within a one-hundred-year flood plain.

    • In a municipal corporation, the permit is obtained from the municipal corporation under its floodplain-management ordinance.
    • In an unincorporated area, the permit is obtained from the board of county commissioners under the county floodplain-management resolution adopted under Revised Code section 307.37.
    • When development occurs on a site where a recreational vehicle or portable camping unit is or will be located, the owner and operator must jointly obtain the permit, except that for a temporary park-camp the temporary park-camp owner must obtain it.
    • Municipal and county permit fees are not regulated by the director of health.

    statutory effective date: 2012-09-10

    “No person shall cause development to occur within any portion of a recreational vehicle park, recreation camp, combined park-camp, or temporary park-camp that is located within a one-hundred-year flood plain in an unincorporated area unless the person first obtains a permit therefor from the board of county commissioners of the county in which the development is to occur in accordance with the flood plain management resolution of the county adopted under section 307.37 of the Revised Code.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction documents and inspections required to be submitted to the Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance.

    • The certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion will not be issued until applicable fees are paid.
    • The schedule includes a $275 processing fee for structural, mechanical, electrical, fire alarm, and sprinkler scopes; plan-examination fees vary by scope and area or device count.
    • One initial plan review and up to two resubmission plan reviews are included; additional resubmissions cost $100 each.
    • Additional inspections cost $150 per inspection; reinspections cost $150.
    • Certificates of occupancy or completion cost $65, except existing-building certificates issued under rule 111.4 have no fee.
    • The rule was effective January 1, 2019 and was last updated July 14, 2026.

    structural processing fee: 275 USD · certificate of occupancy or completion fee: 65 USD (No fee for existing-building certificates issued under rule 111.4)

    “The fees for examination and processing of construction documents when required to be submitted to the division of industrial compliance, except medical gas piping systems and temporary structures, shall be in accordance with Table B1.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Variable (with conditions) — Construction-document submissions and inspections handled by certified municipal, township, or county building departments in Ohio.
      “Fees for construction documents submitted to and inspections made by certified building departments shall be in accordance with the locally adopted fee schedule.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction, erection, alteration, or equipment of buildings subject to Ohio Revised Code section 3781.06.

    • Before beginning construction, the owner must submit plans, drawings, specifications, and data to the municipal, township, or county building department having jurisdiction, subject to the statutory exceptions where no certified department has jurisdiction.
    • No owner may proceed until the plans and specifications are approved or the industrialized unit is inspected at the point of origin.
    • Plans must comply with Chapters 3781 and 3791 and applicable rules.
    • Approval becomes invalid if work has not commenced within twelve months; one additional twelve-month extension may be granted if requested at least ten days before expiration and accompanied by a fee not exceeding $100.
    • If work is delayed or suspended for more than six months, approval becomes invalid; two six-month extensions may be granted, each with a fee not exceeding $100.
    • A certified building department or the superintendent must review submitted plans.
    • Conditional approval may allow construction only up to the point of an unresolved objection.

    initial approval deadline: <= 30 days (Failure to approve or disapprove within thirty days is treated as an adjudication order denying issuance of a license.) · commencement period after approval: 12 months (One extension of twelve months is available under the stated conditions.)

    “No owner shall proceed with the construction, erection, alteration, or equipment of any building until the plans or drawings, specifications, and data have been approved as this section requires, or the industrialized unit inspected at the point of origin.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Roadside camping at designated Ohio state forests along public roads maintained by the division of forestry.

    • Permitted only at designated state forests, along public roads maintained by the division of forestry, during certain legally established hunting seasons.
    • The chief of the division of forestry must authorize the applicable season.
    • Only self-contained camping units meeting Rule 1501:3-3-04 are permitted unless restroom facilities are available.
    • Vehicles must be parked sufficiently far off the roadway not to present a hazard and may not block roads, trails, or gated access areas.
    • Other restrictions in Rule 1501:3-3-06 apply.
    “Roadside camping is permitted at designated state forests, along public roads maintained by the division of forestry, during certain legally established hunting seasons as authorized by the chief of the division of forestry.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Occupancy and placement of recreational vehicles in Ohio-licensed campgrounds and temporary campgrounds.
      “Recreational vehicles or portable camping units shall be parked only on sites that have been verified as complying with plans approved by the director, or in the case of a temporary campground, by the licensor;”
    • Prohibited — Camping in Ohio state forests outside areas, sites, or campgrounds designated by the chief of the division of forestry or an authorized agent.
      “No person shall camp in a state forest except in areas, sites or campgrounds designated by the chief of the division of forestry or authorized agent.”
    • Limited — Recreational vehicles and portable camping units placed in licensed campgrounds (recreational vehicle parks, recreation camps, combined park-camps) in Ohio; the statutory definitions apply to tracts with five or more units
      “except as otherwise provided in paragraph (i)(8) of this rule, each recreational vehicle or portable camping unit in a campground shall be placed upon the site so as to provide the following proper distances:”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    County commissioners may adopt zoning resolutions regulating building, structures, land uses, and districts or zones in unincorporated territory statewide.

    • The authority is exercised by resolution and must be in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
    • The authority applies to unincorporated territory of the county.
    • The statute begins with the exception phrase “Except as otherwise provided in this section,” so the limitations in ORC Chapter 303 apply.
    • For nonresidential property only, the county may regulate height, bulk, number of stories, size, lot coverage, yards, courts, open spaces, and population density.
    • Agricultural uses and agricultural buildings are subject to the limitations in ORC 303.21; the statute also contains limitations for public utilities, railroads, telecommunications towers, alcoholic-beverage sales, oil and gas drilling, and permanently sited manufactured homes.
    • Activities regulated under ORC Chapters 1513 and 1514 may be regulated only in the interest of public health or safety, and Chapter 1514 activities must be provided for as permitted or conditional uses as specified by ORC 303.02.
    “the board of county commissioners may regulate by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    County commissioners may adopt and enforce local residential building regulations in unincorporated areas and may operate certified county building departments that enforce state residential and nonresidential building codes, accept and approve plans, and conduct inspections.

    • Local residential building regulations may be enforced within the unincorporated area or within districts established in the unincorporated area.
    • A local residential building regulation may not differ from the state residential building code unless it addresses subject matter not addressed by that code or is adopted under ORC 3781.01.
    • An existing structures code must concern subject matter not addressed by, and may not conflict with, the state residential building code.
    • County building departments may enforce state codes only for the types of buildings and subject matters for which they are certified.
    • Certification permits enforcement authority, plan approval, and inspections; the certification application identifies whether it covers residential or nonresidential buildings and whether residential certification covers new construction only or also repair and alteration.
    • The board may adopt flood-hazard, Lake Erie coastal-erosion, and drainage regulations, subject to the statutory limits and exceptions in ORC 307.37.
    • Local regulations, codes, or amendments require public hearings at not fewer than two regular or special board sessions; they take effect on the thirty-first day after adoption.
    • Regulations adopted under ORC 307.37 generally do not affect buildings or structures existing, or under construction, before adoption, except as provided for an existing structures code.
    • The state residential building code is effective as a uniform requirement in areas with a building department certified to enforce it.
    “The board of county commissioners may adopt local residential building regulations governing residential buildings as defined in section 3781.06 of the Revised Code”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Ohio boards of county commissioners adopting and enforcing local residential building regulations in unincorporated county areas, including districts established within those areas, and administering state building codes when certified.
      “The board of county commissioners may adopt local residential building regulations governing residential buildings”

Inside cities and towns in Marion County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Building permitRequired

    Covered construction and other work in commercial structures in the City of Marion, including one-, two-, and three-family dwellings and accessory structures to the extent identified in OBC 310.

    • The guide says the process is generally required for most kinds of work in commercial structures.
    • The OBC has 30 exempt facility types or locations and 40 exempt kinds of work, plus jurisdictional limitations.
    • A specific project must be checked against the OBC exemptions and jurisdictional limits.
    “When is the three-step process required? (i.e. when a permit is needed) Generally, most kinds of work in “commercial structures”.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building-code administration in the City of Marion.

    • The guide states that code references are from the 2024 Ohio Building Code.
    • The listed codes are described as enforced across the entire State of Ohio in accordance with Ohio Board of Building Standards rules.
    “The commonly utilized codes for commercial buildings below are enforced across the entire State of Ohio in accordance with the rules of OBBS. The main “rule” issued by the OBBS is the Ohio Building Code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — City of Marion commercial building-code administration.
      “What does the Building Department do? Administer the rules of the Ohio Board of Building Standards as stipulated in the Ohio Building Code.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Commercial projects within the City of Marion.

    • The City provides an inspections-required checklist for permits.
    • This claim does not establish inspection jurisdiction for all unincorporated Marion County.
    “This document is used by the building department to detail the inspections required for the permit.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Projects administered under the City of Marion building-department process.

    • The third step is issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion.
    • The three-step process applies unless specifically approved otherwise by the Chief Building Official.
    “Step 3: Issuance of Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — City of Marion building permits requiring a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion.
      “A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion will not be issued until all fees are paid.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land-use zoning within Marion Township, Marion County, Ohio.

    • The resolution applies to Marion Township and uses an Official Zoning District Map certified by the Marion Township Trustees and Clerk.
    • This source does not establish countywide zoning or zoning rules for other townships or municipalities.
    “The provisions of this Resolution shall apply to the unincorporated territory of Marion Township.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Marion Township zoning districts.

    • The township zoning district map designates all parts of the township within the listed districts.
    • The district list includes flood plain, agriculture, residential, office-institutional-apartment, business, and industrial districts.
    “CHAPTER 5 ZONING DISTRICTS AND ZONING DISTRICT MAP”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    An individual mobile home or manufactured home located or occupied as a dwelling in Marion Township's A-1 or R-1B District.

    • The unit may be located or occupied only in a mobile-home park or on an individual lot in the A-1 or R-1B District.
    • On an individual lot, the lot and unit must meet the district's single-family-dwelling requirements.
    • The unit must meet the additional requirements in §16.031, including HUD National Construction Standards, a permanent foundation, attachment to that foundation, removal of hitches, axles, and wheels, and real-property classification by the county auditor.

    minimum floor area: >= 900 square feet (Individual mobile home or manufactured home on an A-1 or R-1B District lot.) · minimum width at narrowest point: >= 23 feet (Individual mobile home or manufactured home on an A-1 or R-1B District lot.)

    “The unit must be at least twenty-three (23) feet wide at its narrowest point and have a total of not less than 900 square feet of floor area.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — A mobile home used as a dwelling within a Marion Township mobile-home park.
      “Any mobile home used as a dwelling on the premises shall have a minimum floor area of five hundred seventy-five (575) square feet.”
    • Specified — A mobile home used as a dwelling on the premises in a Marion Township mobile-home-park context.
      “The site for each individual mobile home in the Park shall comply with the following requirements: Minimum Floor Area: Any mobile home used as a dwelling on the premises shall have a minimum floor area of five hundred seventy-five (575) square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family and two-family dwellings in the R-1A and R-1B zoning districts of Marion Township, Marion County, Ohio.

    • The schedule distinguishes lots with no sewer and water, public sewer without public water, and sewer and water.
    • The cited resolution is specific to Marion Township and does not establish a countywide minimum lot size.
    • Side-yard notation in the schedule is defined as least-width side yard / sum of both side yards.

    R-1A single-family minimum lot area without sewer and water: 25000 sq ft · R-1A single-family minimum lot area with public sewer and without public water: 20000 sq ft · R-1A single-family minimum lot area with sewer and water: 12000 sq ft · R-1A two-family minimum lot area without sewer and water: 37500 sq ft · R-1A two-family minimum lot area with sewer and water: 18000 sq ft · R-1B single-family minimum lot area without sewer and water: 25000 sq ft · R-1B single-family minimum lot area with sewer and water: 9000 sq ft · R-1B two-family minimum lot area without sewer and water: 37500 sq ft · R-1B two-family minimum lot area with sewer and water: 13000 sq ft

    “R-1A DISTRICT: Single Family Dwelling: Without sewer & water 25000”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings and other structures in the A-1 Agricultural District of Marion Township, Marion County, Ohio.
      “In a district where it is permitted a single-family dwelling may be erected on a lot which is non-conforming as to lot area or width, provided however, that, where three or more abutting lots of record were held in one ownership at the effective date of this Resolution, and where one or more of such lots are non-conforming, the exception in this paragraph shall not apply.”
    • Specified — Dwellings in the R-S Rural-Suburban Residence District of Marion Township, Marion County, Ohio.
      “Dwellings withoutsewer & water 1 150 43,560 [...] Dwellings with sewer & water 0.7 150 30,000”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Dwellings in Marion Township's A-1 Agricultural District.

    • All structures must comply with the dimensional and area schedule in §8.03.
    • Farm dwellings are additionally subject to §8.04.

    minimum front yard: >= 50 feet (A-1 District dwelling.) · minimum side yard: >= 20 feet (A-1 District dwelling.) · minimum rear yard: >= 50 feet (A-1 District dwelling.)

    “All structures shall comply with the dimensional and area requirements as set forth in the following schedule: MINIMUM LOT SIZE MINIMUM YARD DIMENSIONS MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT MAXIMUM COVERAGE OF LOT AREA (ACRES) FRONTAGE (FEET) FRONT (FEET) SIDE (FEET) REAR (FEET) FEET STORIES PERCENT Dwellings 1 150 50 20 50 30 2 ½ -”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures and buildings in Montgomery Township.

    • The height limitation may be appealed to the Montgomery Township Board of Zoning Appeals.
    • Telecommunication or cellular communication towers exceeding 60 feet are subject to additional requirements.

    maximum structure or building height: <= 60 feet (Telecommunication or cellular communication towers exceeding 60 feet are subject to Section 9.05)

    “No structure or building shall exceed 60 feet in height. The height limitation may be appealed to the Montgomery Township Board of Zoning Appeals.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Individual mobile or manufactured homes used as dwellings in Marion Township.

    • The home must be in a mobile home park, or on an individual lot in the A-1 or R-1B District.
    • Individual-lot homes must meet district single-family-dwelling requirements.
    • The unit must be HUD-certified and have a permanent concrete or masonry foundation, among other stated requirements.
    “No mobile home or manufactured home, as defined on the Ohio revised code Section 4501.01 (O) shall be permitted to be located or occupied as a dwelling in Marion Township except under the following two provisions:”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Residential structures in fixed dwelling developments in Marion Township.

    • Every residential structure must be within 200 feet of a hard-surfaced access drive at least 20 feet wide or a connected parking lot.
    • Every dwelling or ground-floor dwelling unit must be directly accessible to service and emergency vehicles.
    • Where private drives are used, they must be paved to at least 24 feet wide.
    • Public-street dedication and improvement may be required where a major traffic artery or general traffic need is involved.

    maximum distance to hard-surfaced access drive: <= 200 feet · minimum access-drive width: >= 20 feet · minimum private-drive paved width: >= 24 feet

    “Every residential structure in a Fixed Dwelling Development shall be within two hundred (200) feet of a hard surfaced access drive no less than twenty (20) feet wide or a parking lot connected with such a drive.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development in the Montgomery Township Flood Plain District.

    • The Flood Plain District is an overlay zone in addition to the underlying zoning district.
    • Potentially hazardous materials subject to flooding are excepted from otherwise permitted underlying uses.
    • All structures must meet existing county Flood Plain Development Standards enforced by Marion County.
    • Boundaries are based on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps and change when the map is revised.
    “All structures within the Flood Plain District shall meet the existing county Flood Plain Development Standards as enforced by Marion County.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    City of Marion commercial building permits and related building-department services.

    • Fees vary by service and may include fixed fees, square-footage fees, hourly rates, travel, multipliers, and a 3 percent Ohio Board of Building Standards fee.
    • Re-inspection and cancelled-inspection fees are assessed as needed.
    • Credit-card payments incur a 4 percent fee of the current invoice balance owed.
    • The fee schedule states that stop-work penalties are doubled through December 31, 2026 and quadrupled after that date.

    re-inspection for disapproved inspections: 100 USD/inspection · cancelled inspection fee: 100 USD/inspection · permit transfer: 100 USD · permit renewal: 100 USD · credit-card fee: 4 percent of current invoice balance owed · after-hours inspections: 270 USD/hour per inspector

    “Re-inspection for Disapproved Inspections1………………………………………………… $100/Inspection”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — City of Marion commercial building-permit processes.
      “Permit Fee Schedule: This document is the fee schedule tabulation form that accompanies the permit application.”
    • Published (with conditions) — City of Marion commercial building permits and related services.
      “Building Code & Applying for a Commercial Building Permit , Instructions for Plan Approval Application and Fee Schedule Tabulation”
    • Published — City of Marion building-department permit and plan-review services.
      “Rates and calculation information are illustrated on the attached Fee Schedule Tabulation Form.”
  • Permit processPublished

    City of Marion building-department plan approval and permit process.

    • Applicants complete the application; plans are reviewed and stamped electronically; PDFs are submitted by email; a permit number is provided when the plans are placed in the review queue.
    • Incomplete, incorrect, or inaccurate applications are returned for revision.
    • The stated OBC plan-review timeframe is 30 days, subject to the guide's conditions and expedited-review option.

    plan review timeframe: 30 days (OBC 107.4 governs the timeframe; expedited plan review may be available under OBC 107.3)

    “OBC 107.4 governs the timeframe; it is 30-days. Plan review may be completed prior to maximum timeframe.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — City of Marion commercial building-permit applications and inspections.
      “Permit Application: This document is the single, universal permit application.”
    • Published (with conditions) — City of Marion commercial building permits.
      “Administration is a three-step process that occurs in the following order:”

Set by your township or city, not the county

In Ohio, zoning is adopted by each township or city, so Marion County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your township or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.

  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Marion County, Ohio

Is Marion County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Marion County scores 42/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: a durable current and mid-century hazard profile and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: about 124,139 people within a 30-minute drive and a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

How much does land cost in Marion County, Ohio?

Land in Marion County runs about $8,262 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Marion County?

Marion County gets about 38.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.5% of years.

How remote is Marion County?

A representative private-land location has about 124,139 people within a 30-minute drive and 8,079,672 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Marion compares in Ohio

Compare side-by-side →See all 88 Ohio counties ranked →