Ohio Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
Ohio rules on section 8, records & right to counsel for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No. Ohio's fair housing law (§ 4112.02(H)) protects race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status, ancestry, disability, and national origin. It does not cover source of income or voucher use. Ohio Rev. Code § 4112.02(H)
The rules in Ohio
| Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | No. Ohio's fair housing law (§ 4112.02(H)) protects race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status, ancestry, disability, and national origin. It does not cover source of income or voucher use. Whether § 5321.19 preemption affects them was not determined. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 4112.02(H) |
|---|---|
| Eviction record sealing | No statute. Ohio Rev. Code chapter 1923 has no provision for sealing, masking, or expunging eviction court records. Some municipal courts have adopted local rules or procedures for sealing eviction records. |
| Right to a lawyer in eviction | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. Some cities (for example Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus) have local right-to-counsel programs. |
Related questions
- Can a landlord refuse Section 8?
- Can an eviction be removed from your record?
- Do tenants get a free lawyer for an eviction?
Ohio vs. neighboring states
| State | Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | Eviction record sealing | Right to a lawyer in eviction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | No. Ohio's fair housing law (§ 4112.02(H)) protects race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status, ancestry, disability, and national origin. It does not cover source of income or voucher use. Ohio Rev. Code § 4112.02(H) | No statute. Ohio Rev. Code chapter 1923 has no provision for sealing, masking, or expunging eviction court records. Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 (no sealing provision) | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 (no counsel provision) |
| Indiana | No. Indiana has no statewide source-of-income protection, and local units may not adopt or enforce an ordinance that requires (or has the effect of requiring) a landlord to participate in Section 8 or a similar housing program. IC 36-1-3-8.5 | Yes. Automatic: if the eviction case is dismissed (including for failure to prosecute), judgment is for the tenant, or a judgment against the tenant is overturned on appeal, the court must on its own motion order the records not disclosed and sealed/redacted. By tenant motion: if judgment was against the tenant and the money judgment has been satisfied, or no money judgment was entered and at least 7 years have passed, the court shall order nondisclosure (possibly without a hearing). Older cases (outcomes before July 1, 2022 or July 1, 2025) can be sealed by verified petition with the tenant's name, date of birth, address, case number, grounds, and a sworn statement that no money judgment is outstanding. IC 32-31-11-3, -4 (P.L.164-2022; amended P.L.128-2025) | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found. The Residential Eviction Actions chapter covers dismissal, failure to prosecute, and voluntary eviction diversion programs, not appointed counsel. IC 32-31-10 (checked) |
| Kentucky | No. There is no statewide protection, and since 2024 local governments may not adopt or enforce ordinances that bar landlords from refusing to rent to someone whose rent is paid in part with a federal housing assistance program (e.g., Section 8 vouchers). This overrides the Louisville and Lexington source-of-income ordinances to the extent they cover federal housing assistance. KRS 65.874 (2024 Ky. Acts ch. 3, sec. 1, HB 18; emergency, veto overridden) | Not verified yet | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found in KRS Chapter 383. KRS Chapter 383 (checked) |
| Michigan | Yes, effective Apr. 2, 2025. A landlord may not deny or end a tenancy, set different terms, fees or rent, misstate availability, advertise a preference, or try to discourage a tenant because of source of income, including vouchers and subsidies. If the landlord has an income threshold, it must count vouchers and subsidies when applying it (this does not cover emergency rental assistance). Exempt: landlords who, together with related entities, own fewer than 5 rental units in Michigan. MCL 554.601c (2024 PA 178) | No. Michigan has no statute sealing or expunging eviction records. Two 2025 bills are pending: SB 374 (sealing, and automatic expungement 3 years after a final judgment for possession), placed on Senate third reading on Mar. 3, 2026; and HB 4984 (records nonpublic until a judgment for possession), in the House Regulatory Reform committee since Sept. 2025. Neither has been enacted as of this check. 2025 SB 374; 2025 HB 4984 (pending) | Not verified yet |
| Pennsylvania | No statewide protection. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act covers race, color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap/disability and guide/support animal use, but not source of income or voucher use. 43 P.S. 955(h) (PHRA s. 5(h)) | No statewide sealing law yet. HB 1095 (limited access to eviction information, amending Title 42) passed the House 105-98 on June 23, 2025 and was reported as amended by Senate Judiciary on Oct. 19, 2026 and re-referred to Senate Appropriations on Oct. 20, 2026, which re-reported it as committed the same day (21-1). It still needs Senate final passage, House concurrence in the Senate amendments and the Governor's signature - not enacted as of Oct. 23, 2026. 2025-2026 HB 1095 (pending) | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. 68 P.S. 250.501-250.513 |
| West Virginia | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare section 8, records & right to counsel in all 50 states and DC →
Ohio Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel FAQ
Is it illegal for a landlord to refuse Section 8 vouchers in Ohio?
No. Ohio's fair housing law (§ 4112.02(H)) protects race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status, ancestry, disability, and national origin. It does not cover source of income or voucher use. (Ohio Rev. Code § 4112.02(H))
Can an eviction record be sealed or removed in Ohio?
No statute. Ohio Rev. Code chapter 1923 has no provision for sealing, masking, or expunging eviction court records. (Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 (no sealing provision))
Do tenants have a right to a free lawyer in eviction cases in Ohio?
No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. (Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 (no counsel provision))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.