About the Office of Administrative Hearings
The Office of Administrative Hearings was established pursuant to Cincinnati Municipal Code Title XV. This legislation decriminalized several offenses traditionally handled by criminal prosecution.
The Office of Administrative Hearings handles building code, housing code, zoning code, health code, sanitation code, animal control, public utility, and chronic nuisance cases. The Office of Administrative Hearings also includes the Parking Violations Bureau.
These cases are decided in accordance with applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations and the interests of justice. These decisions may be appealed to a Magistrate or Judge at the Hamilton County Courthouse.
Objectives
- To obtain more effective compliance
- To be more responsive to citizen complaints
- To reduce the Hamilton County Municipal Court caseload without imposing additional costs on the taxpayers
- To give the administration a choice between civil hearings and prosecuting a matter criminally
- To provide hearings and due process of law for those charged with civil violations
How The Process Works
City Inspectors and Police Officers can issue a Notice of Civil Offense or a Civil Citation. This code enforcement activity is typically documented and available to view online. It's then handled pursuant to Ohio Administrative Law and the Cincinnati Municipal Code.
The accused person or entity has two options. They can pay the civil fine. Or they can request an administrative hearing to dispute the allegation or request a reduction in the civil fine. These hearings usually occur via Zoom conference, telephone conference, or in-person at 805 Central Avenue, Suite 110, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202.
In some cases, the accused person or entity may request a "Cure Credit" without the need for a formal hearing. This option is appropriate if the accused person or entity agrees with the alleged violation and has since abated or corrected the issue.
All matters are reviewed by impartial attorney hearing examiners. All hearing examiners must be free from improper influence. The hearing examiner will issue a written decision via mail and/or email. The civil fine amounts are prescribed by Cincinnati Municipal Code Section 1501-99. The Office of Administrative Hearings is also authorized to charge an administrative hearing fee.
Failure to pay a civil offense may result in additional late fees or the matter being referred to collections. It may also result in additional legal actions until the violation is corrected. Please email OAH@cincinnati-oh.gov with questions about this process.
Helpful Links
You can view Code Enforcement Activity (including pictures and notes) by clicking clicking here.
You can pay OAH Civil Fines online by clicking clicking here.
You can read the Cincinnati Municipal Code by clicking clicking here.
You can learn about Ohio Administrative Law by clicking clicking here.
You can learn about Cincinnati Police Impound by clicking clicking here.