Ohio Commercial Lease Agreement
An Ohio commercial lease agreement is a legal contract between a landlord and a tenant for renting business properties, such as office, industrial, or retail spaces. The terms of the lease are often negotiable and can vary significantly. Once signed, the agreement becomes enforceable in court. Typically, commercial leases extend for multiple years to provide businesses with sufficient time to generate income.

Ohio Commercial Lease Agreement
Rental Laws
The rental laws applicable to commercial leases in Ohio are outlined in Title 13, Chapter 1310 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Consumer Protection Laws
Consumer protection laws relevant to commercial leases are found in Title 13, Chapter 1349 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Jurisdiction
According to Ohio Rev. Code § 1310.04, the legal jurisdiction for a lease agreement should be based on one of the following:
- The lessee’s residence
- The location of the leased property
- Where the lease was executed
It is important to note that any other agreed-upon jurisdictions, even if documented in writing, are not considered valid.
Statutes
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.04 – Landlord’s obligations
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.05 – Tenant obligations
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.07 – Failure of landlord to fulfill obligations – remedies of tenant
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.08 – Rent deposits – duty of clerk of court
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.09 – Failure of tenant to fulfill obligations – remedies of landlord
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.10 – Release of part of rent
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.11 – Failure of tenant to fulfill obligations – remedies of landlord
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.13 – Terms prohibited in rental agreement
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 – Procedures for security deposits
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17(C) – Termination of tenancy
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17 – Termination of tenancy
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.18 – Requirements for disclosing landlord’s name and address
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.051(A)(2) – Eviction of tenant allowing sex or child victim offenders to occupy premises near school, child care facility
- Ohio Rev. Code § 1319.16 – Check collection charges
- Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.01(A) – Jurisdiction in forcible entry and detainer – definitions
- Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.02(A)(9) – Persons subject to forcible entry and detainer action
- Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.02 – Persons subject to forcible entry and detainer action
- Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04(A) – Notice – Service
- Ohio Rev. Code § 1925.02(A)(1) – Jurisdiction
- Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06 – Contract in writing
FAQs
An Ohio commercial lease agreement is a legal contract between a landlord and a tenant for renting business properties such as office, industrial, or retail spaces. The terms of the lease are often negotiable and, once signed, become enforceable in court.
Key requirements for a commercial lease in Ohio include adherence to rental laws outlined in Title 13, Chapter 1310 of the Ohio Revised Code, and consumer protection laws in Title 13, Chapter 1349. Additionally, the legal jurisdiction for the lease agreement must be based on the lessee’s residence, the location of the leased property, or where the lease was executed.
Commercial leases in Ohio usually extend for multiple years, providing businesses with ample time to generate income. The specific duration can vary based on negotiations between the landlord and tenant.
You can verify a business seeking to lease commercial real estate in Ohio by using the Ohio Secretary of State Business Search tool. This resource allows you to investigate the business organization and its legitimacy.
If the jurisdiction specified in a lease agreement is not valid, such as being outside the parameters set by Ohio Rev. Code § 1310.04, it may not be enforceable in court. Valid jurisdictions must be based on the lessee’s residence, the location of the leased property, or where the lease was executed.
Signing a commercial lease in Ohio creates a legally binding agreement that is enforceable in court. It is crucial for both landlords and tenants to understand the terms and conditions before signing, as they will be held accountable to the lease’s stipulations.
You can download a commercial lease agreement template for Ohio in PDF or MS Word format from various legal resources online. Ensure that the template complies with Ohio’s rental and consumer protection laws.