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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Chapter 1501:3-3 | Camping

 
 
 
Rule
Rule 1501:3-3-01 | Camping permitted in designated areas.
 

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.

Last updated February 27, 2023 at 9:10 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1503.01
Amplifies: 1503.01
Five Year Review Date: 4/30/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 9/16/1974
Rule 1501:3-3-02 | Camp registration.
 

(A) Any person camping in any designated campgrounds shall personally register the camp with the division and secure a camping permit and pay any applicable fees immediately upon occupancy in the form and manner required.

(B) No person or property shall occupy more than one campsite and no person shall register or attempt to register for another person.

(C) Display of the issued camping permit shall be made in a conspicuous location upon the tent or trailer, except that when numbered site posts are provided the permit shall be affixed thereto, and except that backpack camping permittees may carry the permit on their person.

(D) No person shall register for a campsite in horse campgrounds unless such person has a horse at the campgrounds or is a part of a party that has and rides a horse or horses at the campgrounds, except as approved by the chief of the division or authorized agent.

(E) No person shall register for a campsite in any state forest hunters' camp except legally licensed hunters and only during the period from one day prior to the opening of squirrel season through one day after the closing of grouse season and from fourteen days prior to the opening of wild turkey season to one day following the closing of wild turkey season annually as established by statute, rule or order of the division of wildlife, except as approved by the chief of the division or authorized agent.

(F) Individuals who possess a vehicle that meets the requirements of rule 1501:3-4-12 of the Administrative Code at the campgrounds, is part of a party that has vehicles meeting the requirements of that rule, or is approved by the chief of the division or authorized agent are permitted to register for a campsite in an all purpose vehicle campground.

(G) Tents or similar type camping equipment are permitted only in campground locations with restroom facilities. Camping trailers or other types of recreational vehicles that meet the requirements of rule 1501:3-3-04 of the Administrative Code are allowed in areas of the state forest without restroom facilities.

Last updated July 29, 2021 at 9:50 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1503.01
Amplifies: 1503.01
Five Year Review Date: 7/29/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 9/16/1974, 1/9/2004
Rule 1501:3-3-03 | Removal of camp on expiration of permit.
 

A person camping on any area shall remove his camp from the camping area prior to 4:00 p.m. of the day on which his camping permit expires.

Last updated February 27, 2023 at 9:10 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By:
Amplifies:
Five Year Review Date:
Rule 1501:3-3-04 | Trailer plumbing requirements.
 

Travel trailers, camping trailers and any other type of recreational vehicle having plumbing fixtures with provisions for outside drainage must meet the following requirements before camping in state forests:

(A) Mobile housing units must be provided with a suitable, nonspilling holding tank which will not overflow and be connected with leakproof coupling to a drain(s) that is controllable to allow for contents to be transported by the occupant and disposed of off state forest land.

(B) No person shall drain or discharge the contents of a septic tank from a mobile housing unit on to state forest land.

(C) Drain(s) from the sink, wash basin and shower may be drained into a suitable external holding device provided such device is not spilled, overflowed or drained onto a campsite and is collected and removed from state forest land by the occupant.

Last updated July 29, 2021 at 9:50 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1503.01
Amplifies: 1503.01
Five Year Review Date: 7/29/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 9/28/1977
Rule 1501:3-3-05 | Use of campground facilities; permit required; visitors.
 

No person shall walk into or drive any vehicle into or through any designated campground, camp area or campsite or park any vehicle in a designated campground, camp area or campsite of the division in a manner which would annoy or interfere with person or persons desiring to camp or in possession of a valid camping permit.

Last updated February 27, 2023 at 9:10 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By:
Amplifies:
Five Year Review Date:
Rule 1501:3-3-06 | Camp occupancy.
 

(A) Campgrounds are areas with designated campsites.

(1) A permit is required for each campsite unless waived by the Chief of the division or authorized agent.

(2) No permit will be issued to any person for more than fourteen days in any thirty-day period.

(3) No campsite unless otherwise posted may be occupied by more than ten persons plus:

(a) A tent or tents having separate or combined maximum floor space not in excess of three hundred square feet; or

(b) One motor vehicle in combination with a tent or tents as limited in paragraph (A)(2)(a) of this rule; or

(c) One motor vehicle without a tent or tents in addition thereto; or

(d) One camper trailer or, travel trailer; or

(e) One motor vehicle or one recreational vehicle, in addition to one of the mentioned vehicles, may be parked on the site parking pad for daily transportation use.

(4) Each campsite shall be occupied by the camper the first night of registration and no campsite shall be left unoccupied by persons for a period in excess of twenty-four hours.

(5) Each campsite shall be maintained by the camper in a sanitary and clean manner or condition.

(6) No person shall disturb the quiet of other persons nor disturb the peace and quiet of other persons in any manner between the hours of ten p.m. and eight a.m.

(7) No person shall erect a portable electrified or non-electrified corral except in designated horse campgrounds and in the manner approved by the chief of the division or chief's designee. .

(B) 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.

(1) Only self-contained camping units meeting the requirements of rule 1501:3-3-04 of the Administrative Code are permitted, unless restroom facilities are available.

(2) Vehicles must be parked sufficient distance off the roadway so as not to present a hazard to passing traffic and shall not block roads, trails or gated access areas.

(3) All other restrictions established in paragraph (A) of this rule shall apply to roadside camping.

Last updated July 29, 2021 at 9:51 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1503.01
Amplifies: 1503.01
Five Year Review Date: 7/29/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 9/28/1977
Rule 1501:3-3-07 | Camping fees.
 

(A) There is no daily fee for primitive camping at state forests.

(B) The daily fee for camping at state forest campgrounds not meeting the definition of primitive camping is as follows:

Family campgrounds - Six dollars per site
Horse campgrounds - Six dollars per site

(C) A non-refundable deposit equal to the fee of the first night's stay is required to confirm a campsite where reservations are accepted.

(D) A fee of one dollar per night for each horse, in addition to all other camping fees, shall be collected from the owner or handler camping in a horse campground.

(E) Persons who are holders of a "Golden Buckeye Membership Card" issued by the Ohio department of aging shall be charged for a camping permit at a rate of fifty per cent of the daily fee.

(F) Each person who is a resident of Ohio that possesses an honorable discharge from the armed forces that has been determined by the veterans' administration to be permanently and totally disabled and possesses certification to this effect, is exempt from camping fees. Every veteran to whom the registrar of motor vehicles has issued a set of license plates under section 4503.101 of the Revised Code is exempt from camping fees in state forests.

(G) The chief of the division may waive any or all camping fees and fees for horses at designated horse campgrounds.

(H) All or a portion of camping fees may be waived by the chief or authorized agent for persons performing service projects or other volunteer activity that directly benefits state forest programs and/or facilities.

(I) Persons may be required to deposit fees at campgrounds in the manner and/or place provided.

Last updated February 27, 2023 at 9:11 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1503.01
Amplifies: 1503.01
Five Year Review Date: 4/30/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 1/9/2004
Rule 1501:3-3-08 | Animals in campgrounds.
 

Blind or deaf persons may bring or keep guide or other dogs, especially trained for the purpose of aiding any such person into campgrounds administered by the division. Horseback riders may bring or keep horses in areas designated as horse campgrounds. Persons may bring or keep domestic cats and dogs to campgrounds administered by the division subject to rule 1501:3-2-18 of the Administrative Code and the following restrictions:

(A) No person who is the handler or owner of a domestic animal shall fail to clean up and place in a rubbish receptacle any excrement left by their pet in the campground.

(B) No person shall wash any animal at a water hydrant, water pump or lake.

(C) No person shall bring any domestic animal other than a trained service animal into any enclosed state owned structure in the campground.

(D) No person shall bring a domestic dog or cat into the campground unless the person has proof of current rabies inoculation for the animal and a collar or tag bearing the owner's name and address is attached to the animal.

(E) A domestic animal may be staked on the owner's or handler's campsite provided that the animal is staked in such a manner that it does not infringe on a neighboring campsite or interfere with or menace passersby. Dogs must be leashed and under control while in the campgrounds.

Last updated July 29, 2021 at 9:51 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1503.01
Amplifies: 1503.01
Five Year Review Date: 7/29/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 8/13/2015