Skip to main content
Back To Top Top Back To Top
This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Chapter 1501:46-9 | Camping

 
 
 
Rule
Rule 1501:46-9-01 | Camping permitted in designated areas.
 

No person shall camp in an area administered by the division except where designated areas have been set aside for the purpose of camping, and unless such person possesses a current and valid camping permit.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02, 1546.04
Five Year Review Date: 5/8/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 6/14/1975
Rule 1501:46-9-02 | Use of campground facilities; permit required.
 

No person shall walk into or drive any vehicle into or through any controlled camp area of the division for the purpose of utilizing ramps, beaches, or other camp facilities, except such persons who are holders of a valid camping permit or a visitor's pass; nor shall any person use any facilities in a campground that are specifically provided for the use of the holders of the appropriate camping permit or a visitor's pass.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02, 1546.04
Five Year Review Date: 5/8/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 10/18/1982
Rule 1501:46-9-03 | Camping administration.
 

(A) Any person camping in any designated camp area shall have that person's campsite registered with the division. Any person entering and camping on a campsite prior to six a.m. shall pay the fee listed in rule 1501:46-2-11 of the Administrative Code for the preceding day in addition to paying fees for the date of entering and subsequent days of stay.

(B) Display of the issued camping permit shall be made in a conspicuous location upon the tent or trailer or other location on the site designated by the area manager and so posted in the camp check station office, except when numbered site posts are provided, in which case, the permit shall be affixed thereto.

(C) Except with the permission of the area manager, only water supply lines with an approved anti-siphon valve may be hooked up to any plumbing outlet in a campground.

(D) Occupancy for any campsite is limited to not more than six persons. In the case of a family with several children, the area manager may make exceptions to this limit.

(E) A campsite may contain no more than:

(1) Three tents; or

(2) One bus, travel trailer, horse trailer, house vehicle, motor home, station wagon, motorcycle, car, truck, van, or pickup camper, in combination with one or two tents.

Subject to space availability, two vehicles which includes a tow vehicle for a trailer are allowed per campsite, except that no more than three motorcycles may be parked on the site parking pad in lieu of other vehicles. In those campsites that can accommodate additional vehicles as determined by the area manager, additional vehicles may be parked at the site. The number of additional vehicles will be determined by the area manager and posted in accordance with rule 1501:46-3-01 of the Administrative Code. This paragraph does not apply to a group camp site.

(F) Each camping unit in a campground are to be located upon the site so as to provide the following proper distances:

(1) A minimum distance of at least five feet between each of the camping units located on the same site.

(2) A minimum distance of at least ten feet between all camping units located on adjacent sites.

(G) Camp area visiting hours are from six a.m. to ten p.m. daily. The visiting hours may be extended by the area manager up to eleven p.m. daily. Such extension is to be posted in accordance with rule 1501:46-3-01 of the Administrative Code by the area manager. Visitors to controlled camp area must obtain a visitor permit. Visitors desiring to investigate the area prior to camping must obtain this same permit. Upon departure the visitor must return said pass permit.

(H) Maximum number of persons camping at a "rent-a-camp" site is limited to four adults or two adults and four juveniles.

(I) Every person who camps in a horseman's camping area shall register his camping unit and every horse brought into such area.

(J) For the purposes of this rule "area manager" is the person designated by the chief to manage a state park area.

(K) It is unlawful for any person to violate the provisions in this rule.

Last updated July 17, 2023 at 12:18 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02, 1546.04
Five Year Review Date: 11/27/2024
Prior Effective Dates: 3/1/1993, 2/27/1994, 12/15/2014
Rule 1501:46-9-03.1 | Camping permits and rental periods, limitations.
 

The maximum period of time that any person is permitted to stay overnight in any designated campground or other rented overnight facility within a state park shall not exceed fourteen days in any thirty day time frame. Any attempt to circumvent the fourteen night limitation by means of changing the registered name of a group or individual, creating multiple user profiles, or otherwise altering reservation information is not permitted. If a reservation or series of reservations is determined to be out of compliance with the maximum length of stay prescribed in this rule, the occupant or occupants of the campsite or other overnight facility will be contacted and directed to determine which reservations will be canceled to achieve compliance with these provisions. Refunds will be applied to any advance reservations, as necessary, to bring the total nights within the allowable limit. Cancellation fees will be applied for any advance reservation canceled for this reason.

Persons who knowingly violate this rule may be restricted from obtaining future rentals and may have their online reservation account restricted or suspended.

Last updated August 4, 2023 at 2:27 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02, 1546.04
Five Year Review Date: 11/1/2026
Rule 1501:46-9-04 | Duty to vacate and remove personal property on expiration of rental period.
 

(A) A person renting a campsite, getaway rental, cottage, or overnight group facility shall remove all personal property from the campsite, getaway rental, cottage, or overnight group facility prior to a time as determined by the park manager and so posted at the park office on the expiration date of the rental period. Persons failing to comply with this rule may be charged the prevailing fee for that facility for one additional night. Nothing contained herein shall nullify any penalty which may attach to a violation of this rule.

It is unlawful for any person to fail to comply with any terms or conditions prescribed in any form of rental agreement or camping permit, whether set forth in rule, a written agreement, provided to the renter through the reservation system, or posted at the park in accordance with 1501:46-3-01.

If, upon the expiration of a valid rental agreement or camping permit, any person fails to vacate a campsite, getaway rental, cottage, or other overnight facility or if any person or party fails to comply when instructed to leave state property by a peace officer, authorized division personnel, or department official, such person or persons will be considered to be trespassing and may be prosecuted under applicable provisions of the Revised Code.

(B) Personal property remaining on a campsite, getaway rental, cottage, or overnight group facility after the expiration of the rental period may be removed and stored by the division. The owner may reclaim said property upon payment of a storage fee not to exceed one dollar per day plus the actual cost incurred in the removal of such property. At the end of fourteen days, said property shall be disposed of in accordance with rule 1501:46-3-17 of the Administrative Code.

(C) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this rule may be subject to fines, civil, or criminal penalties, may be restricted from obtaining future rentals, may have their reservation account restricted or suspended, and may be instructed to leave state property by a peace officer, authorized division personnel, or department official. If a person or party is instructed to leave state property under these provisions, any fees paid for unused portions of a rental period and remaining reservations will be forfeited.

Last updated February 7, 2022 at 4:46 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02
Five Year Review Date: 5/8/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 3/1/1993
Rule 1501:46-9-05 | Juvenile use of overnight facilities restricted.
 

No person who is a juvenile shall camp in, or stay in a cabin or lodge facility in any area under the administration of the division except:

(A) When accompanying a parent or guardian; or

(B) When juvenile furnishes to the area manager the written consent of and full name and residence of parent or guardian. The telephone number at which the parent or guardian may be reached at all times shall be supplied for purposes of emergency medical information. Such written consent shall contain the inclusive dates and park location applicable; or

(C) When a juvenile is part of a youth group occupying an area administered by the division overnight and which group is supervised by at least one adult for each ten juveniles.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02
Five Year Review Date: 5/8/2025
Rule 1501:46-9-06 | Area noise.
 

(A) No person shall cause, create, or contribute in any way to noise, including but not limited to, playing a radio or other electronically amplified device, or a musical instrument, or operating a motorized generator in any way that disturbs the peace and quiet of other persons, in any manner in any area administered by the division.

(B) No person shall, between the quiet hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., within a campground area, cabin area, lodge area, or other division approved sleeping area, cause, create, or contribute in any way to noise that disturbs the peace and quiet of other persons.

Approved special events, park, or concession sponsored activities may be exempt from paragraphs (A) and (B) of this rule.

Last updated February 27, 2023 at 11:07 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By:
Amplifies:
Five Year Review Date:
Rule 1501:46-9-07 | Trailer plumbing requirements.
 

No person is permitted to operate or bring into any camping area, any vehicle used for camping, and having plumbing fixtures with provision for outside drainage, which does not include suitable, non-spilling holding tank which will not overflow and being connected with leak-proof couplings to a drain(s) that is controllable and will not allow any contents to be drained except into suitable park drainage facilities. A vehicle used for camping may have drain(s) from the sink, wash basin, and shower to be drained into a suitable external holding device of a capacity of at least five gallons provided such device is not spilled, overflowed, or drained onto a campsite. Any waste water disposed of at a state park shall be disposed of in an approved and marked park facility.

Last updated July 17, 2023 at 12:18 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02, 1546.04
Five Year Review Date: 5/8/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 6/14/1975, 12/15/2014
Rule 1501:46-9-08 | Subleasing of campsite, cabin, lodge room, prohibited.
 

No person shall sublease, transfer, or assign his campsite, cabin, or lodge room to another person.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02, 1546.04
Five Year Review Date: 5/8/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 6/14/1975
Rule 1501:46-9-09 | Use of backpack trails.
 

The following rules and regulations shall apply to all backpack trails located on lands administered by the division in addition to all other rules specified herein:

(A) All campers must register with the area manager. In the event the area manager or the area manager's authorized agent connot be located, self-registration is required at the trailhead.

(B) All litter and trash must be packed out.

(C) No person shall utilize any backpack trail administered by the division when said trail is not designated as being open for use.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02
Five Year Review Date: 5/8/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 7/1/1980
Rule 1501:46-9-10 | Camping area zones permitting pets.
 

In accordance with rule 1501:46-3-07 of the Administrative Code, domestic dogs and cats are only permitted in camping areas designated by the chief of the division as a camping area zone permitting pets and then only in accordance with this rule. Service Animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (28 C.F.R. part 35, subpart A, section 35.104) are not considered domestic pets for the purposes of this rule.

It is not permissible for the owner or other person responsible for a domestic dog or cat to do any of the following:

(A) Fail to clean up and place in a rubbish receptacle any excrement left by their pet in the camping area.

(B) Wash any domestic dog or cat at a water fountain, water pump, lake, or pool.

(C) Allow or bring any domestic dog or cat into any enclosed camping area structure or onto any camp beach.

(D) Bring a domestic dog or cat into the camping area unless the owner, handler, or other person in charge of the domestic dog or cat has proof of current rabies inoculation for the animal and a collar or tag bearing owner's name and address is attached to the animal.

(E) Leave a domestic dog or cat unattended.

A domestic dog or cat may be tethered with a securely anchored leash or lead line of appropriate length and weight on the owner's or handler's rented campsite. The tether and anchor restraint for the animal is to be situated and arranged in such a manner that it does not infringe on a neighboring campsite or interfere with or menace any persons on adjacent campsites, shower houses, restroom facilities, paths or other travel routes provided for public use.

The number of pets permitted at each camping site is limited to two.

Last updated July 17, 2023 at 12:18 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1546.04
Amplifies: 1546.02
Five Year Review Date: 5/8/2025