Skip to main content
Back To Top Top Back To Top
The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 315 | Engineer

 
 
 
Section
Section 315.01 | Election and term of office.
 

There shall be elected quadrennially in each county a county engineer who shall assume office on the first Monday in January next after his election and shall hold such office for four years.

Section 315.02 | Eligibility for office of county engineer.
 

No person holding the office of clerk of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county treasurer, or county recorder is eligible to hold the office of county engineer. No person is eligible in any county as a candidate for such office or shall be elected or appointed thereto unless he is a registered professional engineer and a registered surveyor, licensed to practice in this state.

Section 315.03 | Bond of county engineer.
 

Except as provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, the county engineer, before entering upon the duties of the office of county engineer, shall give bond, signed by a bonding or surety company authorized to do business in this state, or, at the engineer's option, signed by two or more freeholders having real estate in the value of double the amount of the bond, over and above all encumbrances to the state, in the sum of not less than two thousand nor more than ten thousand dollars as fixed by the board of county commissioners. Such surety company shall be approved by the board and the bond shall be conditioned for the faithful performance of such engineer's official duties.

The expense or premium for such bond shall be paid by the board and charged to the general fund of the county. Such bond, with the oath of office required by sections 3.22 and 3.23 of the Revised Code and Section 7 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, and the approval of the board indorsed thereon, shall be deposited with the county treasurer and kept in the treasurer's office.

Section 315.05 | Delivery of effects to successor in office.
 

On leaving office, the county engineer shall deliver to his successor all books, papers, and other property and effects belonging to such office. In case of the failure of such engineer to do so, an action may be brought by his successor for the delivery of such property and effects, and for a forfeiture of five hundred dollars.

If the successor to such engineer recovers in such action, he shall have judgment for the articles so withheld, or for their value, and for any sum not more than five hundred dollars that the jury or the court assesses as a forfeiture.

Section 315.06 | Removal of engineer by civil action.
 

Any person may bring a civil action in the court of common pleas against the county engineer, alleging such engineer's incapacity, misconduct in office, or neglect of duty. A copy of the petition with the summons shall be served on such engineer. Such cause shall have precedence over other business, and, if upon trial thereof, the court finds an engineer guilty of any of the charges, by the judgment of the court he shall be removed from office.

Section 315.07 | Action on engineer's bond.
 

Any person injured by the misconduct or neglect of the county engineer or his deputy may bring an action on the official bond of such engineer or deputy and recover judgment for any loss or damage sustained by reason of such misconduct or neglect.

Section 315.08 | Duties of county engineer.
 

The county engineer shall perform for the county all duties authorized or declared by law to be done by a registered professional engineer or registered surveyor, except those duties described in sections 307.37 and 307.38 and Chapters 343., 6103., and 6117. of the Revised Code. The engineer shall prepare all plans, specifications, details, estimates of cost, and submit forms of contracts for the construction, maintenance, and repair of all bridges, culverts, roads, drains, ditches, roads on county fairgrounds, and other public improvements, except buildings, constructed under the authority of any board within and for the county. The engineer shall not be required to prepare plans, specifications, details, estimates of costs, or forms of contracts for emergency repairs authorized under section 315.13 of the Revised Code, unless the engineer determines them necessary.

Section 315.10 | County maintenance engineer.
 

The county engineer may designate one of his deputies as county maintenance engineer. Such deputy shall be a person experienced in the maintenance and repair of roads, and he shall, acting under the general direction and supervision of the engineer, have charge of all road maintenance and repair work carried forward under the supervision of the engineer.

The engineer, when authorized by the board of county commissioners, shall appoint maintenance supervisors to have charge of the maintenance of improved highways within districts established by the board and engineer and containing not less than ten miles of improved county roads. The supervisor shall act under the direction of the engineer, and the engineer, when authorized by the board, shall establish a patrol or gang system of maintenance under the direct charge of such supervisors. The compensation of such supervisors shall be fixed upon a per diem basis by the board, and shall be paid out of the road repair or county road fund, upon the approval of the engineer.

Section 315.11 | Office of county engineer.
 

(A) The county engineer shall keep the engineer's office in the county seat, or at another location as provided in division (B) of this section, in such rooms as are provided by the board of county commissioners, and which shall be furnished with all necessary cases and other suitable articles at the expense of the county. Such office shall also be furnished with all tools, instruments, books, blanks, and stationery necessary for the proper discharge of the official duties of such engineer. The cost and expense of such equipment shall be allowed and paid from the general fund of the county upon the approval of the board. The engineer and each assistant and deputy of such engineer shall be allowed reasonable and necessary expenses, incurred in the performance of official duties.

(B) With the consent of the county engineer, the board of county commissioners may provide by resolution for establishment of the primary office of the county engineer at a location outside the county seat. The adoption of the resolution and the location of the engineer's primary office shall be entered on the journal of the board. The board shall give reasonable public notice of its action taken pursuant to this division in accordance with division (F) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code.

Section 315.12 | Office to be maintained partially from motor vehicle taxes.
 

(A) Two thirds of the cost of operation of the office of county engineer, including the salaries of all of the employees and the cost of the maintenance of such office as provided by the annual appropriation made by the board of county commissioners for such purpose, shall be paid out of the county's share of the fund derived from the receipts from motor vehicle licenses, as distributed under section 4501.04 of the Revised Code, and from the county's share of the fund derived from the motor vehicle fuel tax as distributed under section 5735.27 of the Revised Code.

(B) Where employees of the county engineer are temporarily assigned to perform engineering and plan preparation work on a bond-financed project, their salaries and expenses for such work may be paid from the proceeds from the sale of such bonds, instead of from the fund as provided in division (A) of this section, from whence their salaries and expenses are ordinarily paid.

Section 315.13 | Emergency repairs - county engineer's emergency repair fund.
 

The county engineer shall make all emergency repairs on all roads, bridges, and culverts in the county, including state highways, and shall keep on hand at all times a supply of material for the purposes of making such repairs. Upon report to the engineer of any road or bridge in the county needing immediate attention, such engineer shall, if he deems it an emergency repair, proceed at once to make such repair by force account, without preparing plans, specifications, estimates of cost, or forms of contract.

The board of county commissioners may appropriate a sum of money each year sufficient to enable the county engineer to carry out this section. Such sum shall constitute the "county engineer's emergency repair fund." All expenses incurred in employing extra help or in purchasing materials used in such repairs shall be paid from such fund on vouchers signed by the engineer.

Necessary repairs, the total cost of which is not more than five thousand dollars, shall be deemed as necessary for emergency repairs.

Section 315.14 | Inspection - records - surveys.
 

The county engineer shall be responsible for the inspection of all public improvements made under authority of the board of county commissioners. The engineer shall keep in suitable books a complete record of all estimates and summaries of bids received and contracts for the various improvements, together with the record of all estimates made for payments on that work. The engineer shall make all surveys required by law, shall perform all necessary services to be performed by a registered surveyor or registered professional engineer in connection with the construction, repair, or opening of all county roads or ditches constructed under the authority of the board, and shall perform other duties as the board requires, provided that the duties described in sections 307.37 and 307.38 and Chapters 343., 6103., and 6117. of the Revised Code shall be performed only pursuant to an agreement between the county engineer and the board. An agreement of that type may provide for the county engineer's performance of duties described in one or more of those sections or chapters, and may provide for the county engineer's performance of all duties imposed upon a county sanitary engineer under Chapters 6103. and 6117. of the Revised Code or only the duties imposed upon a county sanitary engineer under Chapter 6117. of the Revised Code in relation to drainage. The board shall determine the compensation for performance of the relevant duties described in sections 307.37 and 307.38 and Chapters 343., 6103., and 6117. of the Revised Code and shall pay the county engineer from funds available under the applicable section or chapter or from the general fund of the county. The performance of the relevant duties described in sections 307.37 and 307.38 and Chapters 343., 6103., and 6117. of the Revised Code shall not constitute engaging in the private practice of engineering or surveying.

Section 315.15 | Examination of witnesses.
 

When a county engineer or his deputy is called upon to make a survey to be offered as evidence, the adverse party having notice of the time of the making of such survey, the county engineer or deputy, upon application of either party to the cause of action, shall administer an oath to any witness brought to prove any corner or line of such survey, or the existence of any natural or artificial object or mark which is necessary to identify any corner or line of such survey. Such testimony shall be reduced to writing, subscribed by the witnesses, and return thereof made to the court with the return of the survey.

Section 315.16 | Calculation of contents of tract of land.
 

When a survey or calculation is to be used as evidence, all calculations, by the county engineer or other person, to ascertain the contents of a tract of land shall be made by latitude and departure. On such plat, the person making such survey or calculation shall note the variation of the magnetic needle from the original course of such survey.

Section 315.17 | Survey of land in two counties.
 

When a tract of land is situated in two or more counties, or when the beginning of the entry or survey on which such tract of land depends is in a different county from that in which part of such tracts of land are, the court of common pleas, in either of such counties, may issue an order of survey to the county engineer of either of such counties, who shall survey such tract of land and run and lay down the entry or survey lines necessary to establish it.

Section 315.18 | Survey of lands sold for taxes.
 

On the application of any person producing to the county engineer a certificate from the proper officer, the engineer or the engineer's deputy may survey all lands that have been sold for taxes, which lie within the engineer's county. When a portion of any land or lot has been sold for taxes, and, after the sale and before a survey of the land or lot, the land or lot is set off to another county by the erection of a new county or change of county lines, the engineer of the county in which the sale was made may make the survey, and the county auditor of the same county shall make the deed.

Section 315.21 | Court may appoint a person to resurvey lands.
 

When it appears that the county engineer is interested in a survey, the title of which is disputed before the court of common pleas, or if such engineer is not commissioned and qualified, the court shall direct the resurvey to be made by a capable disinterested person, who shall return such resurvey to the court, on oath.

Section 315.22 | Survey as evidence.
 

No survey made by the county engineer or his deputy, unless made by an order of the court of common pleas, or made in accordance with sections 315.15 to 315.18 of the Revised Code, shall be considered evidence.

Section 315.23 | Acknowledgments by engineer.
 

The county engineer shall have the same power as judges of county courts to take and certify the acknowledgments of deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, and other instruments affecting real estate, to administer oaths, and to take and certify affidavits and depositions.

Section 315.24 | Field notes.
 

When so directed by the board of county commissioners, the county engineer shall procure from any office in this state where it may be procured, a certified plat, together with the field notes of the corners and bearing trees to each section, quarter section, lot, or original survey in his county, and cause it to be preserved in a book provided by him for that purpose, which book shall be deposited in the office of the engineer for the use of the landholders in such county. A certified copy from such book by the engineer shall be received as prima-facie evidence in all cases in which the original would be received.

The expenses incurred by reason of this section shall be paid from the county treasury on the warrant of the county auditor.

Section 315.25 | Record to be kept by county engineer.
 

(A) The county engineer shall make and keep, in a book provided for that purpose, an accurate record of all surveys made by the engineer or the engineer's deputies for the purpose of locating any land or road lines, or fixing any corner or monument by which it may be determined, whether official or otherwise. Such surveys shall include corners, distances, azimuths, angles, calculations, plats, and a description of the monuments set up, with such references thereto as will aid in finding the names of the parties for whom the surveys are made, and the date of making such surveys. Such book shall be kept as a public record by the engineer at the engineer's office, and it shall be at all proper times open to inspection and examination by all persons interested therein. Any other surveys made in the county by competent surveyors, certified by such surveyor to be correct and deemed worthy of preservation, may, by order of the board of county commissioners, be recorded by the engineer.

(B) The county engineer shall keep confidential information that is subject to a real property confidentiality notice under section 111.431 of the Revised Code, in accordance with that section.

Last updated February 2, 2022 at 3:58 PM

Section 315.251 | Minimum standards for boundary surveys.
 

(A) If a deed conveying title to real property is presented to the county auditor for transfer, and the deed contains a legal description for land that is a cut-up or split of the grantor's one or more existing parcels of land as shown in the county auditor's records, or if the legal description of the land conveyed in the deed is different from the legal description shown in the prior deed to the grantor, a boundary survey plat in conformity with the new description shall be submitted with the deed. The survey plat and description shall satisfy the minimum standards for boundary surveys promulgated by the board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors pursuant to Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code. If, in the opinion of the county engineer, the survey plat and description satisfy those standards, the county auditor shall accept the deed for transfer and a copy of the survey plat shall be filed in the county engineer's survey file for public inspection.

This section applies only if the requirements of this section are included in the standards governing conveyances of real property in the county adopted under section 319.203 of the Revised Code.

(B) Beginning on the effective date of this amendment, in the counties where the county engineer elects to engage in the private practice of engineering or surveying under division (B) of section 325.14 of the Revised Code the county auditor of that county shall designate another engineer who is registered under Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code and who is employed in the same county engineer's office to perform the duty of the county engineer under division (A) of this section or to exercise or perform any authority or duty of the county engineer under section 319.203 of the Revised Code if the county engineer reasonably believes that the performance of that duty or exercise of that authority by the county engineer would constitute a violation of Chapter 102. of the Revised Code or any other similar civil or criminal statute. Pursuant to this authorization, the designee engineer shall act in the place of the county engineer. Neither the county engineer nor the designee engineer shall discuss any matter reasonably related to this authorization. Any act in compliance with this section is not a violation of Chapter 102. of the Revised Code or any other similar statute.

Division (B) of this section applies only to a county engineer holding office on the effective date of this amendment during such time as the person continues to serve that term or an immediately consecutive term of office as a county engineer.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 315.26 | Engineer to transcribe records.
 

When ordered to do so by the board of county commissioners, the county engineer shall transcribe any dilapidated maps and the records of plats and field notes of surveys from the records of the court of common pleas, probate court, or any other court, or from the office of the county auditor, county recorder, or other office in the state where they may be procured, into suitable books, which shall be placed among the records of the engineer's office and made a part of such records, and they shall have the same validity and legal effect as similar records in his office.

Section 315.27 | Indexes to records of county engineer.
 

Unless otherwise ordered by the board of county commissioners, the county engineer shall make and keep up, in a manner convenient for reference, complete indexes to all the records in his office, alphabetically arranged by townships. Such indexes shall contain in their several columns the number or name of the original survey, section, tract, or lot in which such survey is located, the date of the execution thereof, the name of the surveyor making it, and the name of the party for whom the survey was made. The board may at any time during the progress of the work provided for in this section discontinue such work.

Section 315.28 | Survey of corners.
 

Any person who owns or is interested in a tract of land within this state, any corner or line of which has become lost or uncertain, or is in danger of becoming lost or uncertain by the removal, destruction, defacement, or perishing condition of any corner, witness or line tree, monument, or other cause, may call on the county engineer of the county in which the land lies to make a survey of such land, and may cause to be planted at any corner, or at proper places in any line thereof, a stone or post, noting particularly the situation and condition of the original corner trees or monuments called for in the original survey, if found, and of all other trees or monuments which it may be important or advisable to note, and of all the places of notoriety over or by which the lines of such survey pass.

If it is a single tract divided by a county line, such person may call on the engineer of any county in which a part of such tract lies. The engineer shall make out a plat and certificate of such survey, under his hand, noting the names of the chainmen, markers, and other assistants in such survey, and of all other persons present at the planting of any stone or post. The engineer shall also note the variation of the compass from the original calls at the time of making such survey.

Section 315.29 | Establishment of corners.
 

When the corners of a survey as provided in section 315.28 of the Revised Code have been destroyed, the owner of such survey or of other lands, the title of which is affected by the loss of any such corner, may call on the engineer of the county in which the land is situated, who shall attend on the ground where it is intended to establish such corners, at such time as the applicant appoints. The engineer shall issue a subpoena, directed to any constable or other person fit to execute it, to cause such witnesses, from outside as well as within his county, as the person demanding such warrant or other interested person requires, to come before him. The engineer shall examine such witnesses on oath, touching the existence and situation of such corners, or any other matter in relation to the entry or survey of such land, and he shall take the testimony in writing which shall be signed by the witnesses and certified and signed by the engineer. In making a survey of the land and planting stones or posts at the corners, as provided in section 315.28 of the Revised Code, the engineer shall have reference to and be governed by the depositions so taken, and shall specify them in his certificate of survey, in which shall also be mentioned the names of the persons present at the planting of any cornerstone or post. No person who resides outside the county where such depositions are to be taken shall be bound to attend unless traveling fees, both going and returning, and for one day's attendance, have been tendered him. No witness attending from outside the county shall be obliged to attend more than one day unless additional fees for such attendance are tendered.

Section 315.30 | Notice of taking depositions.
 

Previous to taking depositions as provided by section 315.29 of the Revised Code, at least twenty days' notice shall be given to the owner, his agent or attorney, if known, who has adjoining lands. If such owner, agent, or attorney is not known, or resides out of this state, the applicant shall give notice of his intention to take depositions at a certain time and place, by advertisement for six consecutive weeks, in a public newspaper published in the county where the land lies. The last insertion of such notice shall be twenty days previous to the time of taking such depositions. In the notice a description of the adjoining lands shall be given. Evidence of the notice shall be furnished the engineer prior to his taking any deposition. With his proceedings, which shall be in writing, the engineer shall return the original notices with the evidence of their having been served, and a copy of the advertisement with evidence of publication. Such advertisement and evidence of publication shall be recorded with the survey and depositions.

Section 315.31 | Record of plat.
 

Any county engineer making surveys under sections 315.28 to 315.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall record the plat and certificate of such surveys in a book kept by him for that purpose, together with the depositions, notices, advertisements, and the evidence in relation to such depositions, notices, and advertisements, and shall, on demand, deliver the original plat and certificate of the survey to the person at whose instance such survey was made or depositions taken.

Section 315.32 | Plat or certified copy and deposition evidence - exception.
 

The plat and certificate made by any county engineer, or the depositions taken by such engineer, as provided by sections 315.28 to 315.31, inclusive, of the Revised Code, or a certified copy of such plat, certificate, or depositions from the engineer's office shall be evidence in any court in any cause in which the title of any land to which they apply is affected, but the depositions of witnesses so recorded shall only be received when such witnesses are dead or outside the jurisdiction of the court.

Section 315.33 | Fees of engineer.
 

County engineers, chainmen, and markers shall receive a fee for services rendered under sections 315.28 to 315.32 of the Revised Code, but the fee shall not exceed the actual cost incurred by the county for labor, equipment, and materials. Witnesses shall receive the same fees and mileage as allowed by section 2335.06 of the Revised Code. All such expenses shall be paid by the persons applying for a survey and depositions, who may recover, from the persons owning the adjoining lands that are benefited by the perpetuation of such testimony, their equal proportion of the expense incurred in obtaining such evidence.

Section 315.34 | Establishment of surveyed or agreed corners.
 

Within his own county, a county engineer may call before him, examine on oath, and take in writing the testimony of any witnesses for the establishment of any surveyed or agreed corner of the lands of any person who applies to him, after notice has been given to the person holding adjoining lands, as required in taking testimony for the establishment of old or decayed corners of land by section 315.30 of the Revised Code. The taking of testimony under this section shall be under the same regulations and restrictions and in the same manner as provided by sections 315.28 to 315.33, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Testimony taken under this section shall have the same effect in law as evidence taken to perpetuate old or decayed corners under such sections. The engineer, other officers, and witnesses are entitled to demand and receive from the persons interested in the surveys and establishment of corners, under this section, the same fees as are allowed by section 315.33 of the Revised Code for similar services.

Section 315.35 | Dilapidated records may be transcribed.
 

The county engineer may transcribe any dilapidated maps, records of plats, and field notes of surveys in his office if such work is directed by the board of county commissioners, into suitable books, provided by him for that purpose and paid for from the county treasury, which shall be placed among the records in his office, made a part of such records, and have the same validity and legal effect as other similar records in his office.

Section 315.36 | Copies of transcribed records as evidence.
 

After dilapidated maps, records of plats, and field notes or surveys have been transcribed and placed among the other records, as provided in section 315.35 of the Revised Code, copies thereof, certified by the county engineer, shall be received in evidence in the same manner, and shall have the same force and effect as is given to copies of other records of maps, records of plats, and field notes of surveys.

Section 315.37 | Report of trespasses on public lands.
 

When it comes to the knowledge of a county engineer that a trespass has been committed on any canal lands or on any lands appropriated by congress for the support of schools or for ministerial purposes of this state, he shall immediately ascertain the extent of such trespass, the names of the trespassers and of witnesses to such trespass, and report them to the prosecuting attorney. For such services the engineer shall be paid such compensation as the court allows from fines collected for such trespass and from the proceeds of sales of timber seized by the prosecuting attorney.

Section 315.39 | Damages for interference.
 

Any person violating section 2921.31 of the Revised Code shall be liable for all damages sustained by any other person by the hindrance of the county engineer or his deputy, and all expenses and costs that accrue in consequence of the attendance of the sheriff, who, upon the call of such engineer or deputy, shall accompany and protect him.