Chapter 3731 | Hotels

Section
Section 3731.01 \| Hotel definitions. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this chapter: (1) "Hotel" means a transient hotel, extended stay hotel, or residential hotel. "Hotel" includes any structure consisting of one or more buildings containing any combination of more than five guestrooms that are each approved by the building code official having jurisdiction and the state fire marshal as meeting the requirements for transient sleeping rooms or extended stay temporary residence dwelling units, or as having features of such sleeping rooms and dwelling units within the same room, and such structure is specifically constructed, kept, used, maintained, advertised, and held out to the public to be a place where transient sleeping accommodations or temporary residence is offered for pay to persons, but such structure does not otherwise meet the definition of a transient hotel or an extended stay hotel as defined in this section. "Hotel" does not include agricultural labor camps, apartment houses, apartments or other similar places of permanent personal residence, lodging houses, rooming houses, or hospital or college dormitories. (2) "Transient hotel" means any structure consisting of one or more buildings, with more than five sleeping rooms, that is specifically constructed, kept, used, maintained, advertised, or held out to the public to be a place where sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to transient guests for a period of thirty days or less, including, but not limited to, such a structure denoted as a hotel, motel, motor hotel, lodge, motor lodge, bed and breakfast, or inn. (3) "Extended stay hotel" means any structure consisting of one or more buildings, with more than five dwelling units, and to which all of the following apply: (a) The dwelling units in the structure are specifically constructed, kept, used, maintained, advertised, and held out to the public to be a place where temporary residence is offered for pay to persons. (b) The structure is approved pursuant to a valid certificate of occupancy issued by the building official having jurisdiction as having dwelling units that have both of the following types of features: (i) The required dwelling unit features for non-transient residence purposes in accordance with the residential group R-2 use and occupancy classification adopted by the board of building standards pursuant to section 3781.10 of the Revised Code, or any subsequent classification established by the board that is substantially similar to that classification; (ii) All of the transient residential occupancy features of a transient hotel in accordance with the residential group R-1 use and occupancy classification adopted by the board pursuant to that section, or any subsequent classification established by the board that is substantially similar to that classification. (c) The valid certificate of occupancy indicates the specific rooms within the structure that can be used as dwelling units. (d) The structure is approved by the state fire marshal for extended stay temporary residence purposes. (4) "Residential hotel" means any structure or structures consisting of one or more buildings, with more than five dwelling units, that are specifically constructed and approved through a valid certificate of occupancy issued by the building official having jurisdiction, as having both dwelling unit features for non-transient residence purposes and all of the transient residential occupancy features of a transient hotel in accordance with the residential group R-1 use and occupancy classification adopted by the board of building standards pursuant to Chapter 3781. of the Revised Code, and that are kept, used, maintained, advertised, operated as, or held out to the public to be a place where non-transient dwelling units are offered for pay to persons for a minimum stay of more than thirty days. (5) "Temporary residence" means a dwelling unit accommodation room within a hotel that is used by its occupants but is not used as the permanent or principal residence of its occupants. (6) "Transient" means not more than thirty days. (7) "Dwelling unit" means an accommodation room within a hotel that contains independent provisions for living, eating, cooking, sleeping, and sanitation. (8) "SRO facility" means a facility with more than five sleeping rooms that is kept, used, maintained, advertised, or held out to the public as a place where sleeping rooms are offered on a single room occupancy (SRO) basis and that is intended for use as a primary residence for residential guests for a period of more than thirty days. "SRO facility" does not include agricultural labor camps, apartment houses, lodging houses, rooming houses, or hospital or college dormitories. (9) "Single room occupancy (SRO) basis" means one occupant per room. (B) This chapter does not apply to apartment buildings and other structures in which all of the units are residential premises.
Section 3731.02 \| Fire marshal rules and enforcement - building code standards for SRO facilities. Effective: September 16, 2014 Latest Legislation: House Bill 486 - 130th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) The state fire marshal shall make such rules as are necessary to carry out this chapter, which shall include, but are not limited to, rules establishing requirements to renew a license issued under this chapter and fees for licensure and renewal and for inspections of hotels. Except as provided in division (G) of section 3731.12 of the Revised Code, the state fire marshal and the assistant state fire marshals shall enforce this chapter. (B) Except as otherwise provided in this division and divisions (C) and (D) of this section, the board of building standards shall adopt, pursuant to section 3781.10 of the Revised Code, rules that specify that the building code standards for SRO facilities shall be use group R-2. Any facility operating prior to October 16, 1996, in the nature of an SRO facility that met the building code standards for an SRO facility prior to that date, whether previously licensed as a hotel or not, and after October 16, 1996, licensed as an SRO facility under section 3731.03 of the Revised Code, shall be permitted under the rules to have a building code standard of either use group R-1 or use group R-2 if the facility meets the requirements for those use groups as specified in the Ohio building code adopted pursuant to section 3781.10 of the Revised Code. The requirements of this division apply to an SRO facility that holds a license as an SRO facility on September 12, 2008, unless any of the following events occur on or after September 12, 2008: (1) The owner of the SRO facility constructs or alters the facility. (2) The owner of the SRO facility surrenders the license issued to that facility. (3) The owner of the SRO facility changes the use or occupancy of that facility. (4) The license issued to that SRO facility under this chapter is revoked or is not renewed. (C) If any of the events described in divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section occur, the owner of the structure shall comply with division (D) of this section to obtain a new license to operate as an SRO facility. (D) Beginning on September 12, 2008, the state fire marshal shall not issue a new license to operate a facility as an SRO facility, and shall not renew such a license issued under this division, unless the SRO facility is constructed providing individual sleeping rooms for each guest; has, on a per-room or a communal basis within each building to be licensed as an SRO facility, permanent provisions for living, eating, cooking, and sanitation; and is constructed in accordance with the requirements specified for SRO facilities and is approved by the building official having jurisdiction over that facility to be an SRO facility. An SRO facility subject to this division shall only operate with, and shall properly maintain, individual sleeping rooms for each guest and shall only operate with, and shall properly maintain, on a per-room or communal basis, permanent provisions available to all guests for living, eating, cooking, and sanitation. (E) The state fire marshal may, pursuant to division (A) of this section, adopt rules establishing a fire code and sanitary standards compliance incentive program for persons required to procure a license for a hotel under section 3731.03 of the Revised Code. The rules may include provisions for the creation of a "Safe Stay Hotel" designation by the state fire marshal, the standards a licensed hotel must meet to achieve and maintain that designation, the procedures the state fire marshal shall use to publish and maintain a registry of hotels receiving that designation, and any monetary incentives offered by the state fire marshal to encourage a licensed hotel to achieve and maintain that designation. At a minimum, no hotel may be designated as a "Safe Stay Hotel" or maintain such a designation unless it meets the fire code and sanitary compliance standards established pursuant to this section for a continuous period of at least twenty-four months. Nothing in this division shall be construed to limit the power of this state, the department of commerce, the state fire marshal, or any other political subdivision of the state to administer and enforce any other sections of this chapter or any other applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Nothing in this division shall be construed to require the state fire marshal to designate a hotel as a "Safe Stay Hotel" or require the state fire marshal to award a monetary incentive to a hotel in any manner that is inconsistent or in conflict with the rules adopted under this section or any other applicable laws, rules, or regulations.
Section 3731.03 \| License required for hotel or SRO facility. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Every person in the business of conducting a hotel or an SRO facility shall procure, in accordance with the requirements specified in this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant to it, a license for each hotel or SRO facility conducted or proposed to be conducted. (B) No hotel or SRO facility shall be maintained, conducted, or advertised without a license. No person shall advertise, conduct, maintain, or operate any structure as a hotel or as an SRO facility without a license, and no person shall operate such a structure that is not equipped in the manner and conditions as required under this chapter. No person shall advertise, conduct, maintain, or operate a licensed hotel or licensed SRO facility in a manner that is inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter or any rules adopted pursuant to it. (C)(1) A structure licensed as an extended stay hotel on the effective date of this amendment may maintain that license by continuing to satisfy the requirements that were applicable to that extended stay hotel at the time the license was issued, unless any of the following events occur regarding that extended stay hotel: (a) The owner of the extended stay hotel constructs or alters the hotel. (b) The owner of the extended stay hotel surrenders the license issued to that hotel. (c) The owner of the extended stay hotel changes the use or occupancy of that hotel. (d) The license issued to that extended stay hotel under this chapter is revoked or is not renewed. (2) If any of the events described in divisions (C)(1)(a) to (d) of this section occur, the owner of the structure shall comply with division (C)(3) of this section to obtain a new license to operate as an extended stay hotel. (3) Beginning on the effective date of this amendment, the state fire marshal shall not issue a new license to operate a facility as an extended stay hotel, and shall not renew such a license issued under division (C)(3) of this section, unless the facility satisfies the requirements to be an extended stay hotel as specified in division (A)(3) of section 3731.01 of the Revised Code. (D) All licenses shall expire on the last day of December of each year and be renewed in accordance with the requirements for renewal established in rules adopted by the state fire marshal pursuant to division (A) of section 3731.02 of the Revised Code. (E) A person who has received a license, upon the sale or disposition of the hotel or SRO facility or its removal to a new location, may, upon obtaining consent of the state fire marshal, have the license transferred. No license shall be transferred without both an inspection conducted by and the consent of the state fire marshal, and the state fire marshal shall not unreasonably withhold consent. (F) A license to maintain and operate a hotel or an SRO facility shall not be issued to the keeper, owner, or lessee of any hotel or SRO facility where accommodations for assignation purposes are furnished, or to any keeper, owner, or lessee who has been convicted of keeping a place in violation of the law relating to houses of assignation or places of public nuisance. (G)(1) No person licensed to maintain and operate a hotel or SRO facility shall also maintain and operate an agricultural labor camp, apartment house, apartment, lodging house, rooming house, or hospital or college dormitory in the same structure as is located the licensed hotel or SRO facility, unless the agricultural labor camp, apartment house, apartment, lodging house, rooming house, or hospital or college dormitory has been constructed as, and been approved by the building official having jurisdiction as being, a separate building within the hotel or SRO facility structure in accordance with the requirements specified in the state nonresidential building code adopted pursuant to section 3781.10 of the Revised Code or is separated in a manner that satisfies the requirements for occupancy separation specified in that code. (2) All hotel and SRO facility uses shall continue in accordance with their approval under the license issued by the state fire marshal unless a change in use or occupancy has been approved by the building official having jurisdiction over the hotel or SRO facility and the license has been revised by the state fire marshal. (H) If an extended stay hotel license is revoked by the state fire marshal in accordance with section 3731.06 of the Revised Code, the owner of that structure shall not operate that structure in accordance with the use and occupancy classification for which the structure was approved or in accordance with the license issued under this chapter by the state fire marshal and shall not open that structure for use by the public until and unless the state fire marshal determines, in accordance with the requirements specified in the state nonresidential building code adopted pursuant to section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and the state fire code adopted pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code, that it is safe for the structure to be operated. If, after the license is revoked, the owner wishes to operate that structure as a hotel, the owner shall comply with division (D) of section 3731.06 of the Revised Code. (I) A license to maintain and operate an SRO facility shall permit the facility to offer rooms for thirty days or less if less than fifty per cent of its rooms are occupied for a period of thirty days or less.
Section 3731.031 \| Hotel or SRO facility license renewal. Effective: April 6, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 509 - 134th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) On or before the first day of December of each year, the holder of a hotel or SRO license shall submit a renewal application as prescribed by the state fire marshal with the appropriate renewal fee. (B) The renewal fee for each hotel or SRO facility license shall be as follows: (a) For a hotel or SRO facility containing at least six but less than twenty-six rooms, twenty-five dollars; (b) For a hotel or SRO facility containing at least twenty-six but less than fifty-one rooms, fifty dollars; (c) For a hotel or SRO facility containing at least fifty-one but less than seventy-six rooms, seventy-five dollars; (d) For a hotel containing seventy-six or more rooms, one hundred dollars. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 3:51 PM
Section 3731.04 \| Types of accommodations offered by hotels. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Transient hotels may offer extended stay temporary residence guest accommodations within any dwelling units or transient sleeping room with dwelling unit features within the structure if such units or sleeping rooms are specifically constructed and approved as also being dwelling units with provisions for living, eating, cooking, sanitation, and sleeping. A transient or extended stay guestroom shall be approved through a valid certificate of occupancy issued by the building official having jurisdiction. The certificate shall indicate the specific guestrooms within the structure that can be used as dwelling units and such dwelling units shall be approved by the state fire marshal for extended stay temporary residence purposes. A transient hotel also may allow a guest to stay in a transient sleeping room for a continuous period of two hundred seventy days or less if the transient hotel satisfies the requirements specified in section 3731.041 of the Revised Code. (B) Extended stay hotels may offer transient guest accommodations for less than thirty days within any dwelling units or other rooms within the structure if such dwelling units or rooms are specifically constructed and approved as also being transient sleeping rooms. Such transient sleeping rooms shall be approved, through a valid certificate of occupancy issued by the building official having jurisdiction, that indicates the specific rooms within the structure that can be used as transient sleeping rooms and such transient sleeping rooms shall be approved by the state fire marshal for transient stay purposes. (C) All of the requirements for the construction and operation of transient hotels and extended stay hotels, including the provisions applicable to transient sleeping rooms and temporary residence dwelling units, apply to hotels as defined in division (A)(1) of section 3731.01 of the Revised Code with a total number of guestrooms, including transient sleeping rooms or extended stay dwelling units, that is greater than five, but do not apply to residential hotels as defined in division (A)(4) of that section.
Section 3731.041 \| Extended stay in transient hotel - fire alarm and detection system. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Notwithstanding division (A)(2) of section 3731.01 of the Revised Code, a transient hotel may allow a guest to stay in a transient sleeping room in the hotel for a continuous period of two hundred seventy days or less if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The transient hotel satisfies the requirements of divisions (C) and (D) of this section, as applicable. (2) Not more than forty per cent of the transient sleeping rooms in the hotel are used for guests to stay for a continuous period of two hundred seventy days or less. (3) The transient hotel designates a group of transient sleeping rooms, by room number, that will be used during the time period a license is valid for guests to stay for a continuous period of two hundred seventy days or less, and submits a list of the rooms the transient hotel so designates to the state fire marshal within thirty days prior to the first day that any guest is allowed to stay in any of those rooms for that extended period of time, and every year with the transient hotel's application to renew the transient hotel's license under section 3731.03 of the Revised Code. (4) A quantity of combustible materials stored or used in the transient sleeping room does not exceed the amount of combustible materials acceptable for a light hazard occupancy area as defined and used by the state fire marshal in rules the state fire marshal adopts pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code. (5) No cooking devices, except for a coffee maker, a microwave oven, or other similar cooking device that is listed as safe for residential use as defined and used by the state fire marshal in rules the state fire marshal adopts pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code and approved by the fire code official having jurisdiction, are stored or used in the transient sleeping room. (B) No transient hotel shall change the designation of the transient sleeping rooms included in the list the transient hotel submits to the state fire marshal pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section during a license year. If the transient hotel submits a list of designated rooms with the transient hotel's application for renewal in accordance with division (A)(3) of this section and does not change the designation of any rooms included on the previous list the transient hotel submitted pursuant to that division, the transient hotel may continue to allow guests to stay in the designated rooms for a continuous period of two hundred seventy days or less without having to obtain approval from the state fire marshal. (C) A transient hotel that permits transient occupancy for a continuous period of two hundred seventy days or less under division (A) of this section shall install, for all portions of the hotel structure that are subject to the requirements of this chapter, and properly maintain, a fire alarm and detection system. The system shall be installed in accordance with requirements specified in the state nonresidential building code established under rules adopted by the board of building standards pursuant to section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and shall be approved by the building official having jurisdiction, and shall be installed in accordance with rules the state fire marshal adopts pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code and shall be approved by the state fire marshal. At a minimum, a fire alarm and detection system required by this section, as described in the state fire code adopted pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code, shall include the annunciation of any activated initiating device at a constantly attended location from which the structure's fire alarm system is capable of being manually activated. All other fire alarm and detection system components shall be installed in accordance with the building and fire code provisions in existence and applicable to such installations at the time the owner receives approval for the plans submitted pursuant to this division. The owner of the transient hotel shall submit plans or drawings, specifications, and data prepared for the installation of that system to the building code official having jurisdiction over the transient hotel and the state fire marshal for approval. If the owner of the transient hotel is required to install a system or, if the owner of a transient hotel had installed a system that was approved by the building official having jurisdiction prior to the effective date of this section and is required to alter that system to comply with this division, the owner shall submit those plans or drawings, specifications, and data prior to installing or altering the system. No owner of a transient hotel who is required to install or alter a fire alarm and detection system shall install or alter that system until the plans are approved pursuant to this division. If the owner of the transient hotel wishes to allow guest stays for a continuous period of two hundred seventy days or less and the owner previously has installed a fire alarm and detection system in that transient hotel that satisfies the requirements of this section, the owner shall submit those plans prior to allowing guests to stay in the rooms designated under division (A)(3) of this section. Such an owner shall not permit guests to stay in transient sleeping rooms for a continuous period of two hundred seventy days or less until the plans or drawings, specifications, and data are approved pursuant to this division. The state fire marshal shall conduct a review of the plans for all of the fire alarm and detection systems installed in accordance with this section concurrently with the review conducted by the building code official having jurisdiction and shall conduct that review in accordance with the provisions for such plan reviews as described in the state fire code adopted in accordance with section 3737.82 of the Revised Code. The state fire marshal shall approve or disapprove any plans submitted under this division within thirty days after the date the plans are submitted. If the state fire marshal determines that such plans and systems meet the requirements of this chapter and the fire code adopted in accordance with section 3737.82 of the Revised Code, the state fire marshal, or a designee of the state fire marshal, shall provide written approval of the submitted plans and, if the system is installed in accordance with the state nonresidential building code and the state fire code, shall sign the certificate of occupancy for the structure incorporating the fire alarm and detection system installed in accordance with this section. Such approvals shall be the exclusive method permitted by the state fire code or any other regulations or codes adopted pursuant to section 535.373 or 737.21 of the Revised Code for approval of the fire alarm and detection system required by this section. (D) A transient hotel that is constructed or altered on or after the effective date of this section and that wishes to allow transient occupancy under division (A) of this section shall do all of the following: (1) Satisfy any electrical system requirements for transient occupancy in the transient sleeping rooms to be used under this section; (2) With respect to the installation and maintenance of electrical power and lighting circuits in the transient sleeping rooms to be used under this section, install and maintain only twenty amp or greater electrical power and lighting circuits that satisfy the requirements of the state nonresidential building code; (3) Comply with all other requirements of this section. (E) The provisions of this section apply to all transient hotels electing to allow the extended stays under division (A) of this section in addition to all other nonresidential building and fire code provisions applicable to these structures. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a hotel in existence on the effective date of this section to install an automatic sprinkler system unless otherwise required by law.
Section 3731.05 \| Inspections by fire marshal - alterations or changes to achieve compliance. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A)(1) The state fire marshal shall inspect, prior to issuance or renewal of a license and at any other time necessary, every hotel and SRO facility which comes within sections 3731.01 to 3731.21 of the Revised Code. (2) The state fire marshal shall have the right of entry into such hotels and SRO facilities at any reasonable time. (3) Whenever, upon inspection, it is found that such business and property is not being conducted, or is not equipped in the manner and condition required by such sections, the rules adopted pursuant to them, or the state fire code adopted pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code, the state fire marshal shall notify the owner, proprietor, or agent in charge of such business, or the owner or agent of the building so occupied, of such violations and of any changes or alterations as may be necessary to effect a complete compliance with sections 3731.01 to 3731.21 of the Revised Code, the rules adopted pursuant to those sections, or the state fire code adopted pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code. (B)(1) Upon receipt of a notice from the state fire marshal under section 3731.06 of the Revised Code or a citation issued by the state fire marshal pursuant to section 3737.41 or 3737.42 of the Revised Code, the owner, proprietor, or agent in charge of such business shall bring the hotel or SRO facility into compliance with the requirements of this chapter, the rules adopted pursuant to it, or the state fire code adopted pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code, by making such alterations or changes as may be necessary to put such building and premises in a condition of complete compliance within a reasonable time set by the state fire marshal after being notified by the state fire marshal. An owner, proprietor, or agent in charge of a hotel or SRO facility may request the state fire marshal to extend the time period the state fire marshal establishes to allow the owner, proprietor, or agent to accomplish such alterations or changes. The state fire marshal may grant that request if the owner, proprietor, or agent is able to demonstrate that a longer time is necessary to make such alterations or changes to put such building and premises in a condition of complete compliance and that such an extension does not conflict with any conditions imposed by the board of building appeals after a hearing conducted under section 3737.43 or 3781.19 of the Revised Code. (2) Any owner, proprietor, or agent, who knowingly fails to bring the hotel or SRO facility into compliance with the requirements of this chapter, the rules adopted pursuant to it, or the state fire code adopted pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code, by not making the necessary alterations or changes specified in the notification by the state fire marshal is in violation of this section. (C) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the state fire marshal to take any action permitted under sections 3737.41 to 3737.51 of the Revised Code against a hotel or SRO facility in addition to or instead of taking action against the hotel or SRO facility, or the license issued to the hotel or SRO facility under this chapter.
Section 3731.06 \| Suspension or revocation of license upon notice and hearing - appeal. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Upon notice and hearing, the state fire marshal may suspend or revoke any license or impose a fine against an owner, proprietor, or agent of a hotel or SRO facility licensed under this chapter for violation of sections 3731.01 to 3731.21 of the Revised Code, the rules adopted pursuant to those sections, or the state fire code adopted pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code. The state fire marshal shall impose fines in accordance with the requirements specified in division (E) of this section. The state fire marshal shall not impose a fine, and such suspension or revocation shall not take place, until the state fire marshal first notifies such licensee in writing, calling specific attention to the infractions and until, pursuant to section 3731.05 of the Revised Code, a reasonable time and opportunity is given to reform and correct the matter complained of. Except as provided in division (E) of this section, if such notice proves unavailing for the correction of such matter, the state fire marshal shall then fix a time and place for hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. Upon the conclusion of such hearing the state fire marshal may suspend or revoke the license in question, impose a fine against an owner, proprietor, or agent of a hotel or SRO facility licensed under this chapter, or dismiss the proceedings against such licensee. (B) If the state fire marshal proposes to deny or otherwise refuse to grant a license to any person or to permit a license already issued to be transferred, as provided in section 3731.03 of the Revised Code, or proposes to revoke a license, the party aggrieved by such decision or refusal shall be heard upon the question as to the right of the party aggrieved to such license or to a transfer of the same, which hearing shall be had in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. An appeal may be taken from the action of the state fire marshal in failing to issue said license or permit said transfer in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code. (C) If the state fire marshal suspends a hotel or SRO facility license in accordance with this section and Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the state fire marshal shall suspend that license for a reasonable period of time as may be necessary to allow the owner, proprietor, or agent of the licensed hotel or SRO facility to reform and correct the violation for which the state fire marshal suspended the license, not to exceed one hundred eighty days. The owner, proprietor, or agent of the hotel or SRO facility whose license is suspended shall not operate the facility as a hotel or SRO facility and shall not open that structure for use by the public during the time period that the license is suspended. If, at the expiration of the suspension period the violation has not been reformed or corrected, the license automatically shall be revoked without the taking of any action by the state fire marshal. (D) An operator, proprietor, or agent of a hotel or SRO facility whose license has been revoked by the state fire marshal in accordance with this section and Chapter 119. of the Revised Code may apply for a license in accordance with section 3731.03 of the Revised Code. The state fire marshal shall not issue that operator, proprietor, or agent a new license for a period of one year after the date of revocation, unless the state fire marshal determines that it is appropriate to issue that license at an earlier date. The state fire marshal shall issue that hotel or SRO facility a new license only if the hotel or SRO facility satisfies the applicable requirements for licensure specified in this chapter and in the rules adopted pursuant to it and the operator, proprietor, or agent has corrected the violation for which the state fire marshal revoked the license. (E) If the state fire marshal elects to impose a fine against an owner, proprietor, or agent of a licensed hotel or SRO facility in accordance with this section and Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the state fire marshal shall not impose that fine until thirty days after the state fire marshal sends the written notice in accordance with division (A) of this section or, if the state fire marshal has given the owner, proprietor, or agent more than thirty days to reform or correct the violation, the expiration of that time period. The state fire marshal may impose a fine against an owner, proprietor, or agent in the following amounts: (1) If, in the opinion of the state fire marshal, the violation is a fire safety issue, two hundred fifty dollars per violation, except that the amount of the fine shall not exceed one thousand dollars per day, regardless of the number of violations. (2) For all other violations of section 3731.08 of the Revised Code, a fine of ten dollars for each violation. The state fire marshal shall deposit all fines the state fire marshal collects under this division into the state fire marshal fund created in section 3737.71 of the Revised Code. (F) If the state fire marshal takes any action against an owner, proprietor, or agent of a licensed hotel or SRO facility pursuant to sections 3737.41 to 3737.51 of the Revised Code, the state fire marshal may take action against the license issued to that hotel or SRO facility that is prompted by or is a result of action taken under sections 3737.41 to 3737.51 of the Revised Code.
Section 3731.07 \| Enforcement actions - citations. Effective: July 1, 1992 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 351 - 119th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF All enforcement actions pursued and citations issued with respect to state fire code violations shall comply with sections 3737.41 to 3737.51 of the Revised Code.
Section 3731.08 \| Failure or refusal to comply. Effective: July 1, 1992 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 351 - 119th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF No person shall fail or refuse to comply with sections 3731.01 to 3731.21 of the Revised Code or the state fire code adopted pursuant to section 3737.82 of the Revised Code. Each day of violation of such sections constitutes a separate offense.
Section 3731.09 \| Sanitary requirements. Effective: April 4, 2007 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 305 - 126th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF In every transient hotel and extended stay hotel and SRO facility in which the person, firm, or corporation operating it is required to have a license, the premises shall be kept in a sanitary condition.
Section 3731.10 \| Plumbing, lighting, and ventilation. Effective: October 16, 1996 Latest Legislation: House Bill 347 - 121st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Every hotel and SRO facility shall have proper plumbing, lighting, and ventilation which shall conform to Chapters 3781. and 3791. of the Revised Code.
Section 3731.11 \| Bathroom and restroom facilities. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF In all political subdivisions of this state where a system of water works and sewerage is maintained for public use, every hotel and SRO facility shall be equipped with a sufficient number of suitable water closets for the accommodation of its guests, which water closets shall be ventilated and connected by proper plumbing with such sewerage system. All lavatories, bathtubs, sinks, drains, closets, and urinals in such hotels and SRO facilities shall be properly constructed and shall be kept clean and well ventilated at all times. Separate compartments shall be furnished for different sexes, each being properly designated.
Section 3731.12 \| Beds and bedding. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Every transient hotel and extended stay hotel shall provide in each sleeping room or extended stay temporary residence a bed, bunk, cot, or other furniture designed for sleeping for each guest occupying such accommodations. Every hotel shall provide each bed, bunk, cot, or other sleeping place for the use of transient or extended stay guests with pillow slips and under and top sheets. All sheets and pillow slips used on any furniture designed for sleeping shall be white or off-white in color and shall be washed daily if requested by a guest, and all such sheets and pillow slips, after being used by one guest, shall be washed before being used by another guest. (B) All extended stay hotels shall provide furniture adequate for living, eating, cooking, sanitation, and sleeping within each dwelling unit. (C) Except as otherwise specified in division (D) of this section, all residential hotels may, but are not required to, provide furniture adequate for living, eating, cooking, sanitation, and sleeping within each dwelling unit. (D) All residential hotels, upon request of the dwelling unit guest, shall provide furniture adequate for living, eating, cooking, sanitation, and sleeping within each dwelling unit. Residential hotels may charge appropriate additional fees for the provision of any furniture pursuant to this section. (E) A hotel shall provide at least one bed of a type that is suitable for use with a portable lift that the guest provides in twenty-five per cent of the total number of rooms that the hotel is required to hold out as accessible sleeping rooms or suites, rounded up to the next whole number. The hotel shall satisfy all of the following requirements with respect to that bed: (1) The space between the underside of at least one of the longest sides of the bed frame and the finished floor shall be at least six and one-half inches, shall extend a depth of at least thirty inches from the edge of that side of the bed toward the center line of the bed, and shall be clear of any obstructions, to provide for clearance for the use of a portable lift. Notwithstanding the requirement that the total depth of space described in this division be clear of any obstructions, the legs of the bed may protrude into that space. (2) The side of the bed described in division (E)(1) of this division shall be separated by at least forty-five inches of space between that side and any obstacle or other major elements of the room, to allow for maneuverability. (F) Within forty-five days after the effective date of this amendment, a hotel shall have at least one room that the hotel holds out as an accessible sleeping room or suite that satisfies the requirements of division (E) of this section. Within five years after the effective date of this amendment, or upon completion of the next major renovation of the hotel, whichever occurs first, a hotel shall completely satisfy the requirements specified in that division. No hotel is required to comply with the requirements of this division or division (E) of this section if a federal standard for the type of bed described in division (E) of this section is adopted and becomes effective. (G) A violation of division (E) or (F) of this section is an unlawful discriminatory practice as described in division (G) of section 4112.02 of the Revised Code. A person who is injured by an alleged violation of division (E) or (F) of this section may file a complaint with the Ohio civil rights commission in accordance with requirements specified in section 4112.05 of the Revised Code. The commission shall follow the procedures specified in that section for complaints filed for violations of division (G) of section 4112.02 of the Revised Code regarding that complaint, except, if the commission determines after a hearing described in division (B) of section 4112.05 of the Revised Code, that a violation has occurred, the commission shall notify the state fire marshal. The state fire marshal, upon receipt of that notice, shall take the action the state fire marshal determines necessary against the owner, keeper, or lessee of that hotel in accordance with sections 3731.05 and 3731.06 of the Revised Code.
Section 3731.13 \| Bedding, floors, and carpets must be kept sanitary. Effective: July 1, 1992 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 351 - 119th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF All bedding used in any hotel must be thoroughly aired, disinfected, and kept clean. No bedding which is infested with vermin or bedbugs shall be used on any bed in any hotel. All floors, carpets, and equipment in hotels, and all walls and ceilings shall be kept in sanitary condition.
Section 3731.14 \| Fumigation. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF When any room has been occupied by a person having an infectious or contagious disease, such room shall not be used again until it is thoroughly fumigated and the bedding disinfected.
Section 3731.15 \| Separate sleeping and bath areas - cooking facilities. Effective: October 16, 1996 Latest Legislation: House Bill 347 - 121st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Each sleeping room of a hotel shall include a separate sleeping and bath area. (B) No sleeping room of a hotel or an SRO facility shall include cooking facilities unless the facilities have been approved by the state, municipal, township, or county building department having jurisdiction over the hotel or SRO facility.
Section 3731.16 \| Posting of hotel rates. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The owner or manager of each hotel shall post in a conspicuous place in each room thereof a card or sign stating the price per day of such room, and shall file with the state fire marshal a diagram or list showing the price of each room in the hotel and no advances shall be made in this schedule, without twenty days' written notice to the state fire marshal. The posted hotel rate shall reflect the maximum actual rate and include the maximum rate per number of actual occupants.
Section 3731.20 \| Gifts to officials prohibited. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The state fire marshal or the state fire marshal's assistants shall accept no gift or gratuity in any form from any hotel or SRO facility under penalty of summary dismissal.
Section 3731.21 \| Enforcement. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) If a health official determines that an owner, keeper, or lessee has not complied with the requirements for sanitation specified in sections 3731.09, 3731.11, 3731.12, and 3731.13 of the Revised Code, the health official shall notify the state fire marshal, and the state fire marshal may take any action permitted under this chapter that the state fire marshal determines is appropriate. (B)(1) Except as limited by division (B)(3) of this section, the state fire marshal, or other person representing the state fire marshal, may file a complaint with the attorney general, the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the hotel or structure that is the subject of the complaint is located, or both. Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section, upon receipt of that complaint, the attorney general or prosecuting attorney may prosecute to termination before the court of common pleas of the county in which the hotel or structure that is the subject of the complaint is located a proper action or proceeding against any person violating this chapter. (2) If the state fire marshal elects to file a complaint with both the attorney general and a county prosecutor, the following circumstances apply, as applicable: (a) If both the attorney general and the county prosecutor determine that the complaint should be prosecuted, the state fire marshal shall do both of the following: (i) Determine which one of those two entities should proceed with the complaint and request that entity to proceed; (ii) Notify the entity not chosen pursuant to division (B)(2)(a)(i) of this section of the state fire marshal's determination and request that entity not to proceed with the complaint. (b) If one of the entities determines, on the merits of the complaint, not to prosecute the complaint, the state fire marshal shall request the other entity not to proceed with the complaint. (c) If one of the entities determines, for reasons other than the merits of the complaint, not to prosecute the complaint, the state fire marshal may request the other entity to proceed with the complaint. (3) If the state fire marshal elects to file a complaint with either the attorney general or a county prosecutor, but not both, the following circumstances apply, as applicable: (a) If the entity with which the state fire marshal files the complaint determines, for reasons other than the merits of the complaint, not to prosecute the complaint, the state fire marshal may file the complaint with the other entity. (b) If the entity with which the state fire marshal files the complaint determines, on the merits of the complaint, not to prosecute the complaint, the state fire marshal shall not file the complaint with the other entity. (C) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the attorney general and prosecuting attorney from collaborating on a prosecution.
Section 3731.99 \| Penalty. Effective: September 12, 2008 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 237 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Whoever violates section 3731.03 or 3731.05 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.