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Columbus, Ohio Rent Receipt Law

Columbus landlords must give a written receipt for every rent payment and security deposit, within four business days for cash or any payment with no automatic receipt.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Make a Columbus, Ohio rent receipt ↓
When a receipt is requiredEvery rent payment and every security deposit: a written receipt at the time the payment is received. For cash, or any other payment that does not produce an automatic written receipt, within 4 business days.
The lawColumbus City Code § 4551.05 (Ord. 0496-2021)
Landlord recordsThe ordinance sets no separate record-keeping rule.

What to Put on the Receipt

The ordinance does not list required contents. A receipt that shows the date, the amount, the rent period, the property address, the tenant's name and the landlord's or agent's name and signature covers what tenants, courts and employers usually ask for.

Details

If rent or the deposit is paid through a third-party online portal or service, the tenant being able to get a written receipt from that portal counts as the landlord providing one (§ 4551.05(c)).

The duty is on the "operator" of the rental. It does not apply to operators of permanent supportive housing (§ 4551.05(b)).

Enacted by Ordinance 0496-2021, passed by Columbus City Council on 8 March 2021.

If the Landlord Doesn't Comply

Failure to provide a rent receipt is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, and a strict liability offense (§ 4551.05(e)–(f)).

Checked against the ordinance text in October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; state law and your lease can add to it. Read the ordinance or ask a local tenant organization or lawyer about your situation.

Columbus, Ohio Rent Receipt — Fill in the Details

Business details (optional)

Printed under your business name. VAT and GST receipts usually need your address and registration number. The tax number is never put in the QR code.

Keeps the name, address, contact, tax number, logo and currency in this browser (localStorage) for your next receipt, of any type. Nothing is uploaded.

Downloading the same receipt again keeps this number; once you change the receipt, it moves to the next one. Next time, it starts after the last number you downloaded on this device.

Rent Receipt Details

Items

Discount, a second tax (e.g. CGST + SGST), prices with tax included

For prices quoted with VAT or GST in them: the tax is worked out of the total, not added on top.

The discount comes off the subtotal before tax, and both taxes are charged on (or, with prices that include tax, worked out of) the discounted amount.

Scanning it shows the receipt's details on a phone. It is a convenience, not proof the receipt is genuine. How it works

Choose a design

Automatic is US Letter for USD and CAD, A4 for other currencies.

🔒 Nothing is uploaded — your receipt is generated entirely in your browser.

What each check is based on

For receipts you issue for your own business or property. Never create a receipt on behalf of a business you don't own, or for a payment that didn't happen — see our Terms.

Columbus, Ohio Rent Receipt FAQ

Does a landlord have to give a rent receipt in Columbus, Ohio?

Columbus landlords must give a written receipt for every rent payment and security deposit, within four business days for cash or any payment with no automatic receipt.

Does Ohio state law require rent receipts?

Ohio has no statewide rent receipt law, but Columbus requires a receipt for every rent payment and Cincinnati requires one once a tenant has paid a security deposit.

Other Cities

Cincinnati · All of Ohio

All rent receipt laws by state