Ohio

From the 50 State Visitor Guide :

O.R.C. Ann. 2019§§2950.01 through 2950.99.  AWA Compliant

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

3 days for initial reg. of residence or “temporary domicile” if in state for more than 3 days. §2950.04.  Those employed for more than 3 days or more than 14 aggregate days in a calendar year shall register w/in 3 days.Ohio SOR interprets “day” as beginning when you spend a night.

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

Residence restriction: 1,000 ft. from school, preschool, or child day-care premises.  §2950.034. Per Ohio SOR office, applies only to certain types of resident registrants. Does not apply to visitors not yet required to register. Procedure available for removal from registry after departure.

Duration & updates:

10 years to life. Updates:T1 – annual, T2 – 6 mo.T3 – 3 mo.§2950.15.

Most recent visit: May 2023

Thomas Edison's birthplace in Milan, Ohio

Ohio’s rules for visiting registrants are a mixed bag.  The bad news is that you only get three consecutive days in-state before you will be required to register.  However, according to the state SOR office they interpret “day” as beginning when you spend a night (so the first partial day when you enter doesn’t count), and supposedly it’s the fourth day that trigger’s registration.  Still, it’s a pretty short period of time.

After that the news gets better.  There appears to be no limit on return visits per month or year, so technically you could leave Ohio for a day or two, return and start the clock all over again.  Also, although certain types of resident registrants face a 1,000 ft. residence restriction from schools, preschools, or child day-care premises (§2950.034), according to the SOR office this does not apply to visitors not yet required to register.  Lastly, if you do end up on Ohio’s registry there is a procedure available for removal after departure.

When I visited Ohio in May 2023 I was in no danger of testing any of these rules.  I was on the return leg of a tour of the Northeast, entering the state from Pennsylvania on I-90.  It was late in the afternoon so my first priority was to find a campsite, which I did at Findley State Park.  It was a Friday night and therefore a little on the crowded side but I easily found an available site.  Also, nice bath houses with acceptable showers.  

As I noted above, this partial day would not count toward my stay in Ohio.  And since my plan was to be on my way to Indiana by the end of the next day I’d be in no danger of breaching the three day limit.  

One thing about me is I am an early riser, whether travelling or at home.  As a consequence I am liable to show up someplace before it opens for the day.  However, I decided that wasn’t a big deal for my first stop of that day, Thomas Edison’s birthplace in Milan, OH.  

Being from New Jersey, I learned growing up that Edison did all of his important work in MY state.  Therefore what additional light could be shed on him, I reasoned, by visiting a place where he did none of his work at all?  I was satisfied to take a picture of his parents’ house and the statue of him holding a light bulb and a record player in front of Milan’s city hall and move on.

My next intended stop was Seneca Caverns but here too I arrived over an hour before it was to open for the day.  I decided to keep going and substitute Indian Trail Caverns – only to discover that it was permanently closed and converted to a bat preservation reserve.  Well that’s great for the bats but a disappointment for me!  

National Museum of the Great Lakes, view from the bridge of the cargo ship, 

with downtown Toledo in the background

However, my next stop turned out the other way around.  I wasn’t expecting much from the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, but it turned out to be one of the high points of my entire trip.  Not only is it a great museum, they also have an entire cargo ship tied up to the dock next door that you are invited to tour all of (for a small additional fee) including the cargo holds!  Also a tugboat!  

In addition, this museum is but Phase 1 of a gigantic riverfront “Glass City Metropark” currently under development.  Phase 2 which includes an ice skating pond, kayak rentals, Market Hall and campground (note for future reference) was scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend not long after my visit.  By the time you’re reading this it’s all open for business!

My last Ohio stop of the afternoon was another disappointment.  Sauder Village is a completely fake German Village that charges $25 admission just so you can go spend even more money on trinkets and imitation German food.  No thanks!  I skipped it and moved on to Indiana.