Council shifts rental‑registry strategy toward a ‘local agent in charge’ ordinance

Council Member Nick Bankston told the committee his office has shifted from pursuing a fee‑based rental registry toward a requirement that property owners designate a local "agent in charge" who is physically located in Franklin County or an adjacent approved county and who must provide contact information for emergency and enforcement purposes.

Bankston said the move was driven by legal constraints and operational difficulties identified by the city attorney’s office: state law requires county auditor‑maintained rental registries and limits how municipalities can use registration fees, and city staff would face considerable administrative burdens harmonizing multiple lists. "We are proposing now to enact a city ordinance requiring property owners to designate a local agent in charge as a requirement of operating rental property in Columbus," Bankston said.

City Attorney representative explained that state law generally deems auditor‑provided registry information sufficient for municipalities and that fees must generally have a clear nexus to the service provided (fee vs. tax distinction). The attorney said that while cities can use programmatic fees tied to operations, they face limits if the goal is to generate general revenue; punitive enforcement also raises constitutional considerations.

Bankston said his office will continue engagement with landlords, tenant advocates and housing stakeholders and will not bring legislation forward until they can ensure enforceability and compliance with state law and relevant litigation outcomes (he cited pending Cleveland Heights litigation that could influence the approach). No ordinance was introduced at the hearing.

What’s next: Bankston’s office intends stakeholder engagement over coming months and said it expects to have legislation ready for discussion in 2025 once legal and operational questions are resolved.