Ohios constitution gives municipalities home rule, self-government authority

Published December 20, 2016 - 6:00 p.m. Modified December 20, 2016 - 6:00 p.m.

Q: What exactly does home rule mean for Ohios municipalities?

Q: What is a charter?

Q: When does a municipalitys use of home rule go too far?

Q: Why does home rule matter to me as a resident of an Ohio city or village?

This Law You Can Use consumer legal information column was provided by the Ohio State Bar Association. It was prepared by Philip Hartmann, an attorney in the Columbus office of Frost Brown Todd LLC. Articles appearing in this column are intended to provide broad, general information about the law. It is not intended as legal advice. Before applying this information to a specific legal problem, readers are urged to seek advice from an attorney.

Millersburg mayor, Holmes commissioners partner on housing study to address affordability crisis

Kelly Hoffee seeks county support for $20,000 assessment to identify housing needs and development opportunities across Western Holmes County

People’s Vase collection gets elegant new display at Millersburg Glass Museum

Custom case by New Philadelphia craftsman showcases four rare carnival glass vases made by John Fenton around 1910

Sacred Ground creates endowment with Holmes County Education & Community Foundation

Faith-based nonprofit serving adults with developmental disabilities establishes fund to ensure long-term support and community inclusion

Merry Millersburg weekend brings holiday cheer to Historic Downtown and Victorian House

Nov. 14–15 event features festive window displays, live music, historic characters and open houses celebrating small-town Christmas spirit

THE LATEST

LOCAL

Holmes County-area girls basketball preview: What to expect this winter

Area teams open the season Nov. 21 with new lineups, returning standouts and league-title ambitions across the board.

Pomerene Hospital adds new family care and internal medicine providers

Jodi Swihart, FNP, is now seeing patients in Millersburg; physician assistant Brayden Chaney will join the internal medicine team in early 2026.

Eighth-graders craft creative designs for annual Mini Dream Bedroom Contest

Chestnut Ridge, Mt. Hope and Wise students showcase imagination and detail as judges honor top entries in long-standing tradition

East Holmes seventh-graders earn honors in annual MyPlate poster contest

Students from Wise, Chestnut Ridge and Mt. Hope schools showcase nutrition knowledge through colorful, creative designs displayed in Berlin

Ghost stories return to Loudonville as Mark Sebastian Jordan shares tales of Ohio’s haunted highlands

Storyteller and historian to present ‘Hauntings of the Ohio Highlands’ Nov. 17 at the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum in Loudonville

SPORTS

Week 13 H.S. football playoff preview: Games and players to watch

Area teams battle Nov. 14 in nine regional semifinals

Garaway football extends playoff tradition with dominant win over Crestview

Pirates roll into Division VI Sweet 16 as senior leadership, tough schedule and resilience fuel another deep postseason run

Week 12 playoff football scoreboard

How area teams fared in second round of postseason

Area volleyball players named to District 5 All-Star teams

Hiland’s Addisyn Mast earns District 5 Division VI Player of the Year; Coach Kelly Miller recognized as Coach of the Year

Waynedale volleyball rebuilds into contender under veteran coach

Led by seniors and legendary coach John Finn, the Golden Bears reclaimed district glory — and saw Callie Wolfe join an elite 1,000-kill, 1,000-dig club.

Lady Knights cross country extends state streak to five straight appearances

West Holmes girls earn fifth consecutive trip to the OHSAA state meet, led by a mix of veteran standouts and rising young talent.

Week 12 H.S. football playoff preview: Games and players to watch

Top four seeds in each division get back in action on Nov. 7

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Holmes County Bargain Hunter

LIFE AND LEARNING

Wayne County author offers comfort for those facing 'Blue Christmas'

In Unhappy Holidays: Blessings for a Blue Christmas, Sherah-Leigh Gerber provides reflections and blessings to help readers find hope, faith and peace amid grief and hardship during the holiday season.

Model train fans set for 24th annual Route 30 Express Layout Tour

Ten stops across Wayne County and nearby communities will feature detailed model railroads Nov. 22 in celebration of National Model Train Month.

Students learn kitchen safety and holiday scents with OSU Extension program

Educator Kate Shumaker teaches seventh- and eighth-graders how to create simmer pot fragrances while practicing food safety during the holidays

Holmes County voters approve most local levies in Nov. 4 election

Fire, EMS and township road levies pass easily, while Council on Aging and marijuana measures fail across the county

TOPS Nashville kicks off 26-day ‘Easy as A B C’ healthy eating contest

Group’s Nov. 5 meeting featured tips for mindful eating and holiday balance from TOPS News program

Placing your faith and trust in Jesus

A poem of praise: finding peace, forgiveness and steadfast hope in the name above all names.

COLUMNISTS

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Pomerene Hospital names Jacobs as executive director of human resources

Millersburg resident brings leadership and recruiting experience to new role

Holmes County voters to decide township races, tax levies and local marijuana questions Nov. 4

Ballot includes trustee contests across multiple townships, senior services and road renewal levies, liquor options and nonbinding votes on recreational cannabis facilities in Millersburg

Light Up Sugarcreek, holiday parade set for Dec. 6 as council approves key ordinances

Village officials finalize fire and EMS contracts, employee pay raises and zoning updates while preparing for the annual community celebration.

Sugarcreek-set novel wins national Christian romance award

Author Serena B. Miller honored with 2025 Carol Award for The Heart of Sugarcreek

Millersburg Council reviews downtown projects, annexation updates and holiday plans

Meeting highlights include Merry Millersburg Nov. 14–15, sidewalk and waterline projects, new board appointments and upcoming leaf pickup

Sugarcreek Council receives new AED, updates Maple Street project

Officials review street improvements, pass public defender agreement and advance multiple ordinances on annexation, salaries and township fire contracts.

Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland offering winter heating assistance to local families

Income-eligible households can apply for Ohio’s Winter Crisis Program to prevent disconnection and stay warm during the cold months.

Millersburg Food Run donates $3,600 to Love Center Food Pantry

Annual charity race helps fight food insecurity in Holmes County, funding up to 360,000 pounds of food as local families brace for SNAP benefit pause.

OBITUARIES

Larry Graham

Larry A. Graham, 41, of Holmes County, Ohio went home to be with the Lord, Monday November 3, 2025.

Mervin D Troyer

Mervin D. Troyer, 61, of Fredericksburg, OH, died from injuries sustained in an accident on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Norma Chapman

Norma Jo Chapman, age 97, of Killbuck, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at her home with family at her side.

Scarlett Yutzy

Scarlett Evangeline Yutzy, 1 year-old daughter of Steven R. and Julia (Miller) Yutzy, of Winesburg, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Juleen Wyatt

Elnora Juleen Wyatt, age 92, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2025, at Danbury Senior Living in Millersburg, Ohio.

Marilyn Peebles

Marilyn M. Peebles, 86, of Millersburg, and formerly of Lakeville made her last ride October 28, 2025, to her ranch in the sky.

Ohios constitution gives municipalities home rule, self-government authority

Millersburg mayor, Holmes commissioners partner on housing study to address affordability crisis

People’s Vase collection gets elegant new display at Millersburg Glass Museum

Sacred Ground creates endowment with Holmes County Education & Community Foundation

Merry Millersburg weekend brings holiday cheer to Historic Downtown and Victorian House

THE LATEST

Holmes County-area girls basketball preview: What to expect this winter

Millersburg mayor, Holmes commissioners partner on housing study to address affordability crisis

Pomerene Hospital adds new family care and internal medicine providers

Week 13 H.S. football playoff preview: Games and players to watch

People’s Vase collection gets elegant new display at Millersburg Glass Museum

Garaway football extends playoff tradition with dominant win over Crestview

Ghost stories return to Loudonville as Mark Sebastian Jordan shares tales of Ohio’s haunted highlands

Pomerene Hospital names Jacobs as executive director of human resources

Sacred Ground creates endowment with Holmes County Education & Community Foundation

TOPS Nashville kicks off 26-day ‘Easy as A B C’ healthy eating contest

LOCAL

Holmes County-area girls basketball preview: What to expect this winter

Pomerene Hospital adds new family care and internal medicine providers

Eighth-graders craft creative designs for annual Mini Dream Bedroom Contest

East Holmes seventh-graders earn honors in annual MyPlate poster contest

Ghost stories return to Loudonville as Mark Sebastian Jordan shares tales of Ohio’s haunted highlands

SPORTS

Week 13 H.S. football playoff preview: Games and players to watch

Garaway football extends playoff tradition with dominant win over Crestview

Week 12 playoff football scoreboard

Area volleyball players named to District 5 All-Star teams

Waynedale volleyball rebuilds into contender under veteran coach

Lady Knights cross country extends state streak to five straight appearances

Week 12 H.S. football playoff preview: Games and players to watch

LIFE AND LEARNING

Wayne County author offers comfort for those facing 'Blue Christmas'

Model train fans set for 24th annual Route 30 Express Layout Tour

Students learn kitchen safety and holiday scents with OSU Extension program

Holmes County voters approve most local levies in Nov. 4 election

TOPS Nashville kicks off 26-day ‘Easy as A B C’ healthy eating contest

Placing your faith and trust in Jesus

COLUMNISTS

Donors beware of charities that are not what they seem

Placing your faith and trust in Jesus

Why do I love to write? Because of you

Humbling assignment for one-time child prodigy

OSU Extension offers freezer tips to reduce food waste and save money

I've been to other big cities, but Chicago's still my favorite

How to change the world one person at a time

Column: How to stave off cognitive decline as you age

Adoption explained: Steps, agencies and legal requirements in Ohio

BBB warns of rising debt collection scams targeting Ohio residents

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Pomerene Hospital names Jacobs as executive director of human resources

Holmes County voters to decide township races, tax levies and local marijuana questions Nov. 4

Light Up Sugarcreek, holiday parade set for Dec. 6 as council approves key ordinances

Sugarcreek-set novel wins national Christian romance award

Millersburg Council reviews downtown projects, annexation updates and holiday plans

Sugarcreek Council receives new AED, updates Maple Street project

Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland offering winter heating assistance to local families

Millersburg Food Run donates $3,600 to Love Center Food Pantry

OBITUARIES

Larry Graham

Mervin D Troyer

Norma Chapman

Scarlett Yutzy

Juleen Wyatt

Marilyn Peebles

BUSINESS

Donors beware of charities that are not what they seem

NECIC Staffing expands to Wooster, connecting residents with jobs and support services

Orrville Chamber hires Kayla Myers as new marketing and engagement director

Kids of the Kingdom Dance/Tumbling expands with new Coshocton location

Dean's Jewelry celebrates 60 years of sparkles

Ohios constitution gives municipalities home rule, self-government authority