Is the Ohio Do Not Call registry free?

Consumer registration is free in every state. Telemarketers pay $250 for access to the list. You never pay to add your number.

Does the Ohio DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. The Ohio state list also covers mobile numbers. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Telemarketing text messages are restricted under the TCPA whether or not your number is on the DNC list. Registration on the DNC list adds an additional layer of liability for any telemarketer who texts you.

What is the penalty for calling a registered Ohio number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. Ohio state penalty: $25,000 per call — and you can sue the telemarketer directly under the state private right of action.

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). In Ohio you have a private right of action — you can sue the telemarketer in small claims or state court.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line. Ohio state registration is also permanent.

Home / States / Ohio

Ohio Telecom Compliance Guide

Q: Does Ohio have its own Do Not Call list?

Yes. Ohio maintains its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Ohio Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Section, Telemarketing Registration and Enforcement Unit administers it. Telemarketers calling into Ohio must scrub against both the state list and the federal registry.

Q: How do I register my phone number on the Ohio Do Not Call list?

Register at https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Business/Services-for-Business/Business-Guide/Telemarketing-and-Do-Not-Call-Registry. Registration is administered by Ohio Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Section, Telemarketing Registration and Enforcement Unit and is permanent. You should also register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov for full protection.

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2023

Mini-TCPA State — High Risk

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$25,000

Registration

Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

Ohio Do Not Call Registry

How to register, what it covers, and how to enforce — 2026

Ohio runs its own DNC registry

Ohio maintains its own Do Not Call list separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Consumers should register on both lists for full protection.

Telemarketers calling into Ohio must scrub their lists against the state registry AND the federal registry before each campaign. Scrubbing only the federal list is not enough.

How to register your number

Ohio State Registry

Ohio Do Not Call Registry

Administered by Ohio Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Section, Telemarketing Registration and Enforcement Unit

https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Business/Services-for-Business/Business-Guide/Telemarketing-and-Do-Not-Call-Registry →

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Restricted under TCPA

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

Ohio state list — details

Telemarketer access fee$250

Scrub frequencyMust scrub against the federal NDNC Registry at least every 31 days. Numbers registered in the federal registry are automatically added to Ohio's registry.

Consumer registrationPermanent

Governing statuteORC § 4719 (Telephone Solicitors)

Ohio's DNC registry operates through the federal NDNC — numbers registered federally are automatically on Ohio's list (ORC Ann. 109.87). Telemarketer registration fee: $250 annually (certified check or money order payable to "Ohio Attorney General"). A $50,000 surety bond is required. Registration must be renewed annually. The Telemarketing Registration and Enforcement Unit (30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215) administers the program. Registration fees fund the Telemarketing Fraud Enforcement Fund. Consumer registration is free via donotcall.gov or 1-888-382-1222. Penalties: $1,000-$25,000 per violation (civil, by AG); violation of the Solicitor's Act is a 5th degree felony. Permitted hours: 8am-9pm.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
Sue the telemarketer in Ohio. Ohio has a private right of action — you can recover $25,000 per call without proving actual damages. Federal TCPA adds another $500–$1,500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent Ohio DNC enforcement actions

Michael D. Lansky LLC d/b/a Avid Telecom

telecommunications

May 2023

Ohio AG Yost co-led (with AZ, IN, NC) the 49-state Avid Telecom lawsuit — first action of the Anti-Robocall Task Force. Avid transmitted 24.5 billion calls despite receiving 329 traceback notifications. Ohio pioneered the VoIP-provider-as-target enforcement model. AG Yost created dedicated Robocall Enforcement Unit — first state to share unwanted call data with FTC. Model being replicated nationwide.

Source →

John Spiller II / Jakob Mears / Rising Eagle Capital Group

insurance

Mar 2023

$244,658,640 settlement

Combined $244.66M monetary judgment against Spiller and Mears for health insurance robocall scheme. Permanent telemarketing ban. When Spiller violated the ban using aliases (Every1 Telecom, ATX Telco), faced contempt charges and ultimately $600K penalty + lifetime telecom industry ban. Ohio led the multistate coalition (with AR, IN, MI, NC, ND, TX). Message: court-ordered bans are enforced, and attempting to circumvent them triggers criminal contempt.

Source →

Aaron Michael Jones / Roy M. Cox Jr. / Stacey Yim (22 defendants)

automotive

Jul 2022

OH AG Yost filed suit identifying 22 defendants in massive auto warranty robocall scheme generating 77 million calls PER DAY. Coordinated with FCC, which issued 8 cease-and-desist letters to VoIP providers. Generated 1,600+ complaints to Ohio AG alone. FCC simultaneously proposed $299M fine. Demonstrates Ohio's Robocall Enforcement Unit model — dedicated team combining complaint tracking, investigation, and prosecution.

Source →

Dish Network LLC

telecommunications

Dec 2020

$210,000,000 settlement

Ohio co-plaintiff in $210M Dish Network settlement — largest telemarketing penalty in DOJ history. Dish liable for 66+ million violations through authorized dealers. Key Ohio principle: vicarious liability for vendor telemarketing is aggressively enforced. If your contractors make illegal calls selling your product, you own the consequences.

Source →

Calling a registered Ohio number costs telemarketers: $25,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA. Consumers can sue directly — no state agency involvement required.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and Ohio residents. If you operate outbound calls into Ohio, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

Ohio DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in CaliforniaCA DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in GeorgiaGA DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK

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This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →