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Ohio

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 Enforcement Case Law Legislation

REI Wholesaling Telemarketing Compliance in Ohio

Real estate investor cold calling and SMS compliance in Ohio

Guide last reviewed: January 2025

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Mini-TCPA State — ORC § 4719 (Telephone Solicitors)

Ohio imposes stricter consent and calling requirements than federal TCPA.REI Wholesaling companies operating here face $25,000 per-violation penalties.

Ohio REI Wholesaling Overview

Ohio is a MODERATE-RISK state for REI wholesalers. The $25,000 per-call civil forfeiture for No-Call list violations makes DNC scrubbing absolutely critical — a single campaign to unscrubbed Ohio numbers can create catastrophic exposure. The Sunday noon start catches operators who begin campaigns at 9 AM on Sundays. The 2-second call abandonment rule means your dialer must have an agent ready almost instantly. Licensed RE agents should NOT assume their license exempts them from TSSA for cold calling — the exemption is narrow (listed properties and inquiry follow-ups only). The practical path: register with AG, post bond, manual dial non-DNC numbers within calling hours, never abandon calls, and provide 3-day rescission rights for any deal.

Penalty/Violation

$25,000

Willful

$25,000

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Private Suit

Allowed

Compliance Checklist

✓Register with the Ohio Attorney General ($200/year + $25,000 surety bond) before making telemarketing calls,Scrub against Ohio No-Call list AND federal National DNC Registry before every campaign,Calling hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday; NOON – 9:00 PM on Sunday,Identify yourself and your company at the start of each call,Manual dialing to non-DNC numbers is the viable cold calling method,Agent must be available within 2 seconds of called party answering — no call abandonment,Obtain prior express written consent before any automated dialing, texting, or AI voice outreach,Written confirmation of any sale or agreement within 3 business days,Consumer has 3-day right of rescission for telephone-solicited sales,Honor all opt-out requests — add to internal DNC within 30 days,EBR exemption: past sellers with transaction in last 18 months for manual calls only,Licensed RE agents have TSSA registration exemption for listed-property calls — does NOT cover cold calling homeowners,One-to-one consent required for automated SMS/text outreach under FCC 2025 rule,FSBOs from MLS do not establish an EBR,Maintain call records and consent documentation

What Gets Companies Sued

✗Top violations for REI in Ohio: (1) Not registering with the AG and posting $25,000 bond; (2) Calling Ohio No-Call list numbers ($25,000 per call penalty); (3) Calling before noon on Sunday; (4) Not having an agent available within 2 seconds of answer (call abandonment); (5) Failing to provide 3-day rescission right for phone-solicited deals; (6) Using auto-dialers or text blasts without written consent; (7) Assuming RE license exemption covers cold calling — it only covers listed properties.

Special Exemptions

EBR exemption for past sellers within 18 months. B2B exemption for commercial property calls. Licensed real estate agents exempt from TSSA registration for listed-property calls only — does NOT extend to cold calling property owners for off-market deals. No state ATDS definition broader than federal. $25,000 civil forfeiture per No-Call list violation is among the highest state penalties.

Key State Rules

Mini-TCPAYes

RegistrationRequired

Class ActionsAllowed

Consent Requirements→Registration Details→DNC List→

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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 →