Fulton County, Ohio Eviction Risk: Very Low

Fulton County, Ohio eviction laws earns an average eviction-risk score of 2.3/10 (Very Low) across its 11 mapped cities, placing it at rank 68 of 88 Ohio counties, meaning 67 counties are riskier and only 20 are more landlord-friendly. For investors and landlords, that composite number translates to a market where tenant stability, low rent burden, and manageable court exposure combine to create relatively predictable operating conditions. Average rent runs $863 per month against an average rent-to-income burden of 21.4%, a figure that suggests most renters are not financially stretched, which tends to keep nonpayment events infrequent.

The intra-county range, 1.9 to 2.6, is narrow by Ohio standards, so landlords generally find consistent conditions regardless of which community they operate in. That said, the gap between the lowest- and highest-risk city still represents a meaningful difference in tenant profile and collection risk, and any serious acquisition decision warrants a city-level look before committing capital.

The cities inside Fulton County

Fayette carries the highest risk score in the county at 2.6/10. With a population of 4,098, it is the third-largest city in Fulton County, and landlords there should underwrite with slightly more cushion for potential collection delays than the county average would suggest. Metamora comes in second at 2.1/10 (population 597), and Delta registers 2.4/10 with 3,137 residents. Ridgeville Corners also scores 2.1/10. None of these scores are alarming in absolute terms, but they represent the higher end of local exposure and merit tighter tenant screening protocols.

On the lower-risk end, Archbold scores 2.4/10 and is the second-largest city in the county at 4,397 residents, making it one of the more landlord-favorable combinations of scale and stability in Fulton County. Ai registers 1.9/10. Wauseon, the county seat and largest city at 7,505 residents, scores 2.3/10, right at the county average. Risk here is genuinely hyper-local: a few miles separates a 3.1 from a 3.9, and portfolio decisions built solely on the county composite will miss that variation.

State-level laws that apply here

Ohio eviction law, codified primarily under ORC § 5321 (Landlords and Tenants), gives Fulton County landlords a framework that is comparatively efficient by Midwest standards. For nonpayment of rent or a material lease violation, the required notice period is just 3 days under ORC § 1923.04. Holdover month-to-month tenancies require 30 days notice under ORC § 5321.17, while a fixed-term lease ending on its own terms requires no additional notice under ORC § 1923.02. The Ohio eviction process from notice to uncontested judgment typically runs 21 to 45 days; contested matters can extend to 45 to 120 days. Understanding Ohio eviction costs is equally important for underwriting: court filing fees range from $160 to $250, sheriff lockout fees run $50 to $175, and attorney fees add $500 to $3,000 depending on case complexity.

Ohio imposes no statewide rent control and does not require just cause for non-renewal, and state law preempts local governments from enacting rent caps. Source-of-income is not a protected class under Ohio state fair housing rules. Ohio security deposit limits impose no statutory cap on the amount charged, though interest requirements apply to deposits held beyond one year. These factors collectively keep Fulton County operating conditions straightforward for landlords who follow proper procedure.

With a poverty rate of 9.8% and a renter share of 29.3% across the county, the tenant pool in Fulton County is relatively stable, review the city grid above to identify which of the 11 communities best match your risk tolerance and target return profile.