Ohio Real Estate Law, Rules, and Licensing
The regulatory frame
Ohio real estate licensing lives in Revised Code Chapter 4735, administered by the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing within the Department of Commerce, with the Ohio Real Estate Commission setting policy and hearing discipline. Licensing requires being at least 18, holding a high school diploma or equivalent, completing the required pre-licensing course hours, passing a background check and the state exam, and attaching to a licensed broker. A salesperson may be paid only by the employing broker - never directly by a buyer, seller, or lender - and may not operate independently.
Trust funds, records, and ethics
Earnest money and other client funds go into the broker's trust account; commingling with operating funds and conversion are among the fastest routes to discipline. Brokers must supervise affiliated licensees and keep transaction records available for inspection. Continuing education runs on a multi-year renewal cycle and includes dedicated hours in Ohio law and in the Canons of Ethics, which govern advertising, honesty, and dealings with the public.
Fair housing and practice rules
Ohio's fair housing protections under the Ohio Civil Rights Act mirror the federal protected classes and reach brokerage, rental, and advertising. Advertising must identify the brokerage, unlicensed assistants may not perform licensed acts or be paid referral fees, and licensees may not practice law or hold themselves out beyond their license.
Traps
Watch for: paying a referral fee to an unlicensed friend or contractor (prohibited); performing licensed activity on a lapsed license; a salesperson negotiating directly for compensation; and assuming an unlicensed assistant may host an open house unsupervised.
Rule of thumb
When a question asks "may the licensee...", first identify who holds the license - the broker - and then ask whether written authority, disclosure, and proper handling of funds are all present.