Village Government Structure

What is a Village #

Ohio has two types of municipal corporations: cities and villages. A city has a population of 5,000 or more. A village has a population under 5,000. ORC 703.01

Villages are incorporated under ORC Chapter 707 by petition to the county commissioners.

When a village reaches a population of 5,000, it becomes a city at the next federal census. ORC 703.06

A village with fewer than 150 residents and less than two square miles of territory can face dissolution proceedings. ORC 703.201

Home Rule #

Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution grants municipalities powers of local self-government.

The key distinction is between charter and non-charter municipalities. A charter village adopts its own charter and can deviate from the state statutory plan for its government structure. A non-charter village must follow Title 7 of the Ohio Revised Code.

The vast majority of small villages are non-charter. This manual focuses on non-charter villages operating under the general statutory plan.

Three alternative statutory plans exist under ORC Chapter 705: the commission plan, the manager plan, and the federal plan. Nearly all small villages operate under the general statutory plan rather than these alternatives.

Village Officers #

The officer structure of a non-charter village includes:

• Mayor
• Clerk (or Fiscal Officer, per ORC 733.262)
• Treasurer
• Council (six members, elected at large, four-year terms per ORC 731.09)
• Solicitor
• President Pro Tempore of Council (elected from among council members per ORC 731.10)

Optional positions include:

• Village Administrator (ORC 735.271)
• Board of Trustees of Public Affairs

In many small villages, the mayor, clerk, and council are the entire government.

Terms, Elections, and Vacancies #

The mayor is elected at the general election in odd-numbered years and serves a four-year term. ORC 733.24

Council consists of six members elected at large for four-year staggered terms. ORC 731.09. A village may reduce its council to five members by vote of the electorate. ORC 731.09(B)

The clerk is elected to a four-year term. A village may replace the elected clerk position with an appointed Fiscal Officer. ORC 733.262

The treasurer is elected to a four-year term.

Filling Vacancies

When a vacancy occurs on council, council must fill it within 30 days. If council fails to act within that period, the mayor makes the appointment. ORC 731.43

If the president pro tempore becomes mayor due to the death, resignation, or removal of the mayor, the council vacancy created by that succession must also be filled. ORC 731.11

Oath of Office

All officers must take the oath of office prescribed by the Ohio Constitution, Article XV, Section 7. See also ORC 3.23.