Rainwater laws / Ohio
Is it legal to collect rainwater in Ohio?
Checked at Ohio's own statutes and agencies, November 2026. Not legal advice.
Allowed; plumbing rules for indoor use
Yes. Garden rain barrels aren't regulated; a cistern that supplies drinking water is a private water system with its own rules.
What the rules say
- OAC 3701-28-12: a new drinking-water cistern must hold at least 2,500 gallons per dwelling, with a roof washer and the first 10 gallons diverted.
- OAC 3701-28-15: continuous disinfection and filtration, and a permit from the local board of health.
Before you buy a big tank
State law is only one layer. Cities and counties can set their own rules, especially for tanks plumbed into the house, and an HOA can limit where a barrel sits. Drinking rainwater needs treatment everywhere. For a barrel or two on a downspout for the garden, the state rule above is usually the one that matters.
Where the numbers come from
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