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EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026  
TITLE FEES WILL INCREASE FROM  $15.00 to $18.00
As a result of House bill 96 The $3.00 increase is allocated specifically to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Fund

Land Bank

What does a County Land Bank do? 

  • County land banks facilitate the return of vacant, abandoned and tax-foreclosed properties to productive economic use. 
  • County land banks take ownership of properties and clear title, assemble parcels for housing development
  • Manage properties until redevelopment can begin.
  • This process may take months or, more likely, years.

How many Counties in Ohio have Land Banks?

  • 72 of the 88 Counties

What are the benefits of county Land Bank?

  • Stabilize housing base by eliminating uninhabitable or functionally obsolete housing from the market
  • Redevelopment of Communities through housing revitalization and new builds

How have County Land Banks Benefited Communities in Ohio?

  • Over 5,000 property renovations throughout Ohio
  • Over 33,000 demolitions by Ohio County Land Banks
  • Ohio County Land Banks have invested over $4 Billion into their local communities

What happens to the unpaid delinquent taxes when a Land Bank acquires a property?

  • All delinquent taxes are waived
  • No taxes will accrue while the Land Bank holds the property, allowing for a clean title transfer upon sale

How does a County Land Bank acquire property?

  • Tax Foreclosed and abandoned properties, if they have not sold at Sheriff’s sale may be directly transferred
  • Lending institutions transfer low-value properties to the Land Bank
  • HUD may transfer low-value properties to the county Land Banks
  • Private Individuals and probate estates will transfer low value and worthless properties to the Land bank

Who controls a County Land Bank?

  • 5 Member board including the following
    • County Treasurer
    • 2 County Commissioners
    • The Mayor of the largest municipality in the county
    • 1 at large position for someone with real estate experience

How is a County Land Bank funded?

  • 5% of Delinquent Tax Collection
  • Grants
  • Loans
  • Sales of property held by the Land Bank

What are the benefits of county Land Bank?

  • Stabilize housing base by eliminating uninhabitable or functionally obsolete housing from the market
  • Redevelopment of Communities through housing revitalization and new builds

In Hocking County Specifically, what is the goal for the properties acquired by the Land Bank?

  • To develop affordable housing for members of the community

Won’t the Properties be turned into AirBnB’s?

  • All residential properties acquired by the Hocking County Land Bank will be deed restricted to prevent nightly rentals

Who Can Purchase the Properties Owned by the Land Bank?

  • For revitalized houses held by the Land Bank
    • Any private individual that demonstrates the following:
      • A need for single family housing
      • Financial affordability
      • Agrees to maintain the owner occupied status
    • Priority will be granted on a needs basis
  • Vacant Land held by the Land Bank
    • A private individual that is committed to building an owner occupied single family house
    • A company that is committed to building affordable single family homes

Who Cannot Purchase Properties Held by the Land Bank?

  • Any member of the Hocking County Land Bank Board
  • The most recent previous owner of the property