Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2917
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11 (2026)

Disorderly conduct

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Effective:
March 22, 2019
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 96 - 132nd General Assembly
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(A) No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another by doing any of the following:

(1) Engaging in fighting, in threatening harm to persons or property, or in violent or turbulent behavior;

(2) Making unreasonable noise or an offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display or communicating unwarranted and grossly abusive language to any person;

(3) Insulting, taunting, or challenging another, under circumstances in which that conduct is likely to provoke a violent response;

(4) Hindering or preventing the movement of persons on a public street, road, highway, or right-of-way, or to, from, within, or upon public or private property, so as to interfere with the rights of others, and by any act that serves no lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender;

(5) Creating a condition that is physically offensive to persons or that presents a risk of physical harm to persons or property, by any act that serves no lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender.

(B) No person, while voluntarily intoxicated, shall do either of the following:

(1) In a public place or in the presence of two or more persons, engage in conduct likely to be offensive or to cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to persons of ordinary sensibilities, which conduct the offender, if the offender were not intoxicated, should know is likely to have that effect on others;

(2) Engage in conduct or create a condition that presents a risk of physical harm to the offender or another, or to the property of another.

(C) Violation of any statute or ordinance of which an element is operating a motor vehicle, locomotive, watercraft, aircraft, or other vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any drug of abuse, is not a violation of division (B) of this section.

(D) If a person appears to an ordinary observer to be intoxicated, it is probable cause to believe that person is voluntarily intoxicated for purposes of division (B) of this section.

(E)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of disorderly conduct.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (E)(3) and (4) of this section, disorderly conduct is a minor misdemeanor.

(3) Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree if any of the following applies:

(a) The offender persists in disorderly conduct after reasonable warning or request to desist.

(b) The offense is committed in the vicinity of a school or in a school safety zone.

(c) The offense is committed in the presence of any law enforcement officer, firefighter, rescuer, medical person, emergency medical services person, or other authorized person who is engaged in the person's duties at the scene of a fire, accident, disaster, riot, or emergency of any kind.

(d) The offense is committed in the presence of any emergency facility person who is engaged in the person's duties in an emergency facility.

(4) If an offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more violations of division (B) of this section, a violation of division (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Emergency medical services person" is the singular of "emergency medical services personnel" as defined in section 2133.21 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Emergency facility person" is the singular of "emergency facility personnel" as defined in section 2909.04 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Emergency facility" has the same meaning as in section 2909.04 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Committed in the vicinity of a school" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 390 cases (113 in the last 5 years), 1965–2026 · leading case: In re R.H., 2017-Ohio-7852, 97 N.E.3d 1256.
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In re R.H., 2017-Ohio-7852, 97 N.E.3d 1256. · cites it 50× “02, because it incorporates Ohio’s disorderly conduct statute, R.C. 2917.11, which he argues is unconstitutional.”
City of Shaker Heights v. Mosely, 865 N.E.2d 859 (Ohio 2007). · cites it 18× “{¶ 7} “Disorderly conduct” is defined in various ways under R.C. 2917.11. 1 The court of appeals found Mosely guilty of disorderly conduct under R.”
State v. Harvey, 2020-Ohio-329. · cites it 11× “2-87-11, 1988 WL 72400 , *3 (June 30, 1988) (holding “that simply because a police officer must routinely expect to encounter the language or conduct proscribed in R.C. 2917.11 in the course of performing his job, such conduct or language is not actionable as to him under that…”
State v. Carrick, 2012-Ohio-608, 131 Ohio 22. · cites it 13× “{¶ 10} Carrick was charged with and convicted of disorderly conduct in violation of R.C. 2917.11(A)(2). He appealed to the Ninth District Court of Appeals.”
State v. Wood, 679 N.E.2d 735 (Ohio Ct. App. 11th Dist. 1996). · cites it 15× “Wood, appeals from a decision of the Portage County Municipal Court, finding him guilty of disorderly conduct, in violation of R.C. 2917.11. The charge was based on appellant’s actions on November 15,1994, on the first floor of the Kent State University (“KSU”) Library, wherein,…”
State v. Winters, 2022-Ohio-2061. · cites it 19× “The State, on the other hand, claims that Winters was not specifically charged with the (A)(3) section but with R.C. 2917.11(A) generally, because she was actually charged with R.”
State v. Florence, 2014-Ohio-2337. · cites it 15× “In Doans, the defendant was charged with disorderly conduct for violating R.C. 2917.11. The complaint failed to cite any subsection.”
State v. Hill, 2015-Ohio-5166. · cites it 22× “-12- {¶ 38} The complaint, prepared by Officer Miller, alleged that Hill violated “R.C. 2917.11” by “making unreasonable noise and offensively course utterance after being warned to cease and desist the behavior.”
State v. Compton, 794 N.E.2d 771 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2003). · cites it 27× “In convicting Compton of disorderly conduct, the trial court referred to both subsections in its comments from the bench, but on the judgment itself referred only to the general disorderly-conduct statute, R.C. 2917.11.”
State v. Broughton, 553 N.E.2d 1380 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1988). · cites it 16× “Even if we were to assume arguen-do that voluntary intoxication is an essential element of an R.C. 2917.11 (B)(1) offense, appellant would nevertheless be guilty on the record before us for two reasons: (1) because circumstantial evidence can be used to prove appellant’s…”
Michael Wood v. Chad Eubanks, 25 F.4th 414 (6th Cir. 2022). · cites it 5× “Page 6 disorderly conduct, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2917.11 (A)(2), and obstructing official business, § 2921.”
In re S.J., 2023-Ohio-3441, 225 N.E.3d 368. · cites it 10× “{¶49} Though the complaint for disorderly conduct listed every section of R.C. 2917.11, the juvenile court based S.”
Show all 390 citing cases →
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A): 54 cases
In re R.H., 2017-Ohio-7852, 97 N.E.3d 1256. “02, because it incorporates Ohio’s disorderly conduct statute, R.C. 2917.11, which he argues is unconstitutional.”
D.D. v. James Scheeler, 645 F. App'x 418 (6th Cir. 2016).
Ronnie Harris v. United States, 422 F.3d 322 (6th Cir. 2005).
City of Shaker Heights v. Mosely, 865 N.E.2d 859 (Ohio 2007). “{¶ 7} “Disorderly conduct” is defined in various ways under R.C. 2917.11. 1 The court of appeals found Mosely guilty of disorderly conduct under R.”
In re S.J., 2023-Ohio-3441, 225 N.E.3d 368. “{¶49} Though the complaint for disorderly conduct listed every section of R.C. 2917.11, the juvenile court based S.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(1): 110 cases
In re R.H., 2017-Ohio-7852, 97 N.E.3d 1256. “02, because it incorporates Ohio’s disorderly conduct statute, R.C. 2917.11, which he argues is unconstitutional.”
City of Shaker Heights v. Mosely, 865 N.E.2d 859 (Ohio 2007). “{¶ 7} “Disorderly conduct” is defined in various ways under R.C. 2917.11. 1 The court of appeals found Mosely guilty of disorderly conduct under R.”
State v. Harvey, 2020-Ohio-329. “2-87-11, 1988 WL 72400 , *3 (June 30, 1988) (holding “that simply because a police officer must routinely expect to encounter the language or conduct proscribed in R.C. 2917.11 in the course of performing his job, such conduct or language is not actionable as to him under that…”
State v. Houston, 2017-Ohio-1122.
State v. Cobb, 795 N.E.2d 73 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2003).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(1)(E)(3): 1 case
In re G.F., 2024-Ohio-5366.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(2): 73 cases
State v. Harvey, 2020-Ohio-329. “2-87-11, 1988 WL 72400 , *3 (June 30, 1988) (holding “that simply because a police officer must routinely expect to encounter the language or conduct proscribed in R.C. 2917.11 in the course of performing his job, such conduct or language is not actionable as to him under that…”
In re R.H., 2017-Ohio-7852, 97 N.E.3d 1256. “02, because it incorporates Ohio’s disorderly conduct statute, R.C. 2917.11, which he argues is unconstitutional.”
State v. Carrick, 2012-Ohio-608, 131 Ohio 22. “{¶ 10} Carrick was charged with and convicted of disorderly conduct in violation of R.C. 2917.11(A)(2). He appealed to the Ninth District Court of Appeals.”
State v. Miller, 673 N.E.2d 934 (Ohio Ct. App. 4th Dist. 1996).
State v. Hill, 2015-Ohio-5166. “-12- {¶ 38} The complaint, prepared by Officer Miller, alleged that Hill violated “R.C. 2917.11” by “making unreasonable noise and offensively course utterance after being warned to cease and desist the behavior.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(2)(E)(3): 3 cases
State v. Thurman, 2016-Ohio-3002.
In re T.W., 2012-Ohio-5938.
State v. Larrick, 2023-Ohio-4663.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(3): 10 cases
State v. Winters, 2022-Ohio-2061. “The State, on the other hand, claims that Winters was not specifically charged with the (A)(3) section but with R.C. 2917.11(A) generally, because she was actually charged with R.”
State v. Compton, 794 N.E.2d 771 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2003). “In convicting Compton of disorderly conduct, the trial court referred to both subsections in its comments from the bench, but on the judgment itself referred only to the general disorderly-conduct statute, R.C. 2917.11.”
State v. Schils, 2020-Ohio-2883.
State v. Wilson, 656 N.E.2d 954 (Ohio Ct. App. 11th Dist. 1995).
State v. Pierce, 2011-Ohio-5353.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(4): 12 cases
In re S.J., 2023-Ohio-3441, 225 N.E.3d 368. “{¶49} Though the complaint for disorderly conduct listed every section of R.C. 2917.11, the juvenile court based S.”
Ramzi Halasah v. City of Kirtland, 574 F. App'x 624 (6th Cir. 2014).
State v. Florence, 2014-Ohio-167.
State v. Geary, 2016-Ohio-7001.
State v. Henry, 783 N.E.2d 609 (Ohio Ct. App. 7th Dist. 2002).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(4)(5): 1 case
State v. Norris, 2020-Ohio-764.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(5): 33 cases
State v. Compton, 794 N.E.2d 771 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2003). “In convicting Compton of disorderly conduct, the trial court referred to both subsections in its comments from the bench, but on the judgment itself referred only to the general disorderly-conduct statute, R.C. 2917.11.”
State v. Cox, 2016-Ohio-3250.
State v. Lampela, 2016-Ohio-8007, 67 N.E.3d 836.
State v. Delvallie, 2021-Ohio-1809, 173 N.E.3d 544.
State v. Meyer, 573 N.E.2d 1098 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 1988).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(A)(E)(3): 1 case
Bonar v. Zusack, 2025-Ohio-1822.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(B): 13 cases
State v. Broughton, 553 N.E.2d 1380 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1988). “Even if we were to assume arguen-do that voluntary intoxication is an essential element of an R.C. 2917.11 (B)(1) offense, appellant would nevertheless be guilty on the record before us for two reasons: (1) because circumstantial evidence can be used to prove appellant’s…”
State v. Mays, 661 N.E.2d 791 (Ohio Ct. App. 2d Dist. 1995).
State v. Hill, 2015-Ohio-5166. “-12- {¶ 38} The complaint, prepared by Officer Miller, alleged that Hill violated “R.C. 2917.11” by “making unreasonable noise and offensively course utterance after being warned to cease and desist the behavior.”
State v. Saunders, 2018-Ohio-2624.
State v. Petrou, 469 N.E.2d 974 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 1984).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(B)(1): 16 cases
State v. Broughton, 553 N.E.2d 1380 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1988). “Even if we were to assume arguen-do that voluntary intoxication is an essential element of an R.C. 2917.11 (B)(1) offense, appellant would nevertheless be guilty on the record before us for two reasons: (1) because circumstantial evidence can be used to prove appellant’s…”
State v. Hill, 2015-Ohio-5166. “-12- {¶ 38} The complaint, prepared by Officer Miller, alleged that Hill violated “R.C. 2917.11” by “making unreasonable noise and offensively course utterance after being warned to cease and desist the behavior.”
State v. Florence, 2014-Ohio-2337. “In Doans, the defendant was charged with disorderly conduct for violating R.C. 2917.11. The complaint failed to cite any subsection.”
State v. Butler, 578 N.E.2d 485 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 1989).
Fairborn v. Semler, 629 N.E.2d 481 (Ohio Ct. App. 2d Dist. 1993).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(B)(1)(E): 1 case
State v. Hill, 2015-Ohio-5166. “-12- {¶ 38} The complaint, prepared by Officer Miller, alleged that Hill violated “R.C. 2917.11” by “making unreasonable noise and offensively course utterance after being warned to cease and desist the behavior.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(B)(1)(e): 1 case
State v. Hill, 2015-Ohio-5166. “-12- {¶ 38} The complaint, prepared by Officer Miller, alleged that Hill violated “R.C. 2917.11” by “making unreasonable noise and offensively course utterance after being warned to cease and desist the behavior.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(B)(2): 23 cases
State v. Graves, 879 N.E.2d 239 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 2007).
Cultrona v. Nationwide Life Ins., 936 F. Supp. 2d 832 (N.D. Ohio 2013).
State v. Parks, 564 N.E.2d 747 (Ohio Ct. App. 2d Dist. 1990).
Knapp v. Gurish, 541 N.E.2d 121 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 1989).
State ex rel. Adkins v. Cantrell, 2023-Ohio-1323, 223 N.E.3d 459.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(D): 1 case
State v. Broughton, 553 N.E.2d 1380 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1988). “Even if we were to assume arguen-do that voluntary intoxication is an essential element of an R.C. 2917.11 (B)(1) offense, appellant would nevertheless be guilty on the record before us for two reasons: (1) because circumstantial evidence can be used to prove appellant’s…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E): 13 cases
State v. Reynolds, 495 N.E.2d 971 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 1985).
State v. Florence, 2014-Ohio-2337. “In Doans, the defendant was charged with disorderly conduct for violating R.C. 2917.11. The complaint failed to cite any subsection.”
State v. Burgess, 607 N.E.2d 918 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1992).
Bratenahl v. Eldridge, 2021-Ohio-1083.
City of Beachwood v. Sims, 647 N.E.2d 821 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 1994).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E)(1): 2 cases
City of Shaker Heights v. Mosely, 865 N.E.2d 859 (Ohio 2007). “{¶ 7} “Disorderly conduct” is defined in various ways under R.C. 2917.11. 1 The court of appeals found Mosely guilty of disorderly conduct under R.”
State v. A.K.H., 2023-Ohio-220, 206 N.E.3d 817.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E)(1)(A): 1 case
State v. Stone, 2012-Ohio-5488.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E)(2): 12 cases
City of Shaker Heights v. Mosely, 865 N.E.2d 859 (Ohio 2007). “{¶ 7} “Disorderly conduct” is defined in various ways under R.C. 2917.11. 1 The court of appeals found Mosely guilty of disorderly conduct under R.”
Kinkus v. Vill. of Yorkville, 289 F. App'x 86 (6th Cir. 2008).
State v. Florence, 2014-Ohio-2337. “In Doans, the defendant was charged with disorderly conduct for violating R.C. 2917.11. The complaint failed to cite any subsection.”
State v. Blasdell, 801 N.E.2d 853 (Ohio Ct. App. 7th Dist. 2003).
State v. Carthon, 2012-Ohio-196, 968 N.E.2d 576.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E)(3): 13 cases
State v. Florence, 2014-Ohio-2337. “In Doans, the defendant was charged with disorderly conduct for violating R.C. 2917.11. The complaint failed to cite any subsection.”
Ronnie Harris v. United States, 422 F.3d 322 (6th Cir. 2005).
State v. Winters, 2022-Ohio-2061. “The State, on the other hand, claims that Winters was not specifically charged with the (A)(3) section but with R.C. 2917.11(A) generally, because she was actually charged with R.”
State v. A.K.H., 2023-Ohio-220, 206 N.E.3d 817.
Thorne v. Steubenville Police Officer, 463 F. Supp. 2d 760 (S.D. Ohio 2006).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E)(3)(C): 1 case
State v. Conley, 2012-Ohio-4249.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E)(3)(a): 28 cases
State v. Winters, 2022-Ohio-2061. “The State, on the other hand, claims that Winters was not specifically charged with the (A)(3) section but with R.C. 2917.11(A) generally, because she was actually charged with R.”
State v. Harvey, 2020-Ohio-329. “2-87-11, 1988 WL 72400 , *3 (June 30, 1988) (holding “that simply because a police officer must routinely expect to encounter the language or conduct proscribed in R.C. 2917.11 in the course of performing his job, such conduct or language is not actionable as to him under that…”
City of Shaker Heights v. Mosely, 865 N.E.2d 859 (Ohio 2007). “{¶ 7} “Disorderly conduct” is defined in various ways under R.C. 2917.11. 1 The court of appeals found Mosely guilty of disorderly conduct under R.”
In re S.W., 2011-Ohio-5291.
State v. Florence, 2014-Ohio-2337. “In Doans, the defendant was charged with disorderly conduct for violating R.C. 2917.11. The complaint failed to cite any subsection.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E)(3)(b): 1 case
In re G.F., 2024-Ohio-5366.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.11(E)(3)(c): 4 cases
State v. Conley, 2012-Ohio-4249.
State v. Jones, 2016-Ohio-2777.
State v. Starr, 2026-Ohio-587.
State v. Carter, 2011-Ohio-522.
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