Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2929
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.31 (2026)

Fines for organizations by degree of offense

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
January 1, 2004
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 490 - 124th General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) Regardless of the penalties provided in sections 2929.02, 2929.14 to 2929.18, and 2929.24 to 2929.28 of the Revised Code, an organization convicted of an offense pursuant to section 2901.23 of the Revised Code shall be fined in accordance with this section. The court shall fix the fine as follows:

(1) For aggravated murder, not more than one hundred thousand dollars;

(2) For murder, not more than fifty thousand dollars;

(3) For a felony of the first degree, not more than twenty-five thousand dollars;

(4) For a felony of the second degree, not more than twenty thousand dollars;

(5) For a felony of the third degree, not more than fifteen thousand dollars;

(6) For a felony of the fourth degree, not more than ten thousand dollars;

(7) For a felony of the fifth degree, not more than seventy-five hundred dollars;

(8) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than five thousand dollars;

(9) For a misdemeanor of the second degree, not more than four thousand dollars;

(10) For a misdemeanor of the third degree, not more than three thousand dollars;

(11) For a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, not more than two thousand dollars;

(12) For a minor misdemeanor, not more than one thousand dollars;

(13) For a felony not specifically classified, not more than ten thousand dollars;

(14) For a misdemeanor not specifically classified, not more than two thousand dollars;

(15) For a minor misdemeanor not specifically classified, not more than one thousand dollars.

(B) When an organization is convicted of an offense that is not specifically classified, and the section defining the offense or penalty plainly indicates a purpose to impose the penalty provided for violation upon organizations, then the penalty so provided shall be imposed in lieu of the penalty provided in this section.

(C) When an organization is convicted of an offense that is not specifically classified, and the penalty provided includes a higher fine than the fine that is provided in this section, then the penalty imposed shall be pursuant to the penalty provided for the violation of the section defining the offense.

(D) This section does not prevent the imposition of available civil sanctions against an organization convicted of an offense pursuant to section 2901.23 of the Revised Code, either in addition to or in lieu of a fine imposed pursuant to this section.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1985–2026 · leading case: Willowick Bldg. Dept. v. Shoregate Towers NS, L.L.C., 2024 Ohio 5650 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
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Willowick Bldg. Dept. v. Shoregate Towers NS, L.L.C., 2024 Ohio 5650 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 7× “The court found that the “commentary that follows the statute [R.C. 2929.31] and case law from other districts shows a strong indication that an organization cannot be sentenced to jail.”
Cleveland v. Aeon Fin., L.L.C., 2016 Ohio 4559 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “28 governs the fines a court may impose for misdemeanor offenses, and R.C. 2929.31 increases the amount of the fine if the offender is an organization.”
Cleveland v. S.W. Invests., L.L.C., 2024 Ohio 1271 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “” Since Southwest is an organization, R.C. 2929.31(A)(8) provides for an increased financial penalty of $5,000 for each first-degree misdemeanor.”
State v. Lewis, 2017 Ohio 1195 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). “C- 990371, 2000 WL 376420 (April 14, 2000), *1-2 (holding that a vehicle occupant’s flight on foot from a valid traffic stop gave police probable cause to arrest the occupant for obstructing official business in violation of R.C. 2929.31). {¶ 13} Notably, the drugs at issue were…”
State v. Kilton, 2019 Ohio 87 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “R.C. 2929.31(B). In this case, the jury further found appellant did create a risk of physical harm to a named officer.”
City of Brook Park v. Americargo, Inc., 570 N.E.2d 290 (Ohio Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 2× “This ordinance and statute provide for increased monetary penalties for violation of any ordinance or statute pursuant to R.C. 2929.31 on the basis that an organization cannot be jailed.”
State v. Franklin, 843 N.E.2d 1267 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “03(A)(1)) and one count of obstructing official business (R.C. 2929.31(A)). Both trafficking counts were enhanced because the transactions occurred with 1,000 feet of a school building.”
Smith v. Najjar, 837 N.E.2d 419 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “See R.C. 2929.31. Property owners *211 may bring their objections to the appraisals in this way by arguing that not all the statutory requirements have been met.”
State v. Longhorn World Championship Rodeo, Inc., 483 N.E.2d 196 (Ohio Ct. App. 1985). “21(C)(1), the $5,000 limit becomes applicable when the defendant is an organization such as a corporation, R.C. 2929.31(A)(7). 3 The standard prevents a reversal, for reasons concerning weight of the evidence, of any judgment “supported by some competent, credible evidence going…”
Cleveland v. Shaker Hts. Apts. Owner, L.L.C., 2026 Ohio 449 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 5× “Rather than impose $5,000 on each count as permitted, the trial court imposed $15,000 on one count in 2023-CRB-7888, and $10,000 each on one count in 2023-CRB-7891 and 2023-CRB-7893.”
State v. Gill, 2025 Ohio 2181 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025). “” {¶21} R.C. 2929.31 sets forth the offense of obstructing official business and provides: (A) No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within the public official’s official…”
Cleveland v. Blue Spruce Entities, L.L.C., 2011 Ohio 1932 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “1 See R.C. 2929.31(A)(8); R.C. 2901.23; C.C.O. 367.”
Show all 17 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.31(A) — 4 cases
Willowick Bldg. Dept. v. Shoregate Towers NS, L.L.C., 2024 Ohio 5650 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024). “The court found that the “commentary that follows the statute [R.C. 2929.31] and case law from other districts shows a strong indication that an organization cannot be sentenced to jail.”
State v. Franklin, 843 N.E.2d 1267 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “03(A)(1)) and one count of obstructing official business (R.C. 2929.31(A)). Both trafficking counts were enhanced because the transactions occurred with 1,000 feet of a school building.”
Imperial Valley Props., L.L.C. v. Walker, 2023 Ohio 4390 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
Cleveland v. Shaker Hts. Apts. Owner, L.L.C., 2026 Ohio 449 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026). “Rather than impose $5,000 on each count as permitted, the trial court imposed $15,000 on one count in 2023-CRB-7888, and $10,000 each on one count in 2023-CRB-7891 and 2023-CRB-7893.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.31(A)(12) — 1 case
Cleveland Mun. Court Crim. Div. v. Edgewater Park Manor, L.L.C., 2025 Ohio 5139 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.31(A)(15) — 1 case
State v. Csx Transp., Inc., 744 N.E.2d 1241 (Ohio Ct. App. 2000).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.31(A)(7) — 1 case
State v. Longhorn World Championship Rodeo, Inc., 483 N.E.2d 196 (Ohio Ct. App. 1985). “21(C)(1), the $5,000 limit becomes applicable when the defendant is an organization such as a corporation, R.C. 2929.31(A)(7). 3 The standard prevents a reversal, for reasons concerning weight of the evidence, of any judgment “supported by some competent, credible evidence going…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.31(A)(8) — 3 cases
Cleveland v. S.W. Invests., L.L.C., 2024 Ohio 1271 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024). “” Since Southwest is an organization, R.C. 2929.31(A)(8) provides for an increased financial penalty of $5,000 for each first-degree misdemeanor.”
Cleveland v. Aeon Fin., L.L.C., 2016 Ohio 4559 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “28 governs the fines a court may impose for misdemeanor offenses, and R.C. 2929.31 increases the amount of the fine if the offender is an organization.”
Cleveland v. Blue Spruce Entities, L.L.C., 2011 Ohio 1932 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “1 See R.C. 2929.31(A)(8); R.C. 2901.23; C.C.O. 367.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.31(B) — 1 case
State v. Kilton, 2019 Ohio 87 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “R.C. 2929.31(B). In this case, the jury further found appellant did create a risk of physical harm to a named officer.”
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