Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 955
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 955.26 (2026)

Rabies quarantine

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
March 20, 2026
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly
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(A) Whenever, in the judgment of the director of health, any city or general health district board of health, or persons performing the duties of a board of health, rabies is prevalent, the director of health, the board, or those persons shall declare a quarantine of all dogs in the health district or in a part of it. During the quarantine, the owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall keep it confined on the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, or in a pound, kennel, or other suitable place, at the expense of the owner, keeper, or harborer, except that a dog may be permitted to leave the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer if it is under leash or under the control of a responsible person. The quarantine order shall be considered an emergency and need not be published.

(B) When the quarantine has been declared, the director of health, the board, or those persons may require vaccination for rabies of all dogs within the health district or part of it. Proof of rabies vaccination within a satisfactory period shall be demonstrated to the county auditor before any registration is issued under section 955.02 of the Revised Code for any dog that is required to be vaccinated.

(C) The director shall determine appropriate methods of rabies vaccination and satisfactory periods for purposes of quarantines under this section.

(D) When a quarantine of dogs has been declared in any health district or part of a health district, the county dog warden and all other persons having the authority of police officers shall assist the health authorities in enforcing the quarantine order. When rabies vaccination has been declared compulsory in any health district or part of a health district, the dog warden shall assist the health authorities in enforcing the vaccination order.

(E) Notwithstanding this section, a city or general health district board of health may make orders pursuant to sections 3709.20 and 3709.21 of the Revised Code requiring the vaccination of dogs.

(F) No person shall recklessly violate a rabies quarantine order issued under this section.

(G) Whoever violates division (F) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:29 AM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1958–2021 · leading case: D.A.B.E., Inc. v. Toledo-Lucas Cnty. Bd. of Health, 96 Ohio St. 3d 250 (Ohio 2002).
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D.A.B.E., Inc. v. Toledo-Lucas Cnty. Bd. of Health, 96 Ohio St. 3d 250 (Ohio 2002). “R.C. 955.26 allows a city or general health district board of health to quarantine and vaccinate dogs for rabies.”
D.A.B.E., Inc. v. Toledo-Lucas Cty. Bd. of Health, 2002 Ohio 4172 (Ohio 2002). “R.C. 955.26 allows a city or general health district board of health to quarantine and vaccinate dogs for rabies.”
Columbus v. Davis, 2021 Ohio 2114 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 3× “" Appellant contends that the prosecution failed to present evidence of a rabies quarantine order issued under R.C. 955.26. The city concedes as much; accordingly, appellant's convictions in 2019 ERB 71477 for violating R.”
Perkins v. Hattery, Dog Warden, 155 N.E.2d 73 (Ohio Ct. App. 1958). · cites it 2× “An examination of the statutes of Ohio reveals that, in the absence of a rabies quarantine as provided in Section 955.26, Revised Code, a county dog warden is not specifically given any authority, in such capacity, to seize and kill, destroy, or otherwise dispose of, any dogs…”
State v. South, 229 N.E.2d 104 (Ohio Ct. App. 1967). · cites it 2× “[Section 955.26, Revised Code], specific authority is granted to the board and a mandatory obligation devolved upon it to declare the quarantine regulation under consideration and a reading of it is convincing that it was promulgated upon the authority of the foregoing section…”
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