Ohio lawmakers consider statewide cap on parking ticket late fees, limiting penalties to original fine amount

Bill targets late-fee escalation on municipal parking citations

Ohio lawmakers are weighing legislation that would limit how much drivers can be charged in late fees tied to civil parking tickets, aiming to prevent penalties from growing beyond the original fine. The proposal was introduced in the Ohio House on Jan. 27, 2026, and would create statewide standards governing when late fees may be added and how large they can become.

The measure is sponsored by state Rep. Darnell T. Brewer, a Cleveland Democrat, and has bipartisan backing. It was introduced as House Bill 653 in the 136th General Assembly. As of late January 2026, the bill had been introduced and was awaiting further legislative action, including committee assignment and hearings.

What the proposal would change

Parking enforcement is generally handled locally in Ohio, and late-fee practices can vary widely among municipalities. The bill focuses on the penalty structure that applies after a ticket is issued, rather than the underlying authority of cities to set parking rules and issue citations.

• Establish statewide standards for civil parking ticket late fees, replacing a patchwork of local approaches.
• Extend the minimum grace period before a late fee can apply, moving from a 15-day minimum to a 30-day minimum.
• Cap total late fees per ticket, with the stated policy goal of keeping late-fee totals from exceeding the original ticket amount.
• Limit administrative and collection-related add-on charges that can compound the cost of an unpaid ticket.

The legislation does not eliminate parking enforcement and does not prevent municipalities from issuing parking citations or setting the base fine amounts for violations. Its core effect would be to limit how far the final balance can grow due to late-payment penalties and related fees.

Why the issue is on the agenda now

Across Ohio, local governments rely on parking enforcement to manage turnover, curb illegal parking, and maintain safety near intersections, hydrants, bus stops, and other restricted areas. At the same time, late fees and added charges can become a significant driver of the total amount owed when a ticket is not paid promptly, especially where penalties escalate quickly or where additional administrative or collection fees are imposed.

Recent changes to parking rules and enforcement practices in several Ohio cities have renewed attention on ticketing policies, including how quickly a ticket becomes delinquent and what happens after that point. The bill’s supporters describe it as a consumer-protection approach intended to prevent outsized penalty growth while preserving local enforcement authority.

What happens next

House Bill 653 must be assigned to a committee before it can receive testimony, amendments, and a committee vote. If it advances, the legislation would need to pass the Ohio House and Ohio Senate and then be signed by the governor to become law. Until then, cities and other local authorities will continue operating under existing local rules for late fees and related administrative charges.

Drivers who receive a civil parking ticket would still be required to pay or contest it, but the proposal would limit the extent of late-payment penalties and certain add-on fees.