Frequently Asked Questions

Visit our City Council Page to view a listing of all council members and their contact information.

Submit our online form to report an anonymous tip to the Lorain Police Department.

Lorain bulk waste pick up weeks will be on your normal collection day. Bulk is picked up every week. View our schedule on the Garbage and Waste page.

The City is launching a new program called “Ask Lorain”, and it allows residents to ask questions of the City. In response, residents will receive either an instant answer or a short video response from a member of City staff. 

Visit Ask Lorain

All resident individuals 18 years of age and over, non-residents who own rental property or conduct business in Lorain, and resident and non-resident businesses that operate or have an office within the city limits must file a City of Lorain tax return, even if no income is earned or no tax is due.

Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, money order, debit card and credit card. You may pay in person during regular business hours, by mail, on-line www.cityoflorain.org or over the phone.

The lobby hours are from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The Income Tax Department is located at 605 W. 4th St. Lorain, OH 44052.  The Income Tax Department's phone number is (440) 204-1002.  The Income Tax Department's fax number is (440) 204-1006.  The Income Tax Department's email is incometax@cityoflorain.org

Yes.  Retirees and disabled individuals with no taxable income will need to file an exemption certificate and supply the Income Tax Department with a copy of their annual benefits statement.

Yes.  The tax collected by the City of Lorain is based on income and residency status, not on property ownership.

Lorain's tax rate is 2.5%.

Residents receive a credit up to 2.00% for taxes paid to other cities.

The due date matches the Federal tax filing due date for individuals and businesses.

Yes.  Auditors from the Income Tax Department are available to prepare your INDIVIDUAL tax return for you free of charge.  No appointment is necessary.

Yes, on winnings over $600.00.

Yes, you should file your return by the due date whether or not you are able to pay the amount of tax that you owe.  You will receive a bill for unpaid taxes along with the late payment penalty of 15% and .50% (federal rate) per month interest.  You may call (440) 204-1002 to arrange for payment of the charges shown on the bill.

No. The Lorain County property tax office is located in the Adminstration Building in downtown Elyria. Their address is 226 Middle Ave Elyria, OH 44035. Their phone number is (440) 329-5787.

Because income is taxed first where it is earned, if your wage were earned in Lorain you would owe Lorain tax on that basis and would not be due a refund merely because you live in Columbus (or any other municipality).  If your employer's office location is in Lorain but you worked all or part of your time outside Lorain, you would be due a refund of all or part of your Lorain tax which you can claim by filing an individual refund form for days out of the city.  In this situation, the wages you claimed as having earned outside of Lorain would be subject to Columbus (or any other municipality) tax.  An employer's certification is required with all requests for a refund of tax withheld on wages claimed as having been earned outside of Lorain.

Yes.  On the reminder notices sent for the second, third and fourth quarters, there is a box to amend your yearly estimate. 

You  must file as annual tax return by IRS due date each year.  As part of your annual tax return, a declaration of estimate may be required, when your tax liability to the City of Lorain exceeds two hundred dollars ($200.00).  The first estimate should be paid with the annual tax return.  Subsequent payments are due June 15th, Sept. 15th and Dec. 15 of the current year.  If no estimate payments are made, then a penalty will be assessed at the time of filing, on the amount of tax due. 

Yes, if this permanent residence, even if you do not domicile there. Permanent residence is established by where you maintain your driver’s license, voter registration and file your federal and state tax returns.

Lorain resident is taxed upon his/her share of all income earned by partnerships (wherever located) in which he/she is a partner.  However, the credit allowed by the City of Lorain is given for all city income tax that was paid to the city or cities in which the income was earned, whether the partnership as an entity or you as an individual partner paid in tax.

Yes, anyone conducting a business in Lorain must file as annual return and report the net profits or net losses of said business. The leasing of real or tangible property (i.e., income from rental property) that you own is considered a taxable business activity that must be reported.

No, but forms are easily downloaded from the city website www.cityoflorain.org.  Residents can then either mail the forms back with all W2’s, Schedules, front page of Federal 1040 attached along with payment (if applicable).

No, a husband and wife, in any taxable year, may elect to file separate or joint city returns, regardless of their federal or state filing status. However, there is no advantage to filing separate at the local level.

No. Any inquiries regarding Federal or State taxes should be directed to either the IRS or the State of Ohio, respectively.

Stair requirements are width not less than 36 inches.

Maximum riser height 8 1/4 inches, maximum tread depth 9 inches.

Headroom height for doors is 6 feet 8 inches.

Handrail heights are minimum 34 inches and maximum 38 inches.

If located more than 30 inches above grade porches, balconies, or raised floor surfaces a 36 inch guardrail is required with spindles space not more than 4 inches apart.

In accordance with 2013 Residential Code of Ohio and 2017 Ohio Building Code

38 inches

Although City Ordinance No. 5 to 01 Section 1511.08 states that only licensed plumbers are able to be issued permits, if a homeowner occupying that particular residence can show they are competent to install plumbing through questioning or diagramming the system we will issue them a permit.

To become registered as a Plumbing Contractor with the City of Lorain, you must possess a license from the State of Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance. You must then fill out the application packet (PDF), available at the Building Department. Include copy of State license.

Yes, there is a permit required to install hot water tanks. The building permit fee is based on the valuation of the work.

Smoke detectors are required in all bedrooms, hallway outside of bedroom, one on each floor.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors are required in bedroom hallways.

A ground rod wire never has to be larger than a Number 4 copper. It cannot be smaller than Number 4 if it is subject to physical damage.

The size is Number 4 copper or Number 2 aluminum.

The size is Number 2-O copper or Number 4-O aluminum.

The GFCI outlet must be at least 5 feet from the inside wall.

Street lights are not our jurisdiction, call Ohio Edison at 800-633-4766. We only maintain Traffic signals.

PVC conduit must be 18 inches deep.

Yes, but they must be type S so a larger fuse cannot be installed.

They are required in all:

• Baths
• Garages
• Kitchen Counters
• Outbuildings
• Outside
• Pools
• Unfinished basements

It means arc fault circuit interrupter.

It trips on inline arcs such as broken ripcords, loose connections, etc.

The water ground connection has to be within 5 feet of the water service entering the house.

You can pay your water bill at the Utilities Administrative offices at 1106 1st Street. Drugmart will also accept blue bill payments for their customers but please advised that they mail in their payments to the Utilities office. Payments may be made online or by phone at 440-204-2500 option 2. For more information, contact us at 440-204-2501.

Customers who purchase property in Lorain or Amherst township need to come into the billing office located at 1106 First Street, Lorain. A photo identification, proof of purchase (settlement statement, purchase agreement, etc), and a point of inspection from the Building Department is needed when signing up. For more information, contact us at 440-204-2501.

Most high water bills are caused by service line leaks, faucet or toilet leaks, or outside use greater than previous years due to hotter or dryer weather. There is a leak indicator on the head of the meter. Also, taking meter readings over a time period when no water should be used, can indicate a water leak. The meter readings can only move when water has passed through the meter. For more information, contact us at 440-204-2501.

Contact 440-204-2285 to report a water main break during regular work hours (7 am - 3 pm Monday - Friday). 

After hours emergency contact number is 440-204-2280.

The water service is the pipe which begins with the connection to the water main in the city right-of-way and comes into your property. This service line has two valves on it to allow your water to be turned on or off. The first valve, called a curb stop, is generally located near the property line and is normally housed by a cylinder with a cap on it called a curb box or stop box. The other valve is located in your home next to the water meter. Other valves may be near plumbing fixtures in your home such as sinks and toilets. 

Repairs to anything on the service other than the meter, is the responsibility of the property owner. Keeping the valve at the meter in good working condition will assure that you will be able to turn your water off in an emergency, such as a water pipe break. If this valve at the meter does not work in an emergency, call 440-204-2500 so that Utilities Department can shut your water off at the stop box, which requires a stop box key. Only the City of Lorain Utilities Department may turn off the shut off valve.

Due to the development of increasingly more sensitive scientific instruments, it is possible to measure water characteristics in precise and minute quantities that previously went undetected. The Water Quality Report shows measurements in parts per million, which is equivalent to milligrams per liter, and parts per billion, which is the same as micrograms per liter. To put these measurements into perspective, consider that one part per million, in time, would be one second out of 11 1/2 days. One part per billion translates into just one second in nearly 33 years. For more information, contact us at 440-204-2501.

The Water Department's Water Quality Laboratory uses the latest technology to ensure the highest test accuracy at the lowest possible cost. Our testing can determine minuscule quantities of contaminates in water and we are constantly studying ways to improve our testing capabilities. For more information, contact us at 440-204-2501.

We are open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday excluding the following Holidays.

New Years Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Good Friday

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving

Day After Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

If any Holidays fall on a Saturday the Court will be closed on the previous Friday.  If any of the Holidays fall on a Sunday the Court will be closed on the following Monday.  For example in 2017 Veteran's day is on Saturday November 11th therefore the Court is closed on Saturday, November 10th.

Yes, you will be searched to ensure the safety of all people in attendance at Court and at City Hall.

440-204-2580

At the bottom of the login page, click on the reset password link. You will be prompted for a user name - enter your user name. The City will need to have your email address, if we do not have that address, contact the Payroll Department and have them enter your email address. Payroll department can be reached at (440)204.2095. The system will send you an email with a link to reset your password. 

The City's regular hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 Am to 4:30 PM. 

There will allways be one staff member "On-Call" 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days per year.

The proclamation request form can be found at under the Forms section of the Mayor's Office webpage.

Yes, the Mayor performs weddings once a month on a Thursday depending upon his availability. Please call 440.204.2002 to schedule a wedding ceremony.

We do plow all streets in the City; however, we only salt primary and secondary streets.

Contact Republic Services at 440-458-5191

Sidewalks and driveways are the responsibility of the homeowner.

Contact Ohio Edison at 1-888-544-4877 

Download the Lorain listens App from the google Play sore or the Apple Play Store. 

or on line @: https://seeclickfix.com/web_portal/uLBPwPzNaMaJzFJCek99zp35/issues/map?lat=41.46812705168241&lng=-82.17827223225615&max_lat=41.469861523988726&max_lng=-82.17419527455385&min_lat=41.46639253297318&min_lng=-82.18234918995846&zoom=17 

Contact the Street Department at 440-204-2550

Trees located on the tree lawn are the responsibility of the home owner. If trees are touching power lines, contact Ohio Edison at 1-888-544-4877 

The President of Lorain City Council and the eleven council members have two year terms.

Lorain City Council Regular Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month (excepting the month of August).

Yes. Vacant property registration forms are found in the Department of Building, Housing, & Planning. The cost is $125.00 and are valid for 1 year. The registration must be renewed every year. 

A $10,000 cash bond must be filed on any property, regardless of occupancy, in which an active foreclosure case is pending or a judgement of foreclosure has been issued. 

Call 911 for emergencies, crimes in progress, situations involving immediate danger, serious injuries, or when police response is needed right away. 

Use the non-emergency number for situations that are not urgent and do not require immediate police response. 

Yes. Certain non-emergency incidents may be reported online if: 

• The incident occurred within Lorain city limits
• There are no known suspects
• A police officer does not need to respond to the scene

Please review the File a Report page before submitting an online report. 

Common incidents that may be reported online include: 

• Theft
• Lost property
• Criminal damage
• Harassing phone calls
• Private property accidents (non-injury)

Not all incidents qualify for online reporting.

Police reports may be requested through the Lorain Police Department Records Department once they are available. Most reports are available within 72 hours, depending on the type of incident and investigation status. 

See the Request Records page for details. 

Most traffic crash reports are available through the Ohio Department of Public Safety Crash Retrieval System. Recent crash reports may not be immediately available online. 

Additional guidance is available on the Request Records page. 

• Most police reports are available within 72 hours
• Crash reports may take several days to appear in the state system
• Some reports may be delayed due to active investigations

Bicycle licenses are available through the City Auditor’s Office. 

Contact Information

Phone: (440) 204-2090 

Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday

Civilian fingerprinting is handled by the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office. 

Contact Information

Lorain County Sheriff’s Office – Record Room 

Phone: (440) 329-3703 

Please contact the Record Room directly for available hours and fingerprinting times. 

Traffic citations must be paid at the Clerk of Courts Office, located on the 2nd floor of Lorain City Hall. 

Office Hours

8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday 

The current waiver schedule and payment information can be found on the City of Lorain website: https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/384/Make-a-Payment 

If your vehicle was towed or impounded, you must first obtain a vehicle release from the Lorain Police Department Record Room. You will have 10 days from the date of notification to claim. 

Please bring:

• Proof of vehicle registration or title

Once you have the release, contact the towing company below. 

Towing Service Provider

Sugar Ridge Towing 

Phone: (440) 723-2615 

Address: 41524 Griswold Road, Elyria, OH 

Yes. Online reports and commendations may be submitted without providing personal contact information, depending on the type of submission. 

You may submit a commendation through the Commend an Officer page. Commendations are reviewed by department leadership and shared with the employee being recognized.

No. Flock Safety technology captures vehicle and license plate information only. It does not use facial recognition, identify individuals, or track people. 

More information is available on the Flock Safety Technology page. 

Information about Safety Town, the Ride-Along Program, the Police Auxiliary Program, and community events is available on the Community & Programs page.

Yes. Residents and businesses with monitored burglar alarm systems located in the City of Lorain are required to register their alarm with the Lorain Police Department. 

Registration details, fees, and renewal information are available on the Alarm Registration page.