Ohio Telemarketing and Cold Calling Laws
In Ohio, sales calls follow the federal 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. window, the National Do Not Call Registry applies, and recording a call needs one party’s consent.
Ohio rules next to federal law
| Rule | Ohio | Federal baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Calling hours | No separate state rule confirmed | Telephone solicitations only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(1) |
| State do-not-call list | Ohio has no separate do-not-call list. Since March 2, 2022, any violation of the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule or TCPA (including National Do Not Call Registry and calling-hour rules) is also a violation of Ohio law that the Attorney General can enforce, including against anyone who knowingly gives substantial assistance.Ohio Rev. Code § 109.87 | No telephone solicitations to residential or wireless numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, subject to the rule’s exemptions such as an established business relationship.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(2) |
| Autodialer and consent | No Ohio-specific consent statute; the federal TCPA consent rules for autodialed and prerecorded calls are enforceable as Ohio law.Ohio Rev. Code § 109.87 | Autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers need the called person’s prior express written consent.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(a)(2) |
| Caller ID | Telephone solicitors may not intentionally block the number they call from. Within the first 60 seconds, and before asking for financial information, they must give their true name and the company they call for, say the call is to make a sale, and identify what is being sold.Ohio Rev. Code §§ 4719.06(A), 4719.08(I), 4719.21 | Telemarketers must transmit caller ID with a number that can be called back during business hours.47 C.F.R. § 64.1601(e) |
| Telemarketer registration | Telephone solicitors must hold a certificate of registration from the Attorney General (one-year term; $250 initial or renewal fee) and file a $50,000 surety bond before soliciting in or into Ohio, unless an exemption in R.C. 4719.01(B) applies.Ohio Rev. Code §§ 4719.02, 4719.03, 4719.04; Ohio Adm. Code 109:4-6-04 | No general federal equivalent |
| Call recording consent | A party to a call, or someone with one party's prior consent, may record it unless the purpose is to commit a crime, tort or other injurious act.Ohio Rev. Code § 2933.52(B)(4) | Federal law allows recording when one party to the call consents.18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d) |
| Business-to-business calls | Narrow. The Telephone Solicitation Sales Act is not limited to consumer calls; a B2B seller is exempt from registration and bonding only if it has operated 3+ years under the same name with at least 51% of sales being repeat sales to existing customers, or the buyer will resell the goods or use them in recycling, reuse, manufacturing or remanufacturing.Ohio Rev. Code § 4719.01(B)(12) | No general federal equivalent |
Recent changes
- 2022: SB 54 (134th General Assembly), effective March 2, 2022, enacted R.C. 109.87, making violations of the federal TCPA and Telemarketing Sales Rule violations of Ohio law and adding liability for knowing substantial assistance, with carve-outs for voice service providers.
Calling Ohio from a sales team
- Schedule call blocks in the prospect’s local time, not the rep’s.
- Check numbers against the National Do Not Call Registry before each campaign, and honor opt-outs right away.
- If a call may cross into an all-party state, announce the recording anyway.
Trellus dials from the CRM list your reps already work, with each call logged back to the record. See the power and parallel dialer.
Ohio calling questions
What are the legal calling hours in Ohio?
We could not confirm a Ohio calling-hours rule, so the federal limit applies: telephone solicitations only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time (47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(1)).
Does Ohio have its own do-not-call list?
Ohio has no separate do-not-call list. Since March 2, 2022, any violation of the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule or TCPA (including National Do Not Call Registry and calling-hour rules) is also a violation of Ohio law that the Attorney General can enforce, including against anyone who knowingly gives substantial assistance. (Ohio Rev. Code § 109.87)
Is Ohio a one-party or all-party consent state for recording calls?
A party to a call, or someone with one party's prior consent, may record it unless the purpose is to commit a crime, tort or other injurious act. (Ohio Rev. Code § 2933.52(B)(4))
Do Ohio telemarketing rules apply to business-to-business calls?
Narrow. The Telephone Solicitation Sales Act is not limited to consumer calls; a B2B seller is exempt from registration and bonding only if it has operated 3+ years under the same name with at least 51% of sales being repeat sales to existing customers, or the buyer will resell the goods or use them in recycling, reuse, manufacturing or remanufacturing. (Ohio Rev. Code § 4719.01(B)(12))
Do telemarketers need to register in Ohio?
Telephone solicitors must hold a certificate of registration from the Attorney General (one-year term; $250 initial or renewal fee) and file a $50,000 surety bond before soliciting in or into Ohio, unless an exemption in R.C. 4719.01(B) applies. (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 4719.02, 4719.03, 4719.04; Ohio Adm. Code 109:4-6-04)
This page summarizes Ohio and federal rules for general information. It is not legal advice, rules change, and exemptions depend on the facts of your calls. Read the cited sources or ask counsel before relying on it.