The Ohio Department of Commerce regulates more than two dozen industries ranging from state-chartered financial institutions to liquor production, distribution and sales. The Department issues licenses, permits, registrations and certifications, including real estate agents, securities brokers, building trades, fireworks, fire protection companies and others.

The Ohio Department of Commerce operates through fees paid by licensees and the industries we regulate. The Department inspects everything from structural and electrical systems on commercial buildings to boilers, bedding and stuffed animals. The Department is vigilant in its investigation of fires and explosions, investment scams and those who would prey on Ohioans.

Mission: Provide exceptional customer service so that business can operate lawfully and succeed as job creators. We do all of this while safeguarding Ohioans.

Division of Administration

The Division of Administration acts as a service entity to the entire department. Housed in the Division of Administration are the offices of human resources, information technology, fiscal, communications, legal counsel, legislative liaison and support services.

Division of Financial Institutions Superintendent Charles Dolezal

The Division of Financial Institutions regulates Ohio’s state-chartered depository institutions and non-depository financial service providers. The Division is responsible for the examination, supervision and regulation of Ohio-chartered banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, credit unions, money transmitters and trust companies. It is also responsible for the licensing and regulation of check cashers, credit service organizations, mortgage brokers, loan originators, mortgage loan act lenders, mortgage loan originators, pawnbrokers, precious metals dealers, premium finance companies, short-term lenders, and small loan act lenders.

Division of Industrial Compliance Superintendent David Williamson

The Division of Industrial Compliance provides building and system safety compliance and regulatory services for businesses, educational institutions and municipalities across Ohio’s 88 counties. The Division is comprised of an executive section, three operating bureaus (Building Code Compliance, Operations and Maintenance, and Wage and Hour Administration) and five boards and commissions whose services provide oversight of the Ohio Building Code, appeals and variances to code requirements, contractor licensing, historic boiler licensing and ski and tramway regulation.

Division of Liquor Control Superintendent Bruce Stevenson

The Division of Liquor Control is responsible for controlling the manufacture, distribution and sale of all alcoholic beverages in Ohio. Spirituous liquor (intoxicating liquor containing more than 21 percent alcohol by volume) is sold in Ohio through more than 460 private businesses, known as contract liquor agencies. Regulatory functions include the issuance of permits to the state’s approximately 25,000 privately owned and operated manufacturers, distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages. The Division also regulates industry compliance with the laws pertaining to the manufacture, importation, and distribution of beer, wine and mixed beverages containing 21 percent or less alcohol by volume. The Division also registers the more than 63,000 beer, wine and low-proof products for sale in Ohio.

Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing Superintendent Anne Petit

The Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing is responsible for licensing, education and enforcement of Ohio’s real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, foreign real estate dealers and salespeople, the registration of cemeteries located in Ohio, and the registration of real estate developments located in other states but marketed in Ohio.

Division of Securities Commissioner Andrea Seidt

The Division of Securities administers and enforces the Ohio Securities Act. The Division licenses broker-dealers, securities salespersons, investment advisers and investment adviser representatives. The Division also registers securities offered for sale to Ohioans. When Ohio securities law is violated, the Division can pursue administrative actions, civil injunctive actions and criminal referrals. Ohio is considered a model state in its licensing, registration and enforcement practices.

Division of State Fire Marshal Marshal Larry Flowers

Established in 1900, the Division of the State Fire Marshal is the oldest and longest-service fire marshal office of its kind in the United States. The Division consists of eight bureaus responsible for modernizing and enforcing the Ohio Fire Code; training and certifying firefighters; teaching fire prevention and safety education to business, industry, schools and the public; investigating the origin and cause of fires and explosions; regulating and licensing fireworks companies, underground storage tanks and other fire-related industries.

Division of Unclaimed Funds Superintendent Yaw Obeng

Unclaimed funds are reported to the Division of Unclaimed Funds, on a schedule prescribed by law, when an account becomes dormant and the business no longer has current contact information for the account owner. The Division holds the funds for safekeeping until the rightful owners can be found. Funds may come as a result of a dormant bank account, rent or utility deposits, uncashed checks, undelivered stock or uncashed insurance policies. The Division works aggressively to track down the rightful owner and reunite that Ohioan with their hard-earned, but forgotten money.

Video Service Authorization Section

The Ohio Department of Commerce Video Service Authorization Section provides education and outreach to cable consumers, local governments and cable providers throughout Ohio. The section’s Cable TV Consumer Hotline is a resource for consumers to receive help with video service interruptions, billing disputes and downed or buried cable wires.

Updated September 2013