Office of Traffic Engineering

Regulations Database

Traffic Control Zones include Speed Zones, Parking Zones, School Zones, Signal Permits and Special Speed Zones

Information for Speed Zones, Parking Zones and School Zones can be found in the Traffic Engineering Manual (TEM) Section 12.  Speed Zones are listed under Section 1212, Parking Zones are listed under Section 1213 and School Zones are listed under Section 1211.  Signal Permits are for villages which have a warranted and authorized signal on a State Route.  Signal permit information can be found in the OMUTCD.  Special Speed Zones are speed zones which have been established on the Interstate which lower the speed from 65 to 55 mph, usually within urban areas.

If you have any questions regarding regulations, contact Lisa McConnell (contacts)

SPEED ZONES

A Speed Zone is a section of street or highway where, on the basis of a geometric and traffic characteristic study or an engineering and traffic investigation, the prima facie set forth in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 4511.21 (B)(1)(a) to (D) is determined to be greater or less that is reasonable or safe and the Director and/or appropriate local authorities have declared a reasonable and safe prima facie speed limit and erected signs in accordance with ORC 4511.21.  ORC Section 4511.21 establishes speed limits for all streets and highways within the State.  It also provides that the Director may alter speed limits, and that local authorities may request that the Director determine and declare a reasonable and safe speed limit on certain highways under their jurisdiction.  Under ORC Section 4511.21 (K), a Board of Township Trustees may, by resolution, declare a prima-facie speed limit on unimproved highways and on highways under their jurisdiction which are within residential and commercial subdivisions.  Additional information concerning Speed Zones may be found in OMUTCD Part 5D.

In altering speed limits, the minimum length of a zone not contiguous to a Speed Zone should be greater than 0.4 miles; however, extensions of existing warranted zones may be shorter.

Additional regulations on speed limits can be found in ORC Section 4511.211 (Speed limit on private residential road or driveway), 4511.22 (Slow speed), 44511.23  (Speed regulations on bridges), and 4511.24 (Emergency vehicles excepted from speed regulations)   BACK TO TOP

SCHOOL ZONES

Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 4511.21(B)(1)(c) defines the term school zone.  Except as noted in ORC Section 4511.21(H), there are no exceptions to the existence of a School Zone.  ODOT does not have discretion (e.g., based on the lack of pedestrians, the presence of fencing, etc.,) to not install School Speed Limit signs (see Section 702-3).  Whenever, the Director determines on the basis of a geometric and traffic characteristic study that the school speed limit is less than reasonable or safe under the conditions found, the 2- mile per hour School Zone may be excepted, with School Zone signing not installed.  The provisions of ORC Section 4511.21(H) (the speed zoning process) do not apply to School Zones.  Locations where the implementation of a 20 mile per hour School Zone might cause serious safety problems in the traffic stream, with little or no benefit to students attending the adjacent school, should be the only basis for retaining the existing speed locations where the school officials prefer something other than the 20 mile per hour School Zone, do not fit into this category.

Since the law requires 20 miles per hour at all School Zones, it is very important that any studies conducted be thoroughly documented and retained in the District's files.  Although the Speed Warrant sheet will probably not be applicable in these situations, approval of these studies should follow normal Speed Zone study approval process.  Should any future litigation be files against ODOT due to any incidents that might occur at one of these locations, the documentation will be very critical in defending the District's actions in not installing the 20 mile per hour School Zone signing.  BACK TO TOP

PARKING ZONES

Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 4511.68 establishes certain parking prohibitions and ORC Section 4511.69 notes additional provisions related to parking locations and provisions.  OMUTCD Section 5E indicates that additional restrictions and prohibitions may be established by the legislative bodies of local government, provided that such local legislation does not conflict with the provisions of the ORC.  Special legal authority is required to establish parking controls at any type of location not covered under existing laws.  For rural state highways, these Parking Control Zones must be authorized by the Director.   In municipalities, such authority is granted by an Ordinance passed by the Council or by other local legal authority.  The adoption of a Resolution by County Commissioners or Township Trustees provides similar authority in rural jurisdictions.  Any regulation established in addition to those specified in ORC Section 4511.68 shall be indicated by the use of signs.  Additional information concerning Parking Control Zones may be found in OMUTCD Section 5E. BACK TO TOP