Ohio One-Party

Licensing & Regulation

Ohio licenses PIs through the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Private Investigator and Security Services Section, under O.R.C. §4749.01 et seq. Applicants must be 18+, demonstrate two years of experience, pass a written examination, submit fingerprints, and post a $5,000 surety bond.

Physical Surveillance

Public surveillance is permitted. Ohio's stalking statute (O.R.C. §2903.211) constrains intrusive conduct. GPS tracking on a non-owned vehicle is risky.

Audio & Video Recording Consent

Ohio is a one-party-consent state under O.R.C. §2933.52. The recording party must be a participant.

Domestic, Marital & Infidelity Investigations

Ohio allows fault-based divorce; adultery is a ground. Marital misconduct can affect spousal support. PIs document patterns. Accessing a spouse's accounts violates O.R.C. §2913.04 (unauthorized use of computer).

Cybersecurity, Hacking & Digital Investigations

O.R.C. §2913.04 (unauthorized use) and §2913.42 (tampering) parallel the CFAA. OSINT is permitted; pretexting is barred.

Missing Persons, Skip Tracing & Harassment

Ohio BCI coordinates missing-persons cases. DPPA fully applies. O.R.C. §2903.211 (menacing by stalking) is broad.