Eviction filings in Franklin County are barely budging, and not in the direction renters were hoping. County courts handled more than 25,000 eviction cases last year, and early 2026 activity suggests the pressure on tenants and court staff is rolling right along. In response, state lawmakers in Columbus are trying to slow the fallout with proposals that would give renters more time to pay and soften the long-term sting of an eviction on someone’s record.
Evictions remain high across the county
Franklin County records tell the story in blunt numbers. The county clerk reported 25,329 eviction cases filed in 2024, the highest annual total in at least twenty years. According to Eviction Lab, monthly filings in the Columbus area are still running above pre-pandemic levels, keeping Franklin County near the top of the region’s eviction hotspots.
Lawmakers file measures to blunt the tide
Several bills at the Statehouse aim to tweak when and how landlords can file for eviction. One proposal, House Bill 553, would require landlords to send tenants a written notice of rent default and then wait at least 90 days before filing, while offering a payment plan during that time. Sponsors say that the window is meant to give tenants a real shot at catching up instead of getting pushed straight into court. According to the Ohio Legislature, the bill is built around those extra protections, and Rep. Ismail Mohamed has said the intent is to make sure “everyone is given time” to deal with short-term financial setbacks.
Another measure, House Bill 368, would set up a way to seal certain eviction records after a specified period so that a single filing does not haunt a renter years later when they apply for housing. The Ohio Legislature notes that the bill focuses on limiting long-term rental-market damage from past cases.
Courts, legal aid and tenants feel the strain
The Franklin County Municipal Court operates a dedicated Eviction Court and a Self-Help Center that connects tenants to on-site screening, mediation, and other assistance, according to the court’s own resources. Even so, advocates say the safety net has frayed. Rental-assistance programs and other pandemic-era supports have thinned out, so there are fewer emergency backstops while filings remain elevated.
A local analysis highlighted by WOSU found that expanding free legal representation for income-eligible tenants can cut case counts and generate significant public savings. Housing groups are leaning hard on that finding as they push lawmakers to fund more attorneys for renters.
What to watch next
The bills still need to clear committee hearings, win floor votes, and secure budget support before anything changes in day-to-day courtroom practice. Lawmakers, court officials, and advocates agree that whether eviction filings finally fall will hinge on what kind of money is put behind rental assistance and legal aid. Local coverage is tracking both the bills and their potential fallout for Franklin County tenants, as reported by 10TV.
