OHIO, USA — A big phenomenon is bringing global attention to the area: the total solar eclipse happening April 8.
It could also bring big money into the area. For homeowners that have a lot of property, it could mean making a profit off of the people coming to town and needing a place to stay.
With hotels filling up and people looking for other options, can rent out your land to campers in Ohio?
Let's VERIFY.
THE SOURCES
- Ohio Department of Health Temporary Campground Facts & Guidelines
- Toledo-Lucas County Health Department Environmental Health Director Jennifer Gottschalk
THE ANSWER
Yes, you can rent your land to campers for the total solar eclipse if you follow the state of Ohio's guidelines.
WHAT WE FOUND
Our source is the environmental health director for the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, Jennifer Gottschalk.
"When you're looking at temporary campgrounds, it actually is a law and if you have five or more portable units, whether it's an RV or a tent, then that equates to a license," Gottschalk said.
That means if you have less than five campsites you do not need a license.
If you plan on having more than five though, hold tight. That license comes with a lot of steps.
First, you need to look over Ohio's rules and regulations to even have a temporary campsite.
You should also give a call to your zoning inspector.
"If you're not zoned to have people on your property as a campsite because you're making money, you could be in a lot of trouble with your local zoning commission," Gottschalk said.
If you get the go-ahead, you have to map out your property.
Listing the square footage, where walkways and roadways would be, where bathrooms will go, the number of campers you plan on having and how you're going to label each individual campsite.
"That's because if fire needed to respond or EMS needed to respond, they need to know exactly where to go and which site number to go to," Gottschalk said.
Each campsite has to be at least 1,000 square feet and 10 to 15 feet away from the neighboring site.
"All of that has to be laid out on a grid, on paper and it has to be provided to not only us (the health department), but the fire department," Gottschalk said.
You also need to have a safety plan. If there are plans to have bonfires, that also has to be approved by the fire department.
The health department requires at least a 15-day heads-up before you plan to have campers.
"We are required to go out and walk through the site, make sure you have everything, make sure everything is labeled and then we would issue that permit or license for seven days," Gottschalk said.
It's required that the person renting out the land is present while campers are there.
Gottschalk said another thing to keep in mind is your own land and the damage dozens of people and cars could cause. Gottschalk cautioned that if you have a septic tank and there are too many people on your land, it could crush it and cost you thousands of dollars.
When it comes to selling food on your property, like hot dogs or ingredients for s'mores, you also have to have a license for that. If you do get the license, it's valid for seven days.
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