50-State Real Estate Broker Licensing Compliance Guide
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Ohio Real Estate License

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Licensing requirements for Ohio brokerage firms.

A business entity offering real estate brokerage services to the public typically must register with the real estate commission before conducting business activity. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Company Licenses

Ohio Real Estate Company Licenses

Ohio Real Estate Company License

Agency:Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing
Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations 
  • Limited Liability Companies
Notes:

New Brokers – Your original salesperson license must be returned before your broker license will be issued. If you have just passed both parts of the broker examination, you must submit a Broker Transfer/Reactivation Application [COM 3576] to activate your broker license. An existing Broker or other Business Entity license must be returned before the corporation license will be issued.

Qualifying Individual Requirements:

There must be a principal broker who represents the firm and completes part of the application. 

Initial Registration

Form:

Corporation Application, Limited Liability Company Application, Foreign Real Estate Application 

Instructions:

Domestic Corporations:

  1.  Prior to submitting this application, a new corporation must have its Doing Business As (DBA) name approved by the Superintendent and the Secretary of State. A name may be reserved by completing the Name Reservation Application – Business [COM 3044]. 
  2. Once your business name has been properly registered, complete this form and attach the following documents: 1) a copy of the corporate certificate from the Secretary of State (this proves the corporation is properly registered); 2) a list of all officers in the corporation; 3) an original signed affidavit from any officer who is not a principal broker that states he/she will not act as a principal
    broker or management level licensee for the corporation; 4) a letter from the bank in which the company’s trust or special account is held that includes the account DBA name, account number, and a statement that the account is a non-interest bearing trust or special account. Non- residents of Ohio must attach the Non-Resident Real Estate Applicant’s Consent to Service of Process [COM 3637].
  3. To transfer more than one broker or one or more salespersons into this corporation from another entity, complete and attach the Multiple License Transfer Affidavit [COM 3683].

Domestic Limited Liability Companies:

  1. Prior to submitting this application, a new LLC must have its Doing Business As (DBA) name approved by the Superintendent and the Secretary of State. A name may be reserved by completing the Name Reservation Application – Business [COM 3044]. 
  2.  Once your business name has been properly registered, complete this form and attach the following documents: 1) a copy of the LLC certificate from the Secretary of State (this proves the LLC is properly registered); 2) a list of all members in the LLC. A principal broker must be a member or officer of the LLC; 3) an original signed affidavit from any member or officer who is not a principal
    broker that states he/she will not act as a principal broker or management level licensee for the LLC; 4) a letter from the bank in which the company’s trust or special account is held that includes the account DBA name, account number, and a statement that the account is a non-interest bearing trust or special account. Non- residents of Ohio must attach the Non-Resident Real Estate Applicant’s Consent to Service of Process [COM 3637]. 
  3. To transfer more than one broker or one or more salespersons into this LLC from another entity, complete and attach the Multiple License Transfer Affidavit [COM 3683].
Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$135 for domestic firms and $225 for foreign.

Required Attachments:

Foreign Corporations / Limited Liability Companies:

Registration Renewal

Form:

Online

Agency Fee:

Determined during renewal.

Due:

Annually by June 30.

Individual Licenses

Ohio Individual Real Estate Licenses

Ohio Real Estate Broker License

Initial Registration

Form:

https://www.com.ohio.gov/real/default.aspx

Ohio Real Estate Salesperson License

Agency:Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing

Initial Registration

Form:

Salesperson License Examination Application

Agency Fee:

$81

Registration Renewal

Form:

Real Estate Combined Renewal Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$182

Due:

Triennially

Learn about real estate licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Associate Broker - Associate brokers are qualified to work independently as a broker, but choose to work under the authority of a designated broker.

On-Site Manager - A broker or salesperson who oversees the operations of a branch office under the authority of the designated broker.

Qualifying Broker/Designated Broker - An experienced and licensed real estate broker responsible for management and operation of a real estate firm.

Real Estate - Land, buildings, and their permanent improvements and fixtures. Also called "real property" in contrast to personal property.

Real Estate Agent - This term refers generally to any licensed real estate professional.

Reciprocity - Reciprocity makes it easier for out-of-state real estate firms to gain approval to operate in a foreign state by streamlining some licensing requirements.

Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)
Offers a license verification database accross 43 jurisdictions.

NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Agencies
Aid education, research, and advocacy efforts in the real estate industry.

National Association of Realtors
Real estate trade organization that provides information and resources for development of the real estate industry.

Urban Land Institute
Research and education association concerned with responsible land use and creating sustainable communities.

Revised April 25, 2022. Complete data last reviewed October 16, 2019.
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