{
  "url": "https://scopeofcover.com/requirements/oh/workers-comp-private-employers",
  "title": "Ohio Workers' Compensation Requirements for Employers",
  "template": "requirements",
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "updated": "2026-10-06",
  "last_verified": "2026-10-06",
  "answer": "Yes, Ohio requires private employers to have workers' compensation coverage by paying premiums into the state insurance fund. Scope of Cover found that under a construction contract, a person is considered an employee if at least ten specific criteria apply. Employers who comply are not liable for damages for workplace injuries. Separately, employers may apply to be granted self-insuring status if they meet certain requirements.",
  "editor": {
    "name": "Eric Dawson",
    "title": "Editor"
  },
  "publisher": "scopeofcover.com",
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-private-employer-coverage-requirement",
      "statement": "Every private employer and publicly owned utility in Ohio must pay premiums into the state insurance fund annually, typically in June, for policy years starting on or after July 1, 2015.",
      "value": "annually",
      "unit": "payment frequency",
      "as_of": "2021-03-24",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.35",
      "quote": "in this section, for a policy year commencing on or after July 1, 2015, every private employer and every publicly owned utility shall pay annually in the month of June immediately preceding the policy year into the state insurance fund the amount of estimated annual premium the administrator fixes",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-self-insuring-employer-application-fee",
      "statement": "The administrator may charge a reasonable application fee to employers applying for self-insuring status to cover processing costs.",
      "value": "reasonable application fee",
      "unit": "USD",
      "as_of": "2021-03-24",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.35",
      "quote": "The administrator may charge employers who apply for the status as a self-insuring employer a reasonable application fee to cover the bureau's costs in connection with processing and making a determination with respect to an application.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-self-insuring-employer-financial-ability",
      "statement": "Employers granted self-insuring status must demonstrate sufficient financial and administrative ability to meet all their obligations promptly.",
      "value": "sufficient financial and administrative ability",
      "unit": "requirement",
      "as_of": "2021-03-24",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.35",
      "quote": "All employers granted status as self-insuring employers shall demonstrate sufficient financial and administrative ability to assure that all obligations under this section are promptly met.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-self-insuring-employer-operating-history",
      "statement": "To qualify for self-insuring status, an employer must have operated in Ohio for at least two years, or have succeeded a business that operated for at least two years in the state.",
      "value": "two years",
      "unit": "years",
      "as_of": "2021-03-24",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.35",
      "quote": "The employer has operated in this state for a minimum of two years, provided that an employer who has purchased, acquired, or otherwise succeeded to the operation of a business, or any part thereof, situated in this state that has operated for at least two years in this state, also shall qualify",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-self-insuring-employer-financial-disclosure",
      "statement": "Applicants for self-insuring status must provide financial records, documents, and data, certified by a certified public accountant, including balance sheets and profit and loss history for the current and previous four years.",
      "value": "four years",
      "unit": "years",
      "as_of": "2021-03-24",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.35",
      "quote": "The records, documents, and data include, but are not limited to, balance sheets and profit and loss history for the current year and previous four years.",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-construction-contractor-employee-criteria",
      "statement": "A person performing labor or services under a construction contract is considered an employee if at least ten specific criteria related to control and integration of work apply.",
      "value": "ten",
      "unit": "criteria",
      "as_of": "2022-09-23",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.01",
      "quote": "Every person who performs labor or provides services pursuant to a construction contract, as defined in section 4123.79 of the Revised Code, if at least ten of the following criteria apply",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-excluded-employees-minister",
      "statement": "A duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister or assistant/associate minister of a church in the exercise of ministry is not considered an \"employee.\"",
      "value": "minister",
      "unit": "occupation",
      "as_of": "2022-09-23",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.01",
      "quote": "A duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister or assistant or associate minister of a church in the exercise of ministry",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-excluded-employees-nonprofit-officer",
      "statement": "An officer of a nonprofit corporation who volunteers their services as an officer is not considered an \"employee.\"",
      "value": "officer of a nonprofit corporation, as defined in section 1702.01 of the Revised Code, who volunteers the person's services as an officer",
      "unit": "occupation",
      "as_of": "2022-09-23",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.01",
      "quote": "An officer of a nonprofit corporation, as defined in section 1702.01 of the Revised Code, who volunteers the person's services as an officer",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-excluded-employees-waiver",
      "statement": "An individual who otherwise is an employee but signs a waiver and affidavit under section 4123.15 of the Revised Code, with an approved waiver and exception for their employer, is not considered an \"employee.\"",
      "value": "waiver and affidavit specified in section 4123.15 of the Revised Code",
      "unit": "document",
      "as_of": "2022-09-23",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.01",
      "quote": "An individual who otherwise is an employee of an employer but who signs the waiver and affidavit specified in section 4123.15 of the Revised Code on the condition that the administrator has granted a waiver and exception to the individual's employer under section 4123.15 of the Revised Code",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "claim_id": "oh-employer-immunity",
      "statement": "Employers who comply with section 4123.35 of the Revised Code are not liable for damages at common law or by statute for employee injuries, occupational diseases, or bodily conditions arising out of employment.",
      "value": "not be liable to respond in damages at common law or by statute",
      "unit": "liability",
      "as_of": "1993-10-20",
      "jurisdiction": "OH",
      "source_url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.74",
      "quote": "Employers who comply with section 4123.35 of the Revised Code shall not be liable to respond in damages at common law or by statute for any injury, or occupational disease, or bodily condition, received or contracted by any employee in the course of or arising out of his employment, or for any death",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Ohio Revised Code section 4123.35",
      "url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.35",
      "publisher": "Ohio Legislative Service Commission",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "title": "Ohio Revised Code section 4123.01",
      "url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.01",
      "publisher": "Ohio Legislative Service Commission",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    },
    {
      "title": "Ohio Revised Code section 4123.74",
      "url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.74",
      "publisher": "Ohio Legislative Service Commission",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-02"
    }
  ],
  "license": "CC BY 4.0. Attribute to Scope of Cover (https://scopeofcover.com/)."
}