Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.

Auditor

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  • The owner occupied tax reduction is only available for residential properties. Rental properties are not eligible for the reduction. The State of Ohio reimburses schools and other agencies for this rollback. Most homeowners currently receive the credit, as indicated on their tax bills.

    However, this credit is not given automatically. You must sign up to receive it. If you feel you are eligible for this credit and are not receiving it, you may call (419) 337-9200 for additional information.

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  • Call the Fulton County dog warden at (419) 337-9219 or the Sheriff’s Office at (419) 335-4010.
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  • To find out how to know if a device has been checked or to file a complaint with the weights and measures department follow the link below.

    https://www.fultoncountyoh.com/861/Complaints


    Auditor

  • In 2005, the governor in the State of Ohio signed Am. Sub. House Bill 66 that made the new commercial activity tax (CAT) effective July 1, 2005. This tax was phased in over five years in 20% increments. At the same time, TPP was phased out over four years at approximately 25% per year, starting in 2006.
    With the changes noted above, the TPP is no longer in effect. The only activity is the billing and collection of delinquent TPP taxes.
    Auditor

  • The annual license renewal period is December 1 through January 31. If you have a new puppy, you must buy a license by the time he reaches three months old. If you have just moved into Fulton County or if you just acquired a new dog, you must purchase a license within 30 days. (Ohio Revised Code Section 955.01)

    Auditor

  • You can purchase a license by mail. You can also purchase a license in person at:

     Auditor's Office, 152 S. Fulton Street, Suite 165 Wauseon, Ohio. 

    Licenses can also be purchased at the following locations:

    Archbold: Savvy Dog, Fulton County Human Society

    Lyons: Lyons Main Stop

    Swanton: Swanton Public Library

    Wauseon: Continental Plaza Auto Wash, The PAW-FFICE

    You may also purchase them online by visiting https://www.doglicenses.us/OH/Fulton/cs.php?f[0]= .



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  • YES. Ohio law requires it. Dogs without licenses may be impounded by the dog warden.
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  • Ohio law requires that you license your dog. A license tag attached to your dog's collar proves ownership and is your pet's ticket home if he gets lost.
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  • NO! It is against the law. Ohio law specifies that all dogs must be confined to your property or under reasonable control - such as on a leash when being walked.
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  • If the dog is wearing a current Fulton County license tag, call the Auditor's office at 419 337-9202, the Fulton County Dog Warden at 419 337-9219 or the Sheriff’s office at 419 335-4010. If the dog is not wearing a current license tag, call the dog warden at 419 337-9219.
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  • If you move within Fulton County, please call 419 337-9202 with your new address and telephone number so we can keep the information up-to-date. If you move to another county, call that county's Auditor for licensing information.
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  • #2602 Evergreen LSD (1.5% effective 1/1/10 for 5 years) #2603 Gorham Fayette LSD (1.0%) #2604 Pettisville LSD (1.0%) #2606 Swanton LSD (.75% effective 1/1/10 for 5 years) #2605 Pike-Delta-York LSD (1% effective 1/1/22 for 5 years) #2607 Wauseon EVSD (1.75% effective 1/1/23 for 5 years)

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  • If you need to move a mobile home in the State of Ohio, law requires you to purchase a permit. The fee for a Mobile Home Moving Permit is $5.00. Those who do not obtain a permit will be charge a fine of $100.00.
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  • Fulton County charges a fee of $4.00 (minimum) per $1,000.00 of purchase price. Example: A mobile home purchased for $24,000.00 would incur a conveyance fee of $96.00 When no monies change hands there is no conveyance fee.

    Auditor

  • Invoices are submitted to the Auditor's office for payment after they are approved for payment by the Board of County Commissioners. If you have questions about a submitted invoice, please contact the department of agency with which you dealt first. Then, if you haven't been satisfied, call the Finance Department of the Auditor's office at (419) 337-9202.
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  • If you try to deposit or cash a warrant (check) that is older than 60 days, it may not be honored when presented for redemption. Stale-dated warrants are paid periodically into unclaimed funds. To find out if a specific warrant can be presented for payment or if it has become stale-dated, call (419) 337-9202.
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  • A listing of all stale-dated warrants currently held in unclaimed funds is available by visiting the Ohio Department of Commerce web page.
    Auditor

  • The Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) can be contacted at 1-888-7-CATTAX (1-888-722-8820). ODT’s web site is www.tax.ohio.gov.

    Auditor

  • Wauseon - 419-335-1171 (1.5%) Swanton - 419-826-9515 (1.25%) Delta - 419-822-5300 (1.5%) Fayette - 419-237-2116 (1.5%) Archbold - 419-445-9501 (1.5% (1.8% effective 1/1/23)) Lyons - 419-923-2001 (1.0%) Metamora - 419-644-2051 (1.0%)

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  • No.
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  • No. Consult your accountant or the taxing authority involved.
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  • Consult your accountant for withholding, other rules and assistance.
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  • Real estate taxes are due February and July of the current year.

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  • No- Payment is handled through the Treasurer’s Office.
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  • No- All changes in tax mailing addresses are handled through the Treasurer’s Office.
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  • 152 S. Fulton Street, Suite 165 Wauseon.
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  • Please call the Auditor’s Office at (419) 337-9202.
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  • The appraised value set by the Auditor's Office is an important part of the property tax calculation. If you feel the appraised value is too high, you may file a complaint with the Fulton County Board of Revision. Filing a Board of Revision (BOR) complaint entitles you to a hearing before the three-member Board of Revision. At the hearing, you may present information such as recent appraisals or current sales data for similar properties in your neighborhood to support your complaint. BOR complaints must be filed between January 1 and March 31. You may call to request a complaint form or print one from this site.
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  • The tax lien date is used to reflect real estate market value each year. In Ohio, the annual tax lien date is Jan. 1, and property taxes are always paid a year in arrears. For example, taxes paid in 2025 are for tax year 2024 and were calculated based on the property's value as of Jan. 1 2025.

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  • You select the measuring tool which looks like a small ruler. Pick the point from which you want to measure then double click the point you want to measure to.

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  • Select the soils layer on the left side of the map of the property search website.

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Regional Planning

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  • Please refer to the Lot Split Application.

    Regional Planning

  • View the Do I Need a Permit guide.

    Regional Planning

  • Please refer to the zoning maps to see if where you live is a zoned area. View the zoned townships webpage for more information.
    Regional Planning

Clerk of Courts

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  • Applications for passports are available at the Wauseon Post Office Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturdays by appointment only. The post office is located at: 124 E. Elm St. Wauseon, OH 43567-9998
    Clerk of Courts

  • If the violation occurred in the Wauseon area, go to Western District Court, the building south of the Courthouse, located at: 224 S. Fulton St. Wauseon, OH 43567

    If the violation occurred in the Swanton area, go to the Eastern District Court located at: 204 S. Main St. Swanton, OH 43558

    Check your traffic ticket for the location of the correct court.

    Clerk of Courts

  • Marriage licenses are obtained at the Probate Court located in the Courthouse at: 210 S. Fulton St. Wauseon, OH 43567
    Clerk of Courts

Common Pleas Court

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  • The Court only appoints attorneys for criminal cases when the defendant is indigent or when an individual is facing a contempt of court charge where the possibility of a jail term being imposed is an option.
    Common Pleas Court

  • Yes. However, individuals filing their own actions must follow the same procedures as attorneys. Pleadings must be typed on 8.5-by-11-inch paper and captioned "in the Court of Common Pleas of Fulton County, Ohio." All pleadings must have your name, address, and phone number on the cover page.
    If you use internet forms you must be sure they are Ohio specific and contain all necessary information. Court staff and clerk of court staff may not give legal advice on how to prepare your documents. Please see court rules for additional information on filing documents.
    Common Pleas Court

  • Under Ohio law, while a child is 18 years old or younger and a dependent, the allocation of the primary residential parenting status is determined by the court.
    Common Pleas Court

County Commissioners

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  • Call the court in which you are to appear:
    • Common Pleas Court: (419) 337-9260
    • Eastern District Court: (419) 826-5636
    • Juvenile or Probate Court: (419) 337-9242
    • Western District Court: (419) 337-9212
    County Commissioners

  • Visit the Bureau of Vital Statistics website for more information.
    County Commissioners

  • Yes. Please call (419) 335-8808 to verify hours of operation.
    County Commissioners

Sheriff's Office

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  • We have no access to the interior of the houses for sale.  No arrangements may be made for an internal inspection of the properties.  You are urged to check out the property as best you can.  The Fulton County Auditor can provide a printout on the property showing the numbers, and types of rooms, etc. or you can access the Auditor’s website at www.fultoncountyoh.com\auditor. Then on the left of the screen select “real estate”, then select “real estate information property search”.   Sales are “BUYER BEWARE.”  You are urged to consult an attorney if you need legal advice.
    Sheriff's Office

  • By law, the sale must be a public sale, unless ordered by the Court.  Sales are held on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted, just inside the west doors of the Fulton County Courthouse.  You, or a representative must appear to bid.  All bidding is done at the sale.  No prior or sealed bids are taken.  It works the same as any common auction.  There is no prior registration.  Make sure you can meet the terms of the sale.  Be ready to make your 10% deposit at the time of sale.  Caution, this is a Court function; if the sale is not completed, you are subject to being held in contempt of court and losing your deposit.
    Sheriff's Office

  • Liens are marshaled, (placed in order and paid in order), and paid from the sale proceeds.  A deficiency judgment may be granted to the plaintiff against the defendant (homeowner), if enough money is not generated at the sale.  The liens are then canceled against the property.  The exception is a Federal Lien, (which will be on file at the Fulton County Recorder’s Office).  You are urged to check out any liens, and check with an attorney if you have questions.  We do not have lien information at the Sheriff’s Office.
    Sheriff's Office

  • If someone is living in the house and will not vacate, the Sheriff’s Office will remove them on issue of a Writ of Possession.  You may be responsible for obtaining the Writ of Possession from the Clerk of Common Pleas Court and providing manpower to set out their belongings.  Again, you should consult an attorney for questions regarding any of this.
    Sheriff's Office

Probate Court

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  • To obtain a license to perform marriage ceremonies you will need to fill out an application with the Secretary of the State of Ohio.

    Probate Court

  • Visit the Fulton County Common Please; Probate Division Marriage License Application Webpage.
    Probate Court