Ohio Code § 2911.23

Ohio Code § 2911.23. Reproduced from the official Ohio Revised Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 2911.23.

(A) As used in this section, “ place of public amusement ” means a stadium, theater, or other facility, whether licensed or not, at which a

live performance, sporting event, or other activity takes place for entertainment

of the public and to which access is made available to the public, regardless of whether

admission is charged. (B) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly enter or remain on any restricted

portion of a place of public amusement and, as a result of that conduct, interrupt

or cause the delay of the live performance, sporting event, or other activity taking

place at the place of public amusement after a printed written notice has been given

as provided in division (D)(1) of this section that the general public is restricted

from access to that restricted portion of the place of public amusement.  A restricted portion of a place of public amusement may include, but is not limited

to, a playing field, an athletic surface, or a stage located at the place of public

amusement. (C) An owner or lessee of a place of public amusement, an agent of the owner or lessee,

or a performer or participant at a place of public amusement may use reasonable force

to restrain and remove a person from a restricted portion of the place of public amusement

if the person enters or remains on the restricted portion of the place of public amusement

and, as a result of that conduct, interrupts or causes the delay of the live performance,

sporting event, or other activity taking place at the place of public amusement.  This division does not provide immunity from criminal liability for any use of force

beyond reasonable force by an owner or lessee of a place of public amusement, an agent

of either the owner or lessee, or a performer or participant at a place of public

amusement. (D)(1) Notice has been given that the general public is restricted from access to a portion

of a place of public amusement if a printed written notice of the restricted access

has been conspicuously posted or exhibited at the entrance to that portion of the

place of public amusement.  If a printed written notice is posted or exhibited as described in this division

regarding a portion of a place of public amusement, in addition to that posting or

exhibition, notice that the general public is restricted from access to that portion

of the place of public amusement also may be given, but is not required to be given,

by either of the following means: (a) By notifying the person personally, either orally or in writing, that access to that

portion of the place of public amusement is restricted; (b) By broadcasting over the public address system of the place of public amusement an

oral warning that access to that portion of the place of public amusement is restricted. (2) If notice that the general public is restricted from access to a portion of a place

of public amusement is provided by the posting or exhibition of a printed written

notice as described in division (D)(1) of this section, the state, in a criminal prosecution

for a violation of division (B) of this section, is not required to prove that the

defendant received actual notice that the general public is restricted from access

to a portion of a place of public amusement. (E)(1) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of criminal trespass on a

place of public amusement, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (2) In addition to any jail term, fine, or other sentence, penalty, or sanction it imposes

upon the offender pursuant to division (E)(1) of this section, a court may require

an offender who violates this section to perform not less than thirty and not more

than one hundred twenty hours of supervised community service work.

Source: official Ohio text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

  • Citation: Ohio Revised Code § 2911.23
  • Jurisdiction: Ohio
  • Code: Ohio Revised Code
  • Text: transcribed from the official source (verify below)

Verify the text

Statute text is transcribed from the official Ohio Revised Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Ohio attorney.

Common questions

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The text above is transcribed from the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutes of Ohio. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.

What subject does Ohio Revised Code § 2911.23 address?

It addresses the rule set out in the section text. Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

Is Ohio Revised Code § 2911.23 still in force?

Statutes are amended, repealed, and renumbered every session. Confirm the current version at the official Ohio source before relying on this text.

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