Frequently Asked Questions
Policy Regarding Door-to-Door Solicitation
Pavilion at Rowland Nature Preserve
The pavilion is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rusty Water Coming from your Faucets?
There are times of when the township fire department flushes hydrants.
Hydrant flushing enhances water quality by flushing sediment from the mainline pipes, verifies the proper operation of hydrants and valves, and maintains firefighting capability.
If you see a crew flushing a hydrant on your street, avoid running tap water and using the washing machine or the dishwasher until the flushing is done.
You may want to keep bottled water on hand for use during times when flushing will occur. If you see hydrant flushing crews working in the area, please drive carefully and treat them like any other road construction crew.
How does my auto license fee fund the township? Correct license plate renewal helps fund township.
When you renew your auto license plates be sure the taxing district on your form indicates you reside in Elyria Township. It determines the amount of permissive tax you pay and this tax is then distributed to the township. Make sure the clerk knows you reside in Elyria Township (not the City of Elyria). The proper tax district is 4772. Some residents were being incorrectly charged for the City of Elyria which is $15 more.
These funds are used to plan, construct, maintain and repair public roads, highways, and streets, according to ORC 4504.02.
Garage Sales
You do not need a permit in order to have a garage sale. A garage sale cannot last more than one week.
Residential Trash / Rumpke
In an effort to standardize and stabilize the cost of residential trash and recycling collection services, the Elyria Township Trustees voted to join the Lorain County Solid Waste Trash Consortium in 2018. Those services were put out to bid by the Consortium in the last quarter of 2018, generating bids from three providers. On January 14, 2019, the Trustees voted to enter into a five-year contract with Rumpke Waste and Recycling Services to be the sole provider of solid waste and recyclable materials collection services for waste generated by residential units, township facilities and Township special events. These services will begin the first week of April.
Damage to your Mailbox by a Township Snowplow
If a township’s snowplow damages your mailbox:
Your mailbox will be repaired or replaced by the township with a standard rural type mailbox on a 4×4 wood post provided that:
Your damaged mailbox had been installed the proper distance from the road berm. (See link below.)
In addition, if the mailbox and its post were deteriorated, the decision to replace either part will be at the discretion of the Elyria Township Road Department. Mailbox Installation Instructions
Open Burning: Ohio Revised Code 1503.18 prohibits most open burning in unincorporated areas in March, April, May, October, and November between 6 am and 6 pm. Open burning during these times may be permissible if conditions outlined in the exclusionary text are met. This code is under authority of the Ohio Division of Forestry. Call 911 to report illegal burning.
Snow Parking Ban: The sheriff’s department has snow ban stickers and should be monitoring the streets to which they apply. If you have any questions about specific streets, leave a message for the road department at 440.324.3517.
Pool Fences
Contact Tom Blaz or Bev Sams for specific pool fence questions.
Fishing at the Rowland Nature Preserve (excerpted from the Chronicle-Telegram on 3/31/15)
Division of Wildlife fish biologists have already completed a preliminary survey of the fish stock and discovered largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed sunfish within the lake. The agreement will open up for more extensive surveying in the future and possible fish stocking from ODNR hatcheries.
A resident fishing license for Ohio residents aged 16 to 65 is $19. Seniors can obtain licenses for $10 and children do not need a license. They are good from now until Feb. 29, 2016.
Fishing without a license at the Rowland Nature Preserve Lake is not permitted and is considered a misdemeanor, but Wagner said local law enforcement and wildlife officers are doing everything they can to not issue citations and instead inform residents of the change. Signs are going up on the property as a first step.
Anglers can obtain licenses by mail, online through a secure ODNR website or at local businesses like Discount Drug Mart, Walmart, Elyria Hardware and Elyria Rural King — a full list is available online. The permit fees collected go directly into the Division of Wildlife’s fund base to support recreation and conservation.
For more information, visit wildohio.gov or call (800) 945-3543. To contact Elyria Township call (440) 324-9462.
RV Storage / Parking
Resolution 1622 permits the storage for your RV on your property, provided it is stored behind the setback line…typically the front of your house.
Firearms
In the State of Ohio, statutory townships—like Elyria Township—use the laws provided by the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) for regulation, zoning, and enforcement purposes on private property. Per ORC, it is legal to discharge firearms on private property in Ohio’s Townships if discharging the firearm(s) is done in a safe and legal manner, and the person(s) discharging the firearm is the landowner or someone to whom the landowner has given permission.
What is a ‘Safe and Legal Manner?’ You are responsible for every bullet that leaves the barrel of your firearm. You still own that bullet and will be held legally responsible for any injuries, fatalities, or damages it causes. In order to be safe while discharging firearms, a shooter needs to be able to see the intended target, the backstop, and beyond. For this reason, shooting activities are restricted to daylight hours.
Those convicted of violent felonies or domestic violence and persons who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol are prohibited from possessing or discharging a firearm. The Ohio Revised Code contains specific laws allowing for the arrest of such violators. Ohio Revised Code 2923.162 prohibits persons from discharging firearms upon, over or within 100 yards of a cemetery; a public roadway; and also on the ground belonging to a school, church, or inhabited dwelling or property of another. It is also illegal to discharge a firearm from a vehicle. Persons found guilty of violating this code will face penalization ranging in severity from a fourth degree misdemeanor to a first degree felony.
Target Practice A private property owner, prior to allowing the discharging of a firearm on his/her property, needs to have a proper backstop made of soil or some other soft porous material and free of rocks or hard material that may increase the chances of a ricochet bullet. The backstop must also be of sufficient height and width to guarantee the capture of all bullets fired at targets. A wooded area is generally not considered a proper backstop as the shape of trees increases the chance of a bullet glancing off in an unsafe direction.
A range should be located so that nobody is shooting toward a house, vehicle, roadway, or any other structure. Not all private properties are suitable for shooting activities. Properties located in housing developments are typically not suitable for shooting ranges due to smaller lot sizes and their close proximity to neighboring houses. Please review the National Rifle Association’s NRA Range Source Book for more information on shooting ranges.
Hunting It is legal to hunt on private property in the township. Hunters are bound by the rules and regulations set by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the ORC. There are many hunting laws and restrictions, and I recommend hunter safety courses for all those unfamiliar with safe and legal hunting practices.
How We Handle Firearms Complaints When the Sheriff’s Office receives a firearms complaint, the Deputy will first survey the location to ensure a proper backstop is in place, that persons are shooting in a safe direction, and that the shooting activity has been conducted in a safe manner. If the Deputy deems the location of the shooting activity unsafe, a cease-fire may be ordered until the location, backstop, and activity are safe.
To minimize neighbors calling in shooting complaints, be cordial and respectful, exercise common sense and good discretion, and ensure you address all of the aforementioned safety concerns. Building rapport and good relationships with your neighbors and inviting them to target practice with you may be helpful in demonstrating to them that you are safe and responsible.
Call the sheriff's department, not the trustees, to report illegal shooting.
Chapter 1501:3-6 Firearms; Hunting and Fishing
Dumpster Days
Generally, there are two days in the Spring and in the Fall when dumpsters are provided to residents free of charge. Dumpster day dates and hours will be announced on Facebook and dumpsters will be located at 41416 Griswold Road. Generally, there are three days in the Spring and three days in the Fall. Upholstered furniture can be disposed of without a plastic covering during dumpster days only. Please, no tires, pallets, brush, oil, flammable liquids, including paint, or appliances with Freon in them. ID required.