License to Operate (LTO)
In Ohio, most public water systems are required to obtain a license to operate (LTO) from Ohio EPA. The LTO indicates the public water system is approved by the Agency to supply drinking water to the public, and it must be prominently displayed at the facility. Public water systems with LTOs are required to apply for a license renewal by December 31 each year, unless instructed otherwise. The license renewal application must be submitted with the appropriate fee.
LTO Invoices
Please see the LTO Invoices page.
LTO Certificates
NEW! Please see the LTO Certificates page.
Type of LTO & Enforcement
Ohio EPA issues different licenses depending on the facilities' compliance with safe drinking water rules. Each type of license is color-coded (i.e., green, yellow or red) to represent the status of the system's license. For additional information on the color-coded system, please click on the sections below. Click here to view LTO enforcement actions in the eDocument System. For better search results, select "Permit" under Document Type and "Drinking Water" under Program.
Unconditioned LTO (Green)
A green license to operate means it was issued without any conditions. Most public water systems in Ohio receive green licenses.
Conditioned LTO (Yellow)
A yellow license means it was issued to the public water system with conditions. Conditions usually require correction of violations of safe drinking water rules and may include conducting all required water quality monitoring, hiring a certified operator or paying an administrative fine.
Denied/Suspended/Revoked (Red Sign)
A red sign is issued to a public water system that is not licensed because its LTO renewal application was denied or its license was suspended or revoked. These actions are taken due to violations of safe drinking water rules. Public water systems with red signs are not permitted to provide water for human consumption.
LTO Fees
A person applying for a license or license renewal to operate a public water system under Section 6109.21 of the Ohio Revised Code shall pay the appropriate fee at the time of application to the director. Any person who fails to pay the fee at that time shall pay an additional amount that equals 10 percent of the required fee. Fees shall be calculated according to the following schedules.
Source: Ohio Revised Code 3745.11
A public water system may determine how it will pay the total amount of the fee calculated, including the assessment of additional user fees that may be assessed on a volumetric basis.
| Number of Service Connections | Fee Amount |
| Not more than 49 | $112 |
| 50-99 | $176 |
| Number of Service Connections | Average Cost per Connection |
| 100 to 2,499 | $1.92 |
| 2,500 to 4,999 | $1.48 |
| 5,000 to 7,499 | $1.42 |
| 7,500 to 9,999 | $1.34 |
| 10,000 to 14,999 | $1.16 |
| 15,000 to 24,999 | $1.10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | $1.04 |
| 50,000 to 99,999 | $0.92 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | $0.86 |
| 150,000 to 199,999 | $0.80 |
| 200,000 or more | $0.76 |
| Population Served | Fee Amount |
| Fewer than 150 | $112 |
| 150 to 299 | $176 |
| 300 to 749 | $384 |
| 750 to 1,499 | $628 |
| 1,500 to 2,999 | $1,286 |
| 3,000 to 7,499 | $2,816 |
| 7,500 to 14,999 | $5,510 |
| 15,000 to 22,499 | $9,048 |
| 22,500 to 29,999 | $12,430 |
| 30,000 or more | $16,820 |
| Number of Wells** Supplying System | Fee Amount |
| 1 | $112 |
| 2 | $112 |
| 3 | $176 |
| 4 | $278 |
| 5 | $568 |
| System designated as using a surface water source | $792 |
*“Service Connection” means the number of active or inactive pipes, goosenecks, pigtails, and any other fittings connecting a water main to any building outlet. “Population Served” means the total number of individuals having access to the water supply during a 24-hour period for at least 60 days during any calendar year. In the absence of a specific population count, that number shall be calculated at the rate of three individuals per service connection.
**“Number of Wells Supplying System” means those wells or sources that are physically connected to the plumbing system serving the public water system. A public water system designated as using a surface water source shall pay a fee of $792 or the amount calculated using the number of service connections or population served, whichever is higher.
Source: Ohio Revised Code 3745.11