Allowed if reasonable

Non-compete law in Ohio

Ohio has no general statute governing employee noncompetes that we could find; enforceability is decided by courts under a reasonableness standard (case law, not cited here). Senate Bill 11 (136th General Assembly, 2025-26) would enact new R.C. 4119.01-4119.04 voiding agreements that stop a worker from working for another or operating a business after the relationship ends, with a private action and attorney-general enforcement. The official status page, read through an Internet Archive capture made on 2026-10-14, shows it introduced on 2025-01-22 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 2025-01-29 with no later action; it is not law.

Last verified · confidence medium. Clauseworthy is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.

Employee non-competes
Not banned; conditions apply
Pay floor
None in the statute
Duration
No statutory cap; courts apply a reasonableness test (case law, not verified from an official court source).

Non-solicitation clauses

No statute; case law (not cited). SB 11 as introduced is silent on non-solicitation but bars agreements that 'prohibit the worker from ... seeking or accepting work with a person, or operating a business' after the relationship ends.

Contracts naming another state's law

None in current law found. SB 11 (as introduced, proposed R.C. 4119.03) would bar requiring a worker who primarily resides and does business in Ohio to litigate Ohio-arising claims elsewhere or give up Ohio law, unless the worker is individually represented by counsel not selected or paid for by the employer.

Remedies

No statutory remedy in current law found. SB 11 as introduced would allow a worker to sue (actual damages, punitive damages up to $5,000, injunctive relief, costs and attorney fees) and allow the attorney general to investigate and sue (proposed R.C. 4119.04).

Which agreements it covers

Pending bill only; SB 11 as introduced applies to agreements entered into, modified or extended on or after its effective date and bars employers from attempting to enforce prohibited agreements from that date (proposed R.C. 4119.02).

Recent changes

  • 2025-01-22. S.B. 11 (136th G.A.) introduced 2025-01-22 to enact R.C. 4119.01-.04 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee 2025-01-29; the official status page (Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-14) shows no later action. The introduced text lists only two non-limits (debt payment/forgiveness; government loan-repayment programs) and no sale-of-business or other carve-out. Not enacted as far as found. Source

Primary sources

Checker

What the statute says for these facts

Four facts. The answer leads with what the statute does at that pay, then names any change already enacted, then quotes the details with their citations.

The person who would sign

Several statutes treat contractors differently.

Other states on file