Making false alarms.
Columbus City Codes § 2317.32
in effect2317.32 - Making false alarms.
(A) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Initiate or circulate a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe, knowing that the report or warning is false and likely to cause public inconvenience or alarm;
(2) Knowingly cause a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted to or within any organization, public or private, for dealing with emergencies involving a risk of physical harm to persons or property;
(3) Report to any law enforcement agency an alleged offense or other incident within its concern, knowing that such offense did not occur.
(B) This section does not apply to any person conducting an authorized fire or emergency drill.
(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of making false alarms, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(D) This section shall not apply if:
(1) A violation of this section results in economic harm of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more;
(2) A violation pertains to a purported, threatened, or actual use of a weapon of mass destruction;
(E) As used in this section, "economic harm" and "weapon of mass destruction" have the same meanings as in Section 2917.31 of the Revised Code.
(ORC 2917.32; Ord. 2535-94; Ord. No. 1229-2014, § 1, 6-16-2014)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT23GEOFCO_CH2317PUCO_2317.32MAFAALFetched: 10/27/2026