DEPARTMENT OF LAW

Columbus City Codes tit. 1, ch. 125

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 125.01 Defense of city and city officers.

125.01 - Defense of city and city officers. (a) The city attorney is authorized and directed to defend, on behalf of all officers or employees of the city, all suits brought against such officers or employees arising out of or in the course of their employment with the city. (b) In the event the city attorney determines that (1) a suit brought against an officer or employee of the city did not arise out of or was not in the course of the officer's or employee's employment with the city thereby causing the city attorney to decline to defend the suit but it is later determined that the suit did arise out of or was in the course of employment with the city, or (2) the city attorney, because of the ethical considerations governing attorneys in the representation of multiple clients, denies a request of an officer or employee of the city for representation, retained special counsel, in either event, shall be reimbursed for the reasonable attorney fees incurred by the special counsel to be approved by ordinance of city council. (c) The city attorney is authorized to determine the appropriateness of and to execute, on behalf of the City, any waivers of conflict of interest pertaining to the legal representation of the City and/or city officers or employees by special counsel as are consistent with ethical considerations governing attorneys in the representation of multiple clients. (Ord. 2709-81; Ord. No. 0416-2021, § 1, 3-8-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 125.02 Prosecuting attorney; department management.

125.02 - Prosecuting attorney; department management. The city attorney shall designate one or more of the city attorney's assistants to act as prosecuting attorney for the Municipal Court, and shall prescribe such other duties for the management of his department as the city attorney may deem proper. (Sec. 2.33; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 125.03 Attendance at council and committee meetings.

125.03 - Attendance at council and committee meetings. The city attorney, or an assistant, shall attend all meetings of the city council and each committee thereof, and give the council any legal advice that may be requested of the city attorney at such meetings concerning their official acts. The city attorney shall further perform all duties that may be required by law or ordinance. (Sec. 2.34; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 125.04 Adviser to clerk on codification and numbering of ordinances.

125.04 - Adviser to clerk on codification and numbering of ordinances. The city attorney shall be the legal adviser to the city clerk in the codification and numbering of ordinances of a general and permanent nature hereafter passed by the council and shall advise the city clerk in cases where doubt arises as to the proper numbering of ordinances. (Sec. 2.35.)

Columbus City Codes § 125.05 City attorney acts under other titles.

125.05 - City attorney acts under other titles. In addition to the duties imposed upon the city attorney by the Charter of the city of Columbus, the city attorney shall perform the duties which are imposed upon a city director of law by the general law of the state, beyond the competence of the Charter of the city of Columbus to alter or require. Whenever necessary in the performance of any of the city attorney's duties, the city attorney may function under the title "director of law," "city solicitor," "city attorney" or any other title appropriate for the chief legal officer of this city and shall have the powers of any and all such officers, however known. (Ord. 269-78; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 125.06 Real estate division.

125.06 - Real estate division. The real estate division is established as a division of the department of law. The administrative head of the division shall be an assistant city attorney to be known as the chief real estate attorney. The real estate division shall be responsible for providing legal services associated with the city's acquisition of real property; providing the legal services associated with the sale of city owned real property; providing legal services associated with leasing of real property; the recording with the Franklin County recorder's office of all city deeds, easements and real property leases; obtaining all necessary real property appraisals for the city of Columbus; and such other responsibilities as prescribed by the city attorney. (Ord. 386-86; Ord. 1102-05 § 1 (part).)

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=TIT1ADCO_CH125DELAFetched: 10/27/2026