(A) Every real estate broker licensed under this chapter shall have and maintain a definite place of business in this state. A post office box address is not a definite place of business for purposes of this section. The license of a real estate broker shall be prominently displayed in the office or place of business of the broker, and no license shall authorize the licensee to do business except from the location specified in it. If the broker maintains more than one place of business within the state, the broker shall apply for and procure a duplicate license for each branch office maintained by the broker. Each branch office shall be in the charge of a licensed broker or salesperson. The branch office license shall be prominently displayed at the branch office location.

(B) The license of each real estate salesperson shall be mailed to and remain in the possession of the licensed broker with whom the salesperson is or is to be associated until the licensee places the license on inactive or resigned status or until the salesperson leaves the brokerage or is terminated. The broker shall keep each salesperson's license in a way that it can, and shall on request, be made immediately available for public inspection at the office or place of business of the broker. Except as provided in divisions (G) and (H) of this section, immediately upon the salesperson's leaving the association or termination of the association of a real estate salesperson with the broker, the broker shall return the salesperson's license to the superintendent of real estate.

The failure of a broker to return the license of a real estate salesperson or broker who leaves or who is terminated, via certified mail return receipt requested, within three business days of the receipt of a written request from the superintendent for the return of the license, is prima-facie evidence of misconduct under division (A)(6) of section 4735.18 of the Revised Code.

(C) A licensee shall notify the superintendent in writing within fifteen days of any of the following occurrences:

(1) The licensee is convicted of a felony.

(2) The licensee is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.

(3) The licensee is found to have violated any federal, state, or municipal civil rights law pertaining to discrimination in housing.

(4) The licensee is found to have engaged in a discriminatory practice pertaining to housing accommodations described in division (H) of section 4112.02 of the Revised Code.

(5) The licensee is the subject of an order by the department of commerce, the department of insurance, or the department of agriculture revoking or permanently surrendering any professional license, certificate, or registration.

(6) The licensee is the subject of an order by any government agency concerning real estate, financial matters, or the performance of fiduciary duties with respect to any license, certificate, or registration.

If a licensee fails to notify the superintendent within the required time, the superintendent immediately may suspend the license of the licensee.

Any court that convicts a licensee of a violation of any municipal civil rights law pertaining to housing discrimination also shall notify the Ohio civil rights commission within fifteen days of the conviction.

(D) In case of any change of business location, a broker shall give notice to the superintendent, on a form prescribed by the superintendent, within thirty days after the change of location, whereupon the superintendent shall issue new licenses for the unexpired period without charge. If a broker changes a business location without giving the required notice and without receiving new licenses that action is prima-facie evidence of misconduct under division (A)(6) of section 4735.18 of the Revised Code.

(E) If a real estate broker desires to associate with another real estate broker in the capacity of a real estate salesperson, the broker shall apply to the superintendent to deposit the broker's real estate broker's license with the superintendent and for the issuance of a real estate salesperson's license. The application shall be made on a form prescribed by the superintendent and shall be accompanied by the recommendation of the real estate broker with whom the applicant intends to become associated and a fee of thirty-four dollars for the real estate salesperson's license. One dollar of the fee shall be credited to the real estate education and research fund. If the superintendent is satisfied that the applicant is honest, truthful, and of good reputation, has not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and has not been finally adjudged by a court to have violated any municipal, state, or federal civil rights laws relevant to the protection of purchasers or sellers of real estate, and that the association of the real estate broker and the applicant will be in the public interest, the superintendent shall grant the application and issue a real estate salesperson's license to the applicant. Any license so deposited with the superintendent shall be subject to this chapter. A broker who intends to deposit the broker's license with the superintendent, as provided in this section, shall give written notice of this fact in a format prescribed by the superintendent to all salespersons associated with the broker when applying to place the broker's license on deposit.

(F) If a real estate broker desires to become a member or officer of a partnership, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or corporation that is or intends to become a licensed real estate broker, the broker shall notify the superintendent of the broker's intentions. The notice of intention shall be on a form prescribed by the superintendent and shall be accompanied by a fee of thirty-four dollars. One dollar of the fee shall be credited to the real estate education and research fund.

A licensed real estate broker who is a member or officer of a partnership, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or corporation shall only act as a real estate broker for such partnership, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or corporation.

(G)

(1) If a real estate broker or salesperson enters the armed forces, the broker or salesperson may place the broker's or salesperson's license on deposit with the Ohio real estate commission. The licensee shall not be required to renew the license until the renewal date that follows the date of discharge from the armed forces. Any license deposited with the commission shall be subject to this chapter.

Any licensee whose license is on deposit under this division and who fails to meet the continuing education requirements of section 4735.141 of the Revised Code because the licensee is in the armed forces shall satisfy the commission that the licensee has complied with the continuing education requirements within twelve months of the licensee's first birthday after discharge or within the amount of time equal to the total number of months the licensee spent on active duty, whichever is greater. The licensee shall submit proper documentation of active duty service and the length of that active duty service to the superintendent. The extension shall not exceed the total number of months that the licensee served in active duty. The superintendent shall notify the licensee of the licensee's obligations under section 4735.141 of the Revised Code at the time the licensee applies for reactivation of the licensee's license.

(2) If a licensee is a spouse of a member of the armed forces and the spouse's service resulted in the licensee's absence from this state, both of the following apply:

(a) The licensee shall not be required to renew the license until the renewal date that follows the date of the spouse's discharge from the armed forces.

(b) If the licensee fails to meet the continuing education requirements of section 4735.141 of the Revised Code, the licensee shall satisfy the commission that the licensee has complied with the continuing education requirements within twelve months after the licensee's first birthday after the spouse's discharge or within the amount of time equal to the total number of months the licensee's spouse spent on active duty, whichever is greater. The licensee shall submit proper documentation of the spouse's active duty service and the length of that active duty service. This extension shall not exceed the total number of months that the licensee's spouse served in active duty.

(3) In the case of a licensee as described in division (G)(2) of this section, who holds the license through a reciprocity agreement with another state, the spouse's service shall have resulted in the licensee's absence from the licensee's state of residence for the provisions of that division to apply.

(4) As used in this division, "armed forces" means the armed forces of the United States or reserve component of the armed forces of the United States including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any other state.

(H) If a licensed real estate salesperson submits an application to the superintendent to leave the association of one broker to associate with a different broker, the broker possessing the licensee's license need not return the salesperson's license to the superintendent. The superintendent may process the application regardless of whether the licensee's license is returned to the superintendent.

Amended by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.127, HB 487, §101.01, eff. 9/9/2012.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 04-05-2002; 11-05-2004; 2008 HB562 09-22-2008 .