Campgrounds/RVs

Program Introduction

The Highland County Health Department is responsible for inspecting and monitoring resident & day camps  and campgrounds for health and safety issues. Sanitarians look for physical hazards, building safety, proper water and sewage disposal, spacing requirements, playground safety, and other public health issues.

These various camp and park issues have many requirements and rules which are similar, but many rules are specific to individual camp types. Please contact the Highland County Health Department for more information on various rules and regulations regarding the various camp types.

Regulations:

• Resident Day Camp requirements can be found in Ohio Administrative Code(OAC) Chapter 3701-25
• Recreational Vehicle Parks, Combined Park-Camps, and Temporary Park-Camps requirements can be found in OAC Chapter 3701-26

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How is a campground defined?

Combined Park-Camp - any tract of land upon which a combination of five or more self-contained recreational vehicles or portable camping units are placed and includes any roadway, building, structure, vehicle, or enclosure used or intended for use as part of the park facilities.

Recreational Camp—any tract of land upon which five or more portable camping units are places, and includes any roadway, building, structure, vehicle, or enclosure used or intended for use as a part of the facilities of such camp.

Recreational Vehicle Park—any tract of land used for parking five or more self-contained recreational vehicles and includes any roadway, building, structure, vehicle, or enclosure used or intended

Temporary Park-Camp—any tract of land used for a period not to exceed a total of 21 days per calendar year for the purpose of parking five or more recreational vehicles, dependant recreational vehicles, or portable camping units, or any combination thereof, for one or more periods of time that do not exceed 7 consecutive days or parts thereof.

Resident Camp—means a facility which is being primarily utilized for the purpose of camping, that requires overnight residence, indoor or outdoor activities, and exists on any tract of land together with any buildings or other structures pertinent to its use.

Day Camp - means a faciliy which is being primarily utilized for the purpose of camping, indoor or outdoor activities, and exists on any tract of land together with any buildings or other structures pertinent to its use, but does not require overnight residence.

2. I want to open a camp or campground, where do I begin?
The first thing to do is to review the rules to determine what type of facility you would like to open.  For RV parks, Recreational Parks, Combined-Parks, and Temporary-Park Camps see section OAC 3701-26-02 "Plans: approval and content."     For Resident or Day camps see OAC 3701-25-02  "Plans: approval and content." 

3. What am I allowed to burn at my campfire?
The Ohio EPA has strict regulations concerning open burning materials. Essentially, only untreated wood can be used to fuel campfires.

2011 Licensed Facilities in Highland County:  (Updated 11/9/2011)

• Babington's Campground
• Bayview Campgrounds
• Cedar Hill Campground
• Country Home Campground
• God's Country Campground
• KM Retreat LLC dba Woodland Lake
• Pioneer Farm Horseman's Camp
• Rocky Fork State Park Campground
• Shady Trails Campground

Code Link

OAC 3701-26 Recreational Vehicle Parks, Combined Park-Camps, and Temporary Park-Camps

http://www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/final/f3701-26.aspx

ODH Program site for Campgrounds

http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/eh/parks/park2.aspx