Lucas County Sheriff

Transient Vendor Filing and Bond with the County Sheriff

This is a county-level obligation created by statute rather than by any county programme, and it applies to a holder of a state transient vendor's license who intends to provide goods and services of a retail value of more than five hundred dollars in Lucas County. ORC 311.37(A) requires the vendor, before doing business anywhere in the county, to file with the county sheriff proof of identity and of the transient vendor's license, a statement of the goods or services with an estimate of the amount expected to be sold in the county documented by invoices showing wholesale value, the permanent business address, and the times, days and temporary places of business planned in the county. The sheriff keeps the record open to public inspection for two years. The exceptions in ORC 311.37(E) are wide and matter to most readers: the section does not reach a transient vendor making retail sales at a temporary exhibition, show, fair, world trade centre, flea market or similar event, a qualifying nonprofit, 'Any person who operates a permanent business in this state, occupies temporary premises, and prominently displays the permanent business' name and permanent address while business is conducted from the temporary premises', or sales by sample, brochure or catalogue for future delivery. A retailer or contractor working out of temporary premises in the county without a permanent Ohio business behind it is the case this reaches. The transient vendor's license itself is a state credential obtained from the Ohio Department of Taxation for $50 under ORC 5739.17(D), not from the county auditor.