Frequently Asked Questions

There are numerous structures that need permits in the township, but a quick list includes: 

• Sheds or detached buildings larger than 10' x 10' (100 square feet) need a zoning certificate and must be six feet from any property line. If the building is 200 square feet or larger, a building permit from Montgomery County and concrete foundation are required in addition to a zoning certificate. 

• All pools (including above ground pools higher than two feet) require both a certificate and a building permit. Distance from the property line varies with the zoning district. Fencing or cover requirements also exist. 

• All building additions require both a certificate and a building permit. Distance from the property line varies with the zoning district. • All patio covers and carports are considered building additions and require both a certificate and a building permit. 

• All decks with floors 24 inches or more from the ground are considered building additions and require a certificate. Call Montgomery Building Regulations at (937) 225-4622 for requirements for deck permits. 

• All signage with a commercial message requires both a certificate and a building permit. 

• All fences require only a certificate from the township. The Application for Zoning Certificate should be accompanied by two plot plans indicating where the fence is to be installed. Fences are limited to 42 inches in height between the house and front property line(s), six feet elsewhere. For assistance in locating underground utilities, call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service at 800-362-2764. 

• Please contact Montgomery County Building Regulations Department (937)-225-4622 prior to any construction project for current building code requirements as the building code is not regulated by Miami Township and is also periodically revised.

The Miami Township Zoning Resolution allows for the construction of a shed, 10' x 10' (100 square feet), and no higher than 11 feet without a permit. The township requires that it be placed three feet from any property line and located in the rear yard. The land between the shed and the property line must be maintained.

You are able to use your property for agriculture if you live in an "A" Agricultural District or on a parcel larger than 5 acres. In certain cases, properties smaller than 5 acres are able to be used for agriculture. Please contact a Community Development staff member for more information.

The Miami Township Police Department is always looking for qualified candidates with the desire to serve the community as a police officer. The application process is always open. Applicants must fill out a complete application and answer the history questionnaire found on the Employment page of this website. Applicants should scroll down the employment page to locate the job opening. Please call (937) 433-2301 during the police department’s regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

In an emergency, call 911 immediately from any wired or wireless phone. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police department, fire department or emergency medical services. Examples include: • A fire • A crime, especially if it is in progress • A car crash, especially if someone is injured • A medical emergency, such as someone who is unconscious, gasping for air or not breathing, experiencing an allergic reaction, having chest pain, having uncontrollable bleeding, or any other symptoms that require immediate medical attention. If you are in need of non-emergency police or fire service, in other words an emergency does not exist and you don’t need an immediate police, fire, or EMS response, please call 937-296-2558.

When you call 911, be prepared to answer the call-taker’s questions, which may include: • The location of the emergency, including the street address • The phone number you are calling from • The nature of the emergency Details about the emergency, such as a physical description of a person who may have committed a crime, a description of any fire that may be burning, or a description of any injuries or symptoms being experienced by a person having a medical emergency Remember, the call-taker’s questions are important to get the right kind of help to you quickly. Be prepared to follow any instructions the call-taker gives you. Many 911 centers can tell you exactly what to do to help in an emergency until help arrives, such as providing step-by-step instructions to aid someone who is chocking or needs first aid or CPR. Finally, do not hang up until the call-taker instructs you to hang up. If you dial 911 by mistake, or if a child in your home dials 911 when no emergency exists, do not hang up—that could make 911 officials think that an emergency exists, and possibly send responders to your location. Instead, simply explain to the call-taker what happened. If you are in need of non-emergency police or fire service, in other words an emergency does not exist and you don’t need an immediate police, fire, or EMS response, please call 937-296-2558 .

Yes, as a service to the citizens of Miami Township, the Police Department provides a “vacation house check” service. A few hours before you leave for vacation, give our courteous dispatchers a call at 937-296-2558 and provide them with information about your house while you are away. If possible, include the name of a person with emergency access to your house. As time permits, our diligent officers will check your house periodically while you are away.

The Miami Township Police Department does offer fingerprinting services. Services are offered Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $45.00. You must call to make an appointment in advance at (937) 433-2301.  They are for state and federal background checks for employment and licensing purposes, all handled electronically. 

Neighborhood Watch is a valuable crime prevention tool. If you are interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch in your area, contact Sgt. Jay Phares during regular business hours at 937-433-2301.

 Austin Landing is NOT funded by using resident's property tax revenues.The Austin Landing development does contain public roadways and a public park, but Miami Township Public Works staff does NOT perform work in Austin Landing. The public amenities are funded by using TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) revenues and JEDD (Joint Economic Development District) revenues. The site is under a maintenance agreement for the property's developer to fund, manage and maintain all private and public features including: roadway maintenance and resurfacing, curbs, pavement markings, cross walks, snow removal, street sweeping, sidewalks, traffic signals storm water systems, landscape and irrigation systems, recreational amenities and park maintenance. To find out more about where your tax dollars do go Click Here.

Resolution #094-2018 established a rule that requires all recreational equipment, including portable and permanent basketball goals, located within the road right-of-way be removed immediately by the property owner. This equipment placed in or near the road poses a threat to pedestrian and motorist safety. An accident occurring in the road right-of-way due to illegal placement of basketball goals is the liability of the responsible party. A previous resolution passed by the Board of Trustees in 2006 also prohibited the placement of basketball goals within the road right-of-way. Please visit our Sports Equipment Nuisance Resolution page to read more information regarding this topic.

Miami Township will repair or replace mailboxes that have been damaged as a direct result of the driver’s actions such as striking the mailbox with the plow. Some mailboxes are in a state of disrepair and the snow coming from the plow will knock the box off or knock the post down. If mailboxes are already in a state of disrepair and the weight of the snow causes damage to the mailbox, the property owner is responsible for making necessary repairs.

While it may seem that you do not see leaf crews pass your property for long periods of time, please understand that the Township is 22 square miles with 90 miles of roadway. Crews visit every street in the township at least 2 times each season and try to complete each round within 10-15 business days. Visit our Leaf Collection page under Weekly Updates for an updated progress report. In 2012, the Trash Levy was voted down by residents and dedicated funding for leaf collection was eliminated. Modifications to the program were necessary to compensate for the levy failure.

Since roughly 1970 Miami Township had provided trash service and leaf collection through the support of two property tax levies. These levies covered the cost for household trash collection, leaf collection and material recycling services for Miami Township residents. In 2012, residents voted down one of the two levies which required the township to change the way it provides service.

As of June 1, 2013, the waste disposal program in Miami Township moved to a residential fee system. Contracts are negotiated by the township every three years (with two option years available) to secure the lowest rate for all residents of the community. Residents are billed directly by the waste hauler quarterly if they choose to have the service. Residents may opt out of the program by calling the waste hauler directly. Miami Township receives no compensation, franchise fees or benefits from this contract.

Due to the Trash Levy failure in 2012, the expenses to collect leaves are not reimbursed to the General Fund and are now an unfunded additional expense to Miami Township's budget. Modifications to the Leaf Collection program were necessary to minimize the negative monetary impact on the General Fund budget. The program's budget has been reduced from over $100,000 in 2009 to approximately $75-90,000 in 2014 and beyond. Reduction in funding resonates through a reduction in services, but the Public Works Department continually assesses operations to maximize efficiency. To find out more about the history of the trash levy and the current contract Click Here. 

Contact Rumpke Customer Service at 1-800-828-8171.

Contact Miami Valley Lighting at 1-888-316-2393 for street light outages. Chautauqua residents should contact Cinergy at 1-800-262-3000.

Although not widely regarded in the eyes of the public as trained professionals, Public Works employees at Miami Township do complete routine formal/ informal training to hone construction skills and pursue educational opportunities to stay current to industry specific trends and techniques. Employees are Class A Commercial Drivers and some are certified through the State of Ohio in commercial pesticide application. Road Department employees complete Ohio Department of Transportation LTAP coursework, attend APWA (American Public Works Association) seminars and complete on-line coursework yearly. Each employee in Public Works has been certified in NIMS (National Incident Management System) training and CPR. Some of the Road Department staff participate in a leadership-in-training program to increase skills, expand knowledge and are challenged in entry level managerial situations to develop future leaders. Mechanics in the department hold numerous ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Certifications.

Our zoning department conducts routine tours of our township to inspect potential problem properties. Nuisance issues can arise due to a variety of causes and keeping track of these properties are a priority. The zoning department appreciates the help our neighbors offer to point out any nuisance property we may have missed. If you wish to make notification of a property please call the office (937) 433-3426 and provide the address with your point of concern. All calls remain anonymous and will be handled as the law permits. If you wish follow-up contact on the status, please advise.

Put out trash and recycling the evening before your service day. This way, should the daily time of your pickup change, your trash is out and ready for pickup.

If the holiday falls on a weekday before your regular service day, collection will be delayed one day. If the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, collection will NOT be delayed. OBSERVED HOLIDAYS • New Year’s Day • Memorial Day • Independence Day • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day • Christmas Day

No. You may place trash in a container of your choosing, or you may use a trash cart from Rumpke for $1.50 per month.

Recycling is now picked up every week alongside your trash. Place your recycling loose inside the cart — DO NOT bag recyclables.

Please do not place household hazardous waste such as batteries, paint, tires, pool chemicals, propane tanks and syringes in your trash or recycling. These items pose an immediate fire and safety hazard and potential long-term environmental hazard. Please visit Montgomery County Solid Waste District’s website for information on proper disposal of hazardous material, by visiting www.mcohio.org.

Rinse out all recyclables. Recyclables include paper products, product packaging and shipping materials. Click for a complete list.

Yes. Consider a courtesy call to Rumpke to let them know about bulk items. All upholstered items, such as mattresses, box springs and couches, must be wrapped in plastic. Wrap each bulk item separately. Appliances with Freon must have Freon removed by a licensed specialist and tagged accordingly. • Carpet must be cut into rolls no longer than 4 ft. and no heavier than 50 lbs. • Construction debris must be properly disposed of. Contact a Rumpke representative to discuss your options.

Call Rumpke directly at (800) 828-8171 or (937) 461-0004.