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Ohio C-PACE financing guidance

Ohio — C-PACE state brief

Enabled and actively used, with multiple local/regional routes plus OAQDA's newer route. Ohio's initial PACE authority dates to 2009 HB1, with 2010 SB232 expanding eligible energy improvements beyond solar. Traditional programs operate through energy special improvement districts (ESIDs) under ORC Chapter 1710 and local special assessments. The early Northeast Ohio district incorporated in December 2010; a 2011 federal-laboratory brief described its planned launch, not a verified completed first transaction. Current Chapter 1710, historical DSIRE record, 2011 LBNL policy brief.

Local evidence first. Financing availability is not assumed.

Status and history

HB33 added ORC 3706.051, effective October 3, 2023, allowing the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) to partner directly with a municipality/township, issue bonds and use local assessments for repayment. This is not the original Ohio PACE enactment. Current §3706.051.

Current responsible organizations and geography

  • OAQDA: State authority with project-by-project board and local-government approvals; its direct route does not require an additional ESID administration structure. Private capital can purchase its revenue bonds. The March 31, 2026 newsletter identifies Christina O'Keeffe as executive director. OAQDA program, dated leadership source.
  • Cincinnati: City Department of Community and Economic Development and Ohio PACE are local entry points. Ohio PACE intake: 614-227-4888. City program, Ohio PACE.
  • Central Ohio: Columbus Regional ESID, with Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority and private lenders. The authority dates its program to 2015; a current official municipal page distinguishes the district from the lender. Authority annual report, Worthington explanation.
  • NOPEC: Another regional financing entry point for qualifying commercial projects in member communities; its product limits are not statewide statutory limits. NOPEC PACE.

State authority does not make every parcel automatically approved. Confirm jurisdiction, applicable district/direct route and local approvals before describing availability.

OAQDA lists commercial, multifamily, industrial and small-business sectors. Eligible air-quality/energy improvements can include HVAC, lighting, envelope, geothermal, solar and controls; the authority determines the approved project scope. Its tax benefits attach to qualifying improvements, not a blanket exemption of the entire building. County officials administer assessment billing/collection. OAQDA criteria.

Ohio PACE requires written existing-mortgage-holder consent before adding the assessment to the tax bill. Its process is eligibility screening → energy scope/savings analysis → application and lender terms → consent → assessment/closing → installation. Ohio PACE process. Traditional assessments attach to land and can remain when ownership changes; confirm transaction-specific lien priority, buyer/lender treatment and payoff terms with local counsel. Union Township explanation. Do not import Ohio's separate residential-PACE lien rules into commercial financing.

Known projects

Known projects
Project / locationDate evidenceType / amountStatus
525 Metro Place PACE Project, DublinSeptember 2018 issuance in authority's annual report$934,486 reported financed project; exact measure breakdown not given in the tableHistorical issuance, explicitly named PACE in the financed-project list; not a construction-completion certificate. 2018 report
118 W. Ninth Street / Church on Ninth, CincinnatiCity resolution passed October 30, 2024Former-church event-venue conversion; associated OAQDA investment reported as $1.655 million by project architectLocal assessment approval is verified; amount is project-participant reporting, not a verified final disbursement. Council record, architect's report

Local applicability, resilience and permits

Cincinnati example: The Church on Ninth council action is evidence of a particular local approval, not a blanket approval for every Ohio project. Traditional ESID and OAQDA-direct projects have different approval paths. Neither route's energy-improvement scope automatically covers standalone flood or wind hardening; obtain a written eligibility determination for resilience-only work.

Cincinnati requires permits for significant construction/alterations and separately for HVAC and other systems; floodplain development also requires permits. Ohio registered architects/engineers prepare documents for specified commercial new construction/major alterations. The Building Department's approval is separate from assessment legislation. City permit guide, plans and inspection FAQ. The state announced 2024 building/mechanical/plumbing codes effective March 1, 2024; verify subsequent amendments and project-date applicability rather than importing another city's code list. State adoption announcement.

VERADUCT next steps and exact gaps

Choose a local route before comparing terms; confirm current district membership, required approvals and lender consent. Obtain OAQDA closing documentation for Church on Ninth and original project records for Dublin. OAQDA's program page returned 404 on direct fetch while current indexed official content was available; its statute and March 2026 newsletter independently support the newer route. This brief is not an exhaustive ESID directory.

Additional verification limits

Items requiring further confirmation: Exhaustive ESID map; OAQDA final closing evidence; local permit/code applicability.

Continue your project research

Compare the national C-PACE financing structure; Organize state and local project requirements; Prepare a commercial-building improvement scope. This page provides guidance only; it does not accept an application or submit information to a provider.

References

  1. codes.ohio.gov (n.d.) Current Chapter 1710. Available at: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-1710 (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  2. programs.dsireusa.org (n.d.) historical DSIRE record. Available at: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/3554 (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Secondary specialist historical record; current Ohio statutes separately cited.
  3. eta-publications.lbl.gov (n.d.) 2011 LBNL policy brief. Available at: https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/policy-brief-pace-financing.pdf (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  4. codes.ohio.gov (n.d.) Current §3706.051. Available at: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3706.051 (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  5. ohioairquality.ohio.gov (n.d.) OAQDA program. Available at: https://ohioairquality.ohio.gov/incentives-and-financing/property-assessed-clean-energy/03-property-assessed-clean-energy (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Direct fetch returned 404; indexed official contents were available; statute/newsletter corroborate route.
  6. ohioairquality.ohio.gov (n.d.) dated leadership source. Available at: https://ohioairquality.ohio.gov/home/news-and-events/all-news/2026-03-31-q1-airfocus-newsletter (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  7. www.cincinnati-oh.gov (n.d.) City program. Available at: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/oes/buildings-and-energy/energy-efficiency/pace-financing1/ (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  8. ohpace.org (n.d.) Ohio PACE. Available at: https://ohpace.org/ (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  9. columbusfinance.org (n.d.) Authority annual report. Available at: https://columbusfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2021-Year-in-Review-Report_Final.pdf (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  10. www.businessworthington.org (n.d.) Worthington explanation. Available at: https://www.businessworthington.org/152/PACE-Assistance-Program (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  11. www.nopec.org (n.d.) NOPEC PACE. Available at: https://www.nopec.org/small-businesses/energy-efficiency-financing/pace-loan (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  12. www.utclermont.gov (n.d.) Union Township explanation. Available at: https://www.utclermont.gov/294/Property-Assessed-Clean-Energy-PACE-and- (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  13. columbusfinance.org (n.d.) 2018 report. Available at: https://columbusfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2018-Annual-Report-with-List-of-Projects.pdf (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  14. cincinnatioh.legistar.com (n.d.) Council record. Available at: https://cincinnatioh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?GUID=E1EC0998-FA14-454D-921A-8082B90F8B99&ID=6901803&Options=&Search= (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  15. www.linkedin.com (n.d.) architect's report. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/springhouse-architects_success-stories-118-w-9th-st-llc-activity-7320770946062061570-n-ZI (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Project-participant statement; use council record for approval, not as final closing proof.
  16. vendorselfservice.cincinnati-oh.gov (n.d.) City permit guide. Available at: https://vendorselfservice.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/building-permit-forms-applications/permit-guide/do-i-need-a-permit/ (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  17. www.cincinnati-oh.gov (n.d.) plans and inspection FAQ. Available at: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/faq/ (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.
  18. governor.ohio.gov (n.d.) State adoption announcement. Available at: https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/dewine-husted-announce-effective-date-for-ohios-updated-building-codes (Accessed: 2026-10-28 UTC). Transferred source review; current parcel, transaction and outcome limits are stated in the guide. Not a new integrator retrieval.

Written by VERADUCT Editorial. Herve Drompt, VERADUCT Owner — publication authorized; not professional or legal review. Page version 1.0.1. Publication authorization is not professional, legal or scientific peer review.