What is a ditch petition?

Under Ohio Revised Code 6131.04, any landowner (including a private or public corporation, board of township trustees, board of education, mayor or legislative authority, director of any department, office or institution of the state, and the trustees of any state, county, or municipal public institution) can file a petition with the clerk of the board of county commissioners to construct an “improvement.”

Ditch Petitions in Progress

Final Hearing Aug. 6, 2024, continued to July 15, 2025
Petition was approved at the Final Hearing on March 11, 2025
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Is your ditch under petition? 

Check out our LCE GIS Ditch Petition Map to see

This map displays all of the ditches in Lucas County, both inside and outside of incorporated areas, and what ditches are under petition, in the process of coming under petition and those that are not petitioned.

Drainage Improvement Projects

The Lucas County Engineer's Office manages the county's MS4 permit, including design and implementation of stormwater capital improvement projects and the maintenance and repair of ditches and retention areas that have been petitioned by affected property owners.
Project Name
Year
Funding
Ford Ditch
2023-24
U.S. EPA
Drennan Ditch
2022
Great Lakes Commission
Fallen Timber Fairways Subdivision Drainage Improvements
2022
By assessment
Van Fleet Ditch
2022
U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA
Zink-Heldman Ditch
2022
Ohio EPA
Morrison Ditch
2021
Ohio EPA
Smith Ditch
2020
U.S. EPA

Annual Ditch Petitions Reports

Under Ohio Revised Code Section 6137.06 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), the Lucas County Engineer submits an annual report to the county commissioners on the work completed on petitioned ditches as well as recommendations for future maintenance