Ohio Revised Code Title I. State Government § 119.07

Except when a statute prescribes a notice and the persons to whom it shall be given, in all cases in which section 119.06 of the Revised Code requires an agency to afford an opportunity for a hearing prior to the issuance of an order, the agency shall give notice to the party informing the party of the party's right to a hearing.  Notice shall be given by registered mail, return receipt requested, and shall include the charges or other reasons for the proposed action, the law or rule directly involved, and a statement informing the party that the party is entitled to a hearing if the party requests it within thirty days of the time of mailing the notice.  The notice shall also inform the party that at the hearing the party may appear in person, by the party's attorney, or by such other representative as is permitted to practice before the agency, or may present the party's position, arguments, or contentions in writing and that at the hearing the party may present evidence and examine witnesses appearing for and against the party.  A copy of the notice shall be mailed to attorneys or other representatives of record representing the party.  This paragraph does not apply to situations in which such section provides for a hearing only when it is requested by the party.

When a statute specifically permits the suspension of a license without a prior hearing, notice of the agency's order shall be sent to the party by registered mail, return receipt requested, not later than the business day next succeeding such order.  The notice shall state the reasons for the agency's action, cite the law or rule directly involved, and state that the party will be afforded a hearing if the party requests it within thirty days of the time of mailing the notice.  A copy of the notice shall be mailed to attorneys or other representatives of record representing the party.

Whenever a party requests a hearing in accordance with this section and section 119.06 of the Revised Code, the agency shall immediately set the date, time, and place for the hearing and forthwith notify the party thereof.  The date set for the hearing shall be within fifteen days, but not earlier than seven days, after the party has requested a hearing, unless otherwise agreed to by both the agency and the party.

When any notice sent by registered mail, as required by sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code, is returned because the party fails to claim the notice, the agency shall send the notice by ordinary mail to the party at the party's last known address and shall obtain a certificate of mailing.  Service by ordinary mail is complete when the certificate of mailing is obtained unless the notice is returned showing failure of delivery.

If any notice sent by registered or ordinary mail is returned for failure of delivery, the agency either shall make personal delivery of the notice by an employee or agent of the agency or shall cause a summary of the substantive provisions of the notice to be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the last known address of the party is located.  When notice is given by publication, a proof of publication affidavit, with the first publication of the notice set forth in the affidavit, shall be mailed by ordinary mail to the party at the party's last known address and the notice shall be deemed received as of the date of the last publication.  An employee or agent of the agency may make personal delivery of the notice upon a party at any time.

Refusal of delivery by personal service or by mail is not failure of delivery and service is deemed to be complete.  Failure of delivery occurs only when a mailed notice is returned by the postal authorities marked undeliverable, address or addressee unknown, or forwarding address unknown or expired.  A party's last known address is the mailing address of the party appearing in the records of the agency.

The failure of an agency to give the notices for any hearing required by sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code in the manner provided in this section shall invalidate any order entered pursuant to the hearing.