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Instructions for Property Owner(s) / Insured(s)

Please Read Carefully

If your property has been damaged by fire and you plan to remove, repair, or secure it – you must notify the City first. If you do not, the City may step in and complete the work using your fire escrow deposit to pay for the costs (TMC 1726.07). If the costs are higher than the amount in escrow, you will be responsible to pay the outstanding cost to the City.

You cannot transfer ownership of the property while City orders related to the property are still active (TMC 1726.08(c)). Doing so may result in a civil penalty (up to $600). If you have questions about transferring ownership or escrow funds, you should speak with an attorney.

The escrow deposit may not be released until all of these steps have been followed. Please allow at least 30 days after submitting the application for a check to be issued to you.

What to do if your property is fire damaged.

Contact Building Inspection

Contact the Division of Building Inspection at 419-245-1220 within 24 hours. Tell them the address where the fire occurred and if the property needs emergency stabilization.

Why:

  • The City needs to know the property is fire damaged
  • You may need approval before doing any cleanup, demolition, or repairs
  • The City may require inspections or permits, and/or to secure the structure
  • Determine if you can and will complete the repairs on your own

Contact Insurance Company

You will need a fire write up from your insurance company before any permits for repair or demolition can be issued.

Contact Urban Beautification

If your property was demolished due to an emergency, you'll need to review the current status and discuss options for completing the site restoration.

Complete Work

Complete all rehab or demolition work, including site restoration in accordance with applicable laws.

Complete Application for Funds Release

Fill out and submit the Application for Fire Insurance Escrow Funds Release below in order to release any remaining funds to you.

Note: any costs incurred by the City will be deducted from these funds before they are released to the insured(s).

Application for Fire Insurance Escrow Funds Release

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Owner Information

Property Information

Verification Required

By signing below, the insured certifies that their answers are true and complete to the best of their knowledge. The insured understands they may be asked for permits, licenses, or other information to verify work has been completed in accordance with applicable laws. The insured understands that in accordance with TMC 1726.07, any monies due to the costs of removing, repairing, or securing the property pursuant to O.R.C. 715.261 will be released to the City of Toledo’s Demolition Trust Fund prior to the remaining amount released to the insured.

Instructions for Insurance Providers

Under O.R.C. 3929.86, insurance providers may be required to transfer a portion of a fire insurance claim to the City of Toledo’s Fire Insurance Escrow fund. This fund is used, “solely as security against the total cost of removing, repairing, or securing incurred” by the City of Toledo pursuant to O.R.C. 715.261 or 505.86.

Checks should be made out to “The City of Toledo” and mailed to:

City of Toledo, Division of Treasury
One Government Center, Suite 2000
Toledo, Ohio 43604

Questions can be directed to FireEscrow@toledo.oh.gov.

Fire Escrow Fund Transparency

To see a quarterly list of outstanding accounts held in escrow, please visit our Financial Transparency portion of the website and scroll down under “Fire Escrow.”