Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Ohio · Akron Metro · Cuyahoga Valley · #183 Most Populous County in the US
Summit County Government Offices
Akron - the Rubber City that built America's tire industry, LeBron James's hometown, and the gateway to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A post-industrial city reinventing itself around polymer science, healthcare, and one of the most beloved national parks in the Midwest. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Summit County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Summit County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Summit County Emergency Management Agency – Ohio Building, 1st Floor, 175 South Main Street, Akron, OH 44308 | (330) 643-2558 | Fax: (330) 643-2889; part of the county Department of Public Safety alongside Justice Affairs and the Summit-Akron 800MHz Regional Radio System.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-76, I-77, and SR-8 serve Akron, the county seat, in northeast Ohio
Transit: Metro Regional Transit Authority (METRO RTA) – confirm current routes/fares via akronmetro.org.
Notes: Akron’s name derives from the Ancient Greek “ákron,” meaning summit or high point – the same root as the county’s own name; Akron was founded in 1825, incorporated as a city in 1865.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Summit County Building Standards – confirm current contact via co.summitoh.net.
Notes: Akron is genuinely, historically the “Rubber Capital of the World” – the city’s tire and rubber manufacturing industry, anchored by Goodyear Tire & Rubber (still headquartered in Akron, the last of the great original rubber companies to remain), shaped its identity and working-class character through much of the 20th century. Akron also carries the nickname “City of Invention.” The city’s massive Goodyear Airdock, a landmark aircraft hangar built for airship construction, remains an iconic structure. In the 21st century, Akron’s polymer and advanced-materials research legacy has fueled a broader biomedical and entrepreneurial renaissance, anchored by the University of Akron.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Veterans Service Commission of Summit County – 1060 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, OH 44306 | (330) 643-2830 | Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4 PM (Wed 8 AM-1 PM); walk-in hours Mon-Fri 8-11 AM; established 1886; provides VA claims assistance, emergency financial assistance, and medical transportation, funded entirely by Summit County residents.
State: Ohio Department of Veterans Services – dvs.ohio.gov
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Akron-Summit County Public Library – Main Library, 60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44326; founded March 1, 1874; 18 branch libraries across Akron and Summit County; roughly 2.5 million-item collection; the system’s mascot is a lion cub named Paws.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, the Akron Art Museum, Blossom Music Center, and the Goodyear Airdock are the county’s signature cultural and industrial-heritage attractions.
Notes: The genuine “Rubber Capital of the World” heritage is one of the most historically significant industrial facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Summit County Fiscal Office – confirm current phone via co.summitoh.net.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Summit County Animal Control – 250 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44304 | (330) 643-8258 | Fax: (330) 643-8034 | [email protected]; Chief Dog Warden Christine Fatheree; hosts an annual “Dogtober” adoption event each October.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: ReWorks (Summit County Solid Waste Management) – confirm current contact via co.summitoh.net.
NOTES: Summit County is the seventh and final county in this batch (Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit) of the Ohio v2 redo. The genuine “Rubber Capital of the World” heritage is one of the most historically significant industrial facts covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Summit County
Summit County is Akron – a city whose identity was forged in rubber and whose post-industrial reinvention has been shaped by polymer science, healthcare, and an NBA superstar’s global philanthropy.
From the 1910s through the 1970s, Akron was the undisputed Rubber Capital of the World – the city where Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Firestone Tire and Rubber, BFGoodrich, and General Tire all had their headquarters and primary manufacturing operations. At peak employment, these four companies and their suppliers employed more than 50,000 workers in Summit County, producing the tires for virtually every vehicle in America. The decline of the American tire industry – driven by foreign competition, automation, and corporate consolidation – began in the 1970s and accelerated through the 1980s, leaving Akron with the challenge of reinventing an economy built entirely around a single industry.
Akron’s answer was polymer science – the University of Akron’s nationally recognized polymer science and polymer engineering programs have positioned the city as a research leader in materials science, attracting federal funding and private investment in advanced materials, biomedical polymers, and energy storage technologies. Goodyear still maintains its global headquarters in Akron. The Akron Polymer Center and various spinout companies represent the knowledge economy that has grown from the rubber industry’s legacy.
LeBron James – born in Akron in 1984, raised in the city’s most challenging circumstances, and arguably the greatest basketball player in NBA history – has chosen to remain identified with Akron throughout his global career. His LeBron James Family Foundation and the I PROMISE School (a public school in the Akron City School District serving at-risk students, opened 2018) represent one of the most significant acts of community reinvestment by a professional athlete in American history. The Foundation’s programs provide not just education but housing, food security, job placement, and a comprehensive support system for families.
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park – established as a national park in 2000 after decades as a national recreation area – stretches along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland, protecting 33,000 acres of forests, farms, and wetlands within the heart of the most densely populated region of Ohio. The park’s Towpath Trail (following the historic Ohio & Erie Canal), the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and Brandywine Falls make it one of the most accessible and heavily used national parks in the country.
County government is a three-member Board of County Commissioners with separately elected offices for the Auditor, Clerk of Courts, Coroner, Engineer, Prosecutor, Recorder, Sheriff, and Treasurer.
Heritage | Akron grew into “Rubber Capital of the World,” home to Goodyear, Firestone, and General Tire, whose combined manufacturing dominance shaped the city’s identity for most of the 20th century, and the Goodyear Airdock, one of the largest buildings in the world without interior support columns, remains a striking landmark of that era; Akron is also the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous, founded there in 1935 Outdoors | Cuyahoga Valley National Park, one of the newest national parks, spans much of the county’s northern reaches, offering extensive hiking, biking on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, and waterfalls; Akron’s Metro Parks system adds further green space throughout the city Notable | Home to the University of Akron, the Akron Zoo, and sports history tied to the city’s manufacturing legacy, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park draws millions of visitors annually Library | Akron-Summit County Public Library operates a large, award-winning system serving the county’s largest city and surrounding suburban communities
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Ohio assesses property at 35% of true (market) value. The Summit County Fiscal Officer (Auditor) (175 S. Main Street, Akron, 330-643-2500) determines true market values and calculates assessed values. Ohio conducts triennial updates every three years with full reappraisals every six years.
The Board of Revision (BOR) complaint process:
File a Complaint Against the Valuation of Real Property (DTE Form 1) with the Summit County Board of Revision (175 S. Main Street, Akron, 330-643-2588) by March 31 of the tax year. The BOR is composed of the County Auditor, Treasurer, and a Commissioner. No attorney required for residential complaints. The BOR reviews comparable sales and property condition evidence.
School board complaints: Ohio school boards may file complaints against assessments they believe are too low – meaning the BOR can raise your assessment. Monitor your property for school board complaints, especially after a sale at a price significantly above the current assessed value.
Senior Homestead Exemption: Ohio’s Homestead Exemption reduces the taxable value by $26,200 of market value for homeowners age 65+ (or permanently disabled) with household income at or below $36,100 (confirm current threshold). Apply through the Summit County Fiscal Officer by December 31.
Ohio eliminated its state estate tax in 2013. No Ohio inheritance tax. Federal estate tax applies above approximately $13.9 million (2025).
OWNWELL CTA: Summit County BOR deadline March 31 – no attorney required for residential complaints. Ohio school boards can file complaints raising your assessment – watch for notices after sales above current assessed value. Senior Homestead Exemption reduces market value by $26,200 for qualifying 65+ homeowners. Ownwell manages the BOR complaint with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Summit County BOR deadline March 31 - no attorney required for residential complaints. Ohio school boards can file complaints raising your assessment - watch for notices after sales above current assessed value. Senior Homestead Exemption reduces market value by $26,200 for qualifying 65+ homeowners. Ownwell manages the BOR complaint with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
The Summit County Common Pleas Court at 209 S. High Street, Akron (330-643-2204) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Summit County Probate Court at 209 S. High Street (330-643-2350) handles all estate administration, guardianships, and trusts. The Summit County Clerk of Courts (330-643-2217) maintains all court records. The Summit County Recorder (175 S. Main Street, Suite 210, Akron, 330-643-2512) maintains all land records – deeds, mortgages, and recorded documents.
Ohio probate: the Probate Court handles all estate administration over $35,000. Ohio’s simplified release from administration for smaller qualifying estates. Ohio recognizes Transfer on Death Affidavits for real property.
Rubber industry legacy estate planning: Summit County’s older generation of Goodyear, Firestone, and BFGoodrich retirees carries significant defined benefit pension assets from the rubber industry’s UAW-negotiated retirement programs. The PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation) insures many of these pensions following corporate restructurings. Widows and widowers of rubber workers should verify their survivor benefit status and confirm PBGC coverage if their pension company no longer exists in its original form.
LeBron James Foundation philanthropy: The I PROMISE School and LeBron James Family Foundation’s expanding programs have made Summit County a significant destination for education and community development philanthropy from national donors aligned with LeBron’s mission.
Senior Services: The Summit County Council on Aging / Area Agency on Aging (330-869-3838) at 2100 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls coordinates senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, OSHIIP Medicare counseling, caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Ohio Medicaid long-term care programs.
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE COURT
209 South High St, Akron, OH 44308
(330) 643-2350
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Summit County Probate Court, Akron (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
The 1905-08 Summit County Courthouse, NRHP-listed, is a significant local landmark.
Local societies
No dedicated Summit County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Summit County Probate Court 209 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308 (330) 643-2350
Summit County is in northeastern Ohio, seated in Akron – one of Ohio’s most populous counties. The 1905-08 Summit County Courthouse, Second Renaissance Revival in style, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Ohio has not adopted the Uniform Probate Code, but has incorporated some streamlined concepts into its own system under Title 21 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC Chapters 2101-2131).
Summary Release from Administration (ORC § 2113.03) – available for very small estates valued at $5,000 or less. Lets the court release assets quickly, often to cover funeral expenses and support the surviving family, without a fiduciary being appointed.
Release from Administration (ORC § 2113.03) – Ohio’s broader small-estate shortcut. Available when the gross probate estate is $35,000 or less, OR up to $100,000 if the entire estate passes to a surviving spouse (by will or by Ohio’s intestacy law). No executor/administrator is appointed; the court releases the estate directly to the person(s) entitled to it.
Full Estate Administration – required when the estate exceeds these thresholds or the situation is otherwise contested or complex. The court appoints a fiduciary (Ohio’s term for executor/administrator), issues a Certificate of Appointment once any will is admitted, and the fiduciary inventories assets, publishes notice to creditors, pays debts, and distributes what remains under ongoing court supervision.
Step 2: filing for administration
File the will (if any) and an application with the Probate Court in the county where the decedent resided.
If pursuing Release from Administration or Summary Release, complete the applicable court forms (Form 5.0 for standard Release, Form 5.10 for Summary Release) along with a complete asset inventory and supporting documents.
For full administration, the court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration to the appointed fiduciary.
The fiduciary publishes notice to creditors; claims generally must be presented within 6 months of the date of death.
The fiduciary inventories and manages estate assets, pays valid debts and expenses, and distributes what remains according to the will or Ohio’s intestacy law, reporting to the court along the way.
The estate is closed once a final account is filed and approved by the court.
What it costs
Filing fees vary by county – check with Summit County directly for current fees.
No state estate tax, no state inheritance tax (repealed effective January 1, 2013). Only the federal estate tax could apply, and only to very large estates ($15,000,000 per individual as of 2026).
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE COURT
209 South High St, Akron, OH 44308
(330) 643-2350
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
205 East Crosier St, Akron, OH 44311
(330) 643-2154
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF ELECTIONS
500 Grant St, Akron, OH 44311
(330) 643-5200
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Public Health
1867 West Market St, Akron, OH 44313
(330) 926-5700
Job and Family Services
1176 South Main St, Akron, OH 44301
(330) 643-2000
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Summit County Public Health – 1867 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44313 | (330) 923-4891 | Emergency Hotline (after hours): (877) 271-6733.
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Recommended for Ohio
Ownwell
Property tax appeal service. Contingency fee - no savings, no charge.
