Blocked crossing laws
How long can a train block a crossing in Ohio?
Ohio law limits a train to 5 minutes blocking a road crossing, under Ohio Rev. Code § 5589.21. A court has held that federal law preempts this limit, so it generally cannot be enforced against railroads. Checked 16 October 2026.
The rule
Ohio law says a stopped train may not block a public road for more than five minutes, but the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled in 2022 that federal law stops the state from enforcing it, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review that ruling in January 2024.
Exceptions and local rules
The limit does not apply to a continuously moving through train or to a blockage caused by circumstances wholly beyond the railroad's control. It does apply to stopped trains and trains switching, loading or unloading. After each five-minute period the railroad must open the crossing for at least three minutes.
No railroad company shall obstruct, or permit or cause to be obstructed a public street, road, or highway, by permitting a railroad car, locomotive, or other obstruction to remain upon or across it for longer than five minutes, to the hindrance or inconvenience of travelers or a person passing along or upon such street, road, or highway.
Does federal law override it?
No federal law sets a time limit for a train blocking a crossing. Federal law does control how railroads run trains, and courts have used it to set aside state time limits.
When a court holds a state limit preempted, the state cannot enforce it against the railroad. A limit no court has ruled on is still on the books, but railroads may challenge it the same way.
Where to report a blocked crossing
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) takes blocked crossing reports from the public for every state.
Report to the FRA blocked crossing reporter
We found no Ohio state page for blocked crossing reports, so the FRA reporter is the place to report.
If a train is blocking the crossing right now, call the railroad on the number shown on the blue sign at the crossing.
Crossings in Ohio
Ohio has 5,630 public crossings in the FRA crossing inventory.