Mount Healthy businesses in limbo over 100+ alleged fire code violations

May 8, 2026 - 06:13

Small business owners at Hilltop Plaza in Mount Healthy, Ohio, say they are facing an uncertain future after the city filed a court action over more than 100 alleged fire code violations at the property. Court documents obtained by local media show the City of Mount Healthy is seeking an injunction against the plaza's owners, citing safety hazards that could force tenants to shut down.

The violations, which include issues with fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and blocked exits, have left shopkeepers worried about their livelihoods. Many have operated at the plaza for years, and they say they were not given clear notice about the severity of the problems before the legal action became public. "We are just trying to run our businesses. We pay our rent. We follow the rules. Now we might lose everything because of something the landlord is supposed to fix," one business owner told reporters.

The city argues the conditions pose a genuine risk to public safety and that previous attempts to resolve the issues have failed. The injunction request asks the court to order immediate repairs or force the plaza to close until the violations are corrected. For the small business owners, the timing could not be worse. Many are still recovering from the economic hit of the pandemic and say they lack the resources to relocate.

A hearing on the injunction is expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, tenants are left waiting, hoping for a resolution that does not put them out of business.