In 1803, the first Ohio General Assembly provided for the establishment of townships. Legislation directed the judges of the courts of common pleas to establish townships within their respective counties.

The next year, the Legislature passed a law allowing the establishment of townships whenever 80 electors inhabited any tract of five or six square miles. According to Baldwin's Ohio Township Law, the officers of these townships included three trustees, a Fiscal Officer, two overseers of the poor, highway supervisors, justices of the peace, and constables. Later, the Legislature added a treasurer and assessor.

Over time, trustees assumed the duties of the overseers of the poor and highway supervisors became appointed, rather than elected while the Fiscal Officer assumed the duties of the treasurer and the position of assessor was eliminated. Today all Ohio townships with unincorporated territory have Boards of Trustees.

Townships provide basic services to residents, unless villages or cities assume some of those duties in the incorporated areas. Typically, municipalities have assumed and exercised authority for planning, zoning, law enforcement and street and road maintenance. Many cities today still rely on townships to provide fire and emergency medical services.

Townships acquired zoning authority in 1947. Ohio Law regulates Land Use & Zoning. The Zoning Commission, consisting of five residents of the unincorporated area, creates zoning code to regulate land use and development. As of 2004, the board of township trustees may create an architectural review board to enforce compliance with any zoning standards it may adopt pertaining to landscaping or architectural elements in areas zoned for residential use. The Township Zoning Commission may assume those duties and may initiate amendments to the zoning resolution. Township Boards of Trustees may pass resolutions for amendments, and owners or lessees of property within the area may file an application for re-zoning with the zoning commission. They may also apply for zoning certificates from the zoning inspector and appeal decisions to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Under Ohio law, townships may provide Law Enforcement or contract such services with the sheriff, another township or a municipality. Townships may establish their own police departments, hire personnel, procure equipment, facilities and training to equip police officers to enforce the laws of the state. Townships also have policing authority through its zoning regulations.

Trustees may purchase, appropriate, construct, enlarge, improve, repair, or equip a township park. Trustees have the authority to establish a park district, if approved by the electors. If so approved, an appointed board of park commissioners runs the park district as a separate political subdivision with its own taxing authority. The board may buy land and material, accept a gift, use township funds, or levy a voter approved tax to support parks and recreation.

Townships are authorized to provide waste disposal services for its residence, under ORC 505.27 to 505.33. Townships may provide their own services and facilities, contract with another governmental entity, or contract with waste disposal companies. Contracts may specify that the township will collect fees for such services or that the service provider will assume the duties of collection of fees.

Townships have authority to purchase or appropriate land for a cemetery, sell plots, set fees for services, and maintain and expand the cemetery.

Township property taxes are assessed and collected by the county.