Approved and Prohibited Personal Items

Some appliances and personal items have a higher likelihood of contributing to unsafe environments for community living. Housing and Residential Life regulates the use of these to ensure the safety and security of the community.

 

Family and Graduate Student Housing: If you receive a notice from staff about you having prohibited item(s) in your apartment, you will have 48 hours to remove the item(s) or your lease will be terminated.

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About Appliances

• Appliances approved for all units
  • One refrigerator (3 amps and 5 cubic feet) per room. This could also be two small refrigerators that together meet size/amp requirements.
  • One microwave (900 watts or less) per room
  • Single-serve coffee makers (such as a Keurig)
  • Other cooking appliances may be used in kitchen areas.
  • Refrigerators and microwaves must be plugged directly into the wall sockets. Using the power strip may cause the breakers to trip.
  • Micro-fridges rentals
• Appliances approved for apartments only (including FGSH apartments)

  Apartments are wired for 110-volt and 115-volt electrical appliances, also called small appliances. Small appliances include but are not limited to toasters, microwaves, irons, televisions and radios. Any appliance requiring a higher voltage may not be used in the apartments.

• Appliances prohibited in traditional/suites/deluxe suites 

  This list includes but is not limited to the following: Open-fire and open-coil cooking appliances, electric griddles, toaster ovens, air fryers, crock pots, Instapots, drip coffee makers, ice makers, dehumidifiers, and indoor electric grills (such as George Foreman Grills).  

• Appliances prohibited in all units

  This list includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Air conditioners and space heaters
  • Portable washing machines, dryers, dishwashers
• Using extension cords or power strips
  • If you need to use an electrical extension cord, it must be 14 gauge or heavier.
  • Extension cords must not be affixed to walls, placed under rugs or beds, strung on pipes, and so forth.
  • Inspect your extension cords and appliance cords for fraying, cracks or other defects.
  • Overloading an electric circuit with too many appliances can cause problems.
  • Refrigerators and microwaves must be plugged directly into the wall sockets. Using the power strip may cause the breakers to trip.

 

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About Music Instruments and Equipment

• Undergraduate Halls
  • Large amplifiers (public address system, oversize stereo, acoustic or electric musical instrument and percussion instruments) are not allowed.
  • Small amplifiers may be allowed if used with headphones to be respectful of other residents.
• Family and Graduate Student Neighborhoods 

  Pianos and organs are permitted if authorized by a designated FGSH staff member.

 

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Prohibited Personal Items

• 3D printers
  3D printers are not allowed in undergraduate halls or Family and Graduate Student Housing apartments.
• Adding or replacing the following personal items is not allowed.
  Waterbeds, shower heads, bidets, ceiling fans.
• Candles and incense

  Burning candles, incense, kerosene lamps and other flammable liquid-fueled devices are prohibited in residence halls. Decorative candles must be wickless or have non-burned or clipped wicks. Wax-warmer air fresheners that are heated by a light bulb are approved; however, candle warmers that have hotplate areas are prohibited. 

• Electric scooters/personal electric mobility devices

  Personal electric mobility devices (scooters) shall not be used, possessed, charged and/or stored in any campus housing unless they bear the seal of an independent testing laboratory accredited by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). 

   

  Other electric vehicles, which include but are not limited to one-wheels and drones, are prohibited in residence halls and on the grounds. It is prohibited to store such vehicles inside the premises, on patios/balconies, stairwells, landings, breezeways and walkways.

   

  This rule does not apply to  ADA-approved equipment.

• Halogen/lava lamps 
  Halogen or lava lamps are not allowed in units.
• Incandescent light bulbs
  • Strings of incandescent light bulbs (often called Christmas lights) are not allowed.
• Lofts vs. Bed Risers

  Lofts (homemade or prefabricated) as in “lofting your bed” are not allowed; however, residents may use bed risers that are up to seven inches in height. University-owned bed frames allow anywhere from 10 to 15 inches of under-bed space. Bed frames vary by room. Stacking two bed frames to create a bunk bed is prohibited unless the university-owned frames meet approved specifications (in Stout Hall and University Commons only).

• Fireworks, explosives and flammable liquids

  Under state and federal law, fireworks, explosives and flammable liquids (such as gasoline, propane, lighter fluid, and so forth) are prohibited in residence halls and on the grounds.  

• Network devices

  To protect the data communications network, all devices other than computers, servers and workstations must not be plugged into any network port. This includes but is not limited to hubs, switches, repeaters, routers, network modems and wireless access points. These devices may be incorrectly configured or incompatible with the OSU Network causing outages and reliability problems to all or part of the network. 

• Portable outdoor grills 

  Portable outdoor grills (charcoal, lighter fluid or propane gas, and so forth) are prohibited in the residence halls and on its grounds. There are some permanently mounted grills located throughout campus that may be used for outdoor grilling upon request.

• Ring doorbells or other electronic devices that capture images

  Ring doorbells or other electronic devices that photograph, videotape, film, digitally record, or by any other means, to secretly view another person without that person’s consent in any location is not allowed. 

• Used furniture
  Housing and Residential Life strongly discourages residents from purchasing used furniture and placing it in a hall, suite or apartment. Residents who bring to campus furniture that contains pests will bear remediation costs to rid residential space of the pests. 
• Weapons and firearms
  • Weapons are not allowed in any Residential Life facility or grounds. Weapons may include, but are not limited to BB guns, paintball guns, knives, swords, crossbows, archery bows, handguns, shotguns, rifles, and ammunition.
  • Residential Life, OSU Police, and state authorities can determine what qualifies as a weapon, including common item that is used in a threatening manner, and can ask that it be removed from the premises. Disciplinary action may also be taken.
  • If you possess a gun, you may store it with OSU Police Department free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. 
  • Disciplinary action may also be taken.  OSU Policy and Procedures Letter 1-1301   (pdf)