An urban township is a designation of a unit of local government

Local government

Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...

 in Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

 as prescribed by chapter 504 of the Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Revised Code

The Ohio Revised Code contains all acts passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed by the governor. The Ohio Revised Code replaced the Ohio General Code in 1953. However the current organization and form of the Ohio Revised Code Title 29 was completely re-written and issued into law by the...

. Chapter 504 outlines the procedures for an Ohio civil township

Civil township

A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...

to adopt limited home rule government. At least 5,000 people are required to reside in unincorporated areas of a township for that township to adopt limited home rule government. If 15,000 or more people live in unincorporated areas of a township, that township may qualify as an urban township under O.R.C. § 504.01(B) or (D).