The high court agreed to hear appeals by the cities of Lima and Akron - two of about 130 municipalities that require some employees - often fire, police and other safety personnel - to live within the city limit.
A decision by the state legislature in 2006 blocked residency rules, but Appeals Courts in Lima and Toledo have each since overturned the state mandate.
Professor Melvyn Durchslag of the CASE school of Law says there is no way to predict a Supreme Court decision, but there are guidelines that the court will follow.
"If a residency requirement is found by the court to be essential to the ability of the city to govern itself, then the court has to step in and say the legislature has no authority under the home rule amendment to dictate how a city is able to govern itself."
The court will decide whether the residency requirements meet Ohio's constitutional rules about home rule charters.
Durchslag says the Appeals Courts rulings will be considered, but will not be a determining factor in the vote.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
