diff --git a/pandas/io/orc.py b/pandas/io/orc.py
index 3999fc5840f02..1b9be9adc1196 100644
--- a/pandas/io/orc.py
+++ b/pandas/io/orc.py
@@ -19,8 +19,16 @@
     ReadBuffer,
     WriteBuffer,
 )
+from pandas.compat import pa_version_under8p0
 from pandas.compat._optional import import_optional_dependency
 
+from pandas.core.dtypes.common import (
+    is_categorical_dtype,
+    is_interval_dtype,
+    is_period_dtype,
+    is_unsigned_integer_dtype,
+)
+
 from pandas.core.arrays import ArrowExtensionArray
 from pandas.core.frame import DataFrame
 
@@ -201,6 +209,20 @@ def to_orc(
     if engine_kwargs is None:
         engine_kwargs = {}
 
+    # If unsupported dtypes are found raise NotImplementedError
+    # In Pyarrow 8.0.0 this check will no longer be needed
+    if pa_version_under8p0:
+        for dtype in df.dtypes:
+            if (
+                is_categorical_dtype(dtype)
+                or is_interval_dtype(dtype)
+                or is_period_dtype(dtype)
+                or is_unsigned_integer_dtype(dtype)
+            ):
+                raise NotImplementedError(
+                    "The dtype of one or more columns is not supported yet."
+                )
+
     if engine != "pyarrow":
         raise ValueError("engine must be 'pyarrow'")
     engine = import_optional_dependency(engine, min_version="7.0.0")