Cleveland allows long-term rental of legally permitted ADUs subject to rental registration, lead-safe certification, and any BZA variance conditions. Short-term rentals are regulated under Cleveland Codified Ordinances Chapter 657 requiring registration, license, and transient-occupancy tax. Ohio has no statewide STR preemption.
Long-term rental of a legal ADU is allowed in Cleveland. Required: rental registration under CO 369, lead-safe certification for pre-1978 units under CO 240, a current certificate of occupancy, and compliance with Cleveland's housing code (CO 367). There is no rental cap and no minimum lease term required by city ordinance for long-term residential. Short-term rentals (defined as units rented for less than 30 days) are governed by CO Chapter 657. Operators must register annually with the Department of Public Safety, hold a STR license, designate a local responsible party, and remit Cuyahoga County hotel/transient occupancy tax (5.5%) and Cleveland excise tax. Operational rules include parking and occupancy limits. Cleveland has periodically tightened STR rules; check the current Chapter 657 text. ORC 5739.024 authorizes municipal lodging taxes.
Unregistered long-term rentals violate CO 369 with fines up to $1,000 per occurrence and inability to recover rent through eviction. Unregistered STRs violate Chapter 657 with fines up to $1,000 per day plus listing-platform takedown. Lead-safe non-compliance carries separate civil penalties.
Cleveland, OH
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