13 verified short-term rentals rules for Cleveland, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Cleveland requires rental property registration with the Department of Building & Housing at $70/unit annually. A proposed 2024 ordinance (No. 588-2024) would create a dedicated STR license at $150/year with density caps and insurance requirements.
Cleveland short-term rentals must comply with CCO Chapter 683 noise limits, and operators are required to include quiet hours and emergency contact information in listings and house rules.
Cleveland short-term rental operators collect Ohio 5.5 percent state lodging tax plus Cuyahoga County 6.5 percent lodging tax, totaling roughly 12 percent, plus city registration fees.
Cleveland short-term rental parking must follow the underlying zoning district requirements, and operators must disclose available off-street spaces to guests in the listing.
Cleveland limits STR occupancy to two guests per bedroom plus two additional, typically capped at ten total, and prohibits events that exceed the registered sleeping capacity.
Cleveland STR operators must carry liability insurance under CCO Chapter 677A and submit proof at registration. Standard homeowners policies usually exclude rental activity, so a commercial rider is typically required.
Cleveland does not impose an annual night cap on short-term rentals under CCO Chapter 677A. Registered STRs may operate year-round, though condo and HOA covenants can set private limits under ORC 5311.
Cleveland STR operators must obtain an annual certificate from Building and Housing under CCO Chapter 677A. Registration requires a safety inspection, 24/7 local contact, and Cuyahoga County bed tax.
Cleveland short-term rental operators must designate a local responsible agent reachable 24/7 within one hour for complaints, nuisance, and safety incidents under Codified Ordinance Chapter 663.
Cleveland Chapter 663 distinguishes owner-occupied short-term rentals from non-owner-occupied units, applying different inspection cadence and registration tiers but stopping short of an outright primary-residence-only mandate.
Cleveland Building and Housing tracks nuisance citations against short-term rental properties, escalating from warnings to permit suspension and revocation when an STR accumulates repeated noise, occupancy, or sanitation violations within twelve months.
Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms operating in Cleveland must collect transient occupancy tax, verify Chapter 663 registration numbers on listings, and remove non-compliant properties when notified by Building and Housing.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cleveland city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Cuyahoga County →