3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
Verified from official government sources
Ohio Revised Code 5321.19 preempts all local rent control in Cuyahoga County. Municipalities may not regulate the amount of rent charged or limit rent increases. Cleveland, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, and other cities may impose landlord registration, inspection, and lead-safe certification but cannot cap rents. Tenant protections focus on habitability (ORC 5321.04), security deposits (ORC 5321.16), and Cleveland's Source of Income protection.
Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.19 - Effect of chapter on political subdivisions
Section 5321.19 | Effect of chapter on political subdivisions. (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no political subdivision may enact, adopt, renew, maintain, enforce, or continue in existence any charter provision, ordinance, resolution, rule, or other measure that is in conflict with this chapter, or that regulates the rights and obligations of parties to a rental agreemen...
Cuyahoga County follows Ohio landlord-tenant law with no countywide just-cause eviction requirement. Landlords may terminate month-to-month tenancies with 30 days notice under ORC Chapter 5321, and evictions proceed through the municipal housing courts in Cleveland, East Cleveland, Lakewood, and the county Common Pleas.
Ohio Rev. Code Ch. 5321 (Landlords and Tenants)
Section 5321.01 | Landlord and tenant definitions. Effective: October 3, 2023 Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF As used in this chapter: (A) "Tenant" means a person entitled under a rental agreement to the use and occupancy of residential premises to the exclusion of others. (B) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of resident...
No countywide rental registry exists in Cuyahoga County, but most member cities run their own programs. Cleveland requires Certificate of Rental Registration through the Department of Building and Housing, and suburbs like Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, and Shaker Heights require annual registration and interior inspections.
4 cities in Cuyahoga County have their own rental property rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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