Cleveland, OH Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing body
- Cleveland Landmarks Commission
- Trigger
- Any exterior/environmental change to designated property
- Fine range
- $10 to $500 per offense, per day
- Review fee
- 1.5% down to 0.02% of improvement cost, sliding scale
- Fee exemption
- 1-3 family residences and accessory structures
Summary
Cleveland's Landmarks Commission can designate any building, structure, work of art or place as a City landmark based on its cultural, historic or architectural value, triggering a mandatory Certificate of Appropriateness before any exterior change.
In considering the designation of any area, place, building, structure, work of art of similar object in the City as a landmark or landmark district, the Commission shall apply the following criteria with respect to such property: (1) Its character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the City, State or the United States; ... (4) Its exemplification of the cultural, economic, social or historic heritage of the City ... Any person violating the provisions of this chapter by failing to perform any act required by this chapter or performing any act which is prohibited by this chapter shall be fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Current through legislation passed September 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Codified Ordinances Chapter 161 lets the Landmarks Commission propose designating an area, place, building, structure or work of art as a landmark or landmark district. 04(b)(5). 04(b)(7)-(8)). 04(b)(9). 05 requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission before any "environmental change": any building permit application for exterior work on a designated property is automatically treated as a certificate application and forwarded to the Commission along with plans and specifications. 051(c).
Violations & Fines
Under Section 161.99(a), violating any provision of Chapter 161, including making an environmental change without an approved Certificate of Appropriateness, is punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $500 per offense, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. Section 161.99(b) also lets the City go to court to obtain an injunction preventing an unlawful environmental change to a designated landmark or landmark district property, independent of the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building a Cleveland landmark?
Do I need approval to renovate a designated landmark in Cleveland?
What is the penalty for violating Cleveland's landmarks chapter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland
Compare Cleveland to another location·View the Ohio historic preservation overview
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Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle historic-cultural monuments.