Cleveland has no city ordinance restricting residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or year-round decorations. Cleveland Codified Ordinances Chapter 209 (Property Maintenance) addresses general blight and dilapidation. Lawn ornaments are governed by HOA and condo covenants where they exist. Cleveland's older housing stock and many landmark districts add design-review considerations.
The Cleveland Code does not regulate lawn ornaments — there are no rules on garden statuary, religious figures, flamingos, gnomes, or other decorative items on private residential property. CO Chapter 209 property-maintenance provisions address general blight (trash, junk, structurally unsafe conditions) but do not target ornamental content. Sign regulations in CO Chapter 350 govern political and commercial signage separately. Cleveland Landmarks Commission has design review authority over historic districts and individual landmarks under CO Chapter 161; in landmark districts, exterior changes including significant ornamentation may require Certificate of Appropriateness. Real restrictions come from HOA and condo covenants in newer developments. Cleveland's many older neighborhoods generally lack HOAs. First Amendment principles limit total bans on religious displays, though placement rules are generally permissible.
No municipal enforcement against typical lawn ornaments unless the yard reaches a Chapter 209 blight condition. Historic district unauthorized changes can trigger Cleveland Landmarks Commission enforcement with required restoration. HOA covenant fines typically start at $25-$100 per occurrence with daily continuing fines plus potential liens.
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