Cleveland, OH Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum habitable room size
- 120 sq ft (150 if used for cooking/sleeping)
- Minimum ceiling height
- 6 ft 9 in for habitable rooms
- Required heat (owner-supplied)
- 70°F when outside falls below 50°F
- Required sanitary fixtures
- Water closet, bathtub/shower, lavatory, kitchen sink
- Leasing violation penalty
- First-degree misdemeanor, § 367.99(d)
Summary
Cleveland bars landlords from renting any unit that fails the Housing Code's habitability standards. Codified Ordinances § 371.01 makes it unlawful to lease a dwelling that doesn't meet the Chapter 365, 369 and 371 minimum standards for room size, sanitation, heat and lead-hazard disclosure.
§ 371.01 Restrictions on Leasing for Residential Occupancy An owner, operator or agent shall not rent, lease or offer for rental or lease for residential occupancy any dwelling units, dwelling structures or any part of a dwelling unit or dwelling structure that does not comply with the standards for residential occupancy in Chapter 240 of the Health Code... and Chapters 365, 369, and 371 of the Housing Code. § 369.01 Requirements for Habitable Rooms: Every dwelling unit shall contain at least one (1) room which shall have not less than one hundred twenty (120) square feet of habitable floor area. However, any room used for both living and cooking, or both living and sleeping... shall have not less than one hundred fifty (150) square feet.
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
01 of the Housing Code prohibits an owner, operator or agent from renting, leasing or offering for rent any dwelling unit that does not comply with the residential-occupancy standards in Housing Code Chapters 365, 369 and 371, plus the lead-hazard and renovation-disclosure rules in Health Code Chapter 240. 01 requires every dwelling unit to contain at least one habitable room of no less than 120 square feet, or 150 square feet if that room is also used for cooking or sleeping, with a clear ceiling height of at least six feet nine inches.
09 requires heating facilities able to hold 70°F in every habitable room when it is minus 5°F outside. 02 requires direct, unobstructed access to a public stairway or hallway without passing through another unit. 10 splits sanitation duty, the owner must keep shared and common areas clean, while the occupant is responsible for the space they control. 01 itself, independent of any separate maintenance citation.
Violations & Fines
Leasing a noncompliant unit is a direct violation of § 371.01, and § 367.99(d) makes a violation of § 371.01 a first-degree misdemeanor, with each day of continued noncompliance charged as a separate offense. The Commissioner of Housing can also issue a Notice of Violation under § 367.04 ordering repair, improvement or vacation of the unit within a stated time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a Cleveland rental unit legally habitable?
Is my landlord required to provide heat?
What size does my bedroom have to be?
Sources & Official References
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Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle repairs & habitability.