Lakewood, OH Rental Property Rules: Rent Control (2026)

(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 agreement that are regulated by this chapter, including, without limitation, by any way imposing or requiring rent control or rent stabilization.

(B) This chapter does not preempt any of the following:

(1) Housing, building, health, or safety code, or any ordinance as described in division (A)(9) of section 5321.04 of the Revised Code, of any political subdivision;

(2) Charter provision, ordinance, resolution, rule, or other measure of a political subdivision that regulates, or has the effect of regulating in any way, rent charged or paid for the use of residential premises that such political subdivision owns or operates;

(3) A political subdivision from adopting any charter provision, ordinance, resolution, rule, or other measure to implement a plan to use voluntary incentives or agreements that regulates, or has the effect of regulating in any way, rent charged or paid for the use of residential premises so long as such regulating is related to voluntary incentives or agreements to increase or maintain the supply or improve the quality of available residential premises, including, without limitation, incentives authorized by federal law, the incentives set forth in sections 3735.65 to 3735.70 of the Revised Code, tax abatements, tax credit financing, bond or other financing, or loans or grants from the political subdivision.