Cleveland, OH Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Cleveland, OH, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- License fee
- $150 initial and renewal
- License term
- Dec 1 through Nov 30
- Renewal window
- Sept 1 to Nov 1
- Liability insurance
- At least $500,000
- Criminal penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
- Civil penalty
- $5,000 for unlicensed operation
Summary
Cleveland requires every owner or operator of a short-term rental to hold a license from the Commissioner before renting the unit at all. Applications cost $150, run December 1 to November 30, and require proof of insurance, occupancy, and lead-safe certification.
(a) No owner or operator shall operate, rent, lease, sublease, license or sublicense a dwelling unit as a short-term rental without a short-term rental license from the Commissioner. ... (d) Every short-term rental license application shall be accompanied by a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). Every license issued shall be given a license number. Licenses shall be valid for one year commencing on December 1, and shall expire on November 30 of the following year, unless sooner revoked by the Commissioner. The fees for the initial licensing year shall be prorated from the month of issuance until November 30 of that year. Licenses issued under this section are not transferrable from one person to another or from one premises to another.
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
03(a) bars any owner or operator from operating, renting, leasing, subleasing, licensing or sublicensing a dwelling unit as a short-term rental without a short-term rental license from the Commissioner. 04. Any changes to this information must be reported within seven days. 03(d), every application carries a $150 fee, licenses run annually from December 1 through November 30 (prorated for mid-year issuance), and are not transferable between people or premises. 03(e), and are only granted if nothing has changed from the approved application. 991, and a suspended or revoked license can be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals within ten days.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without the required license is a first-degree misdemeanor under § 686B.99(a), punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail. Separately, § 686B.991(a) imposes a $5,000 civil penalty for the same conduct, and advertising or completing a reservation without a license draws an added $1,000 fine per violation under § 686B.991(b)-(c). Civil penalties may be appealed to the relevant administrative officer within ten days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to rent my Cleveland home on Airbnb?
How much does a Cleveland short-term rental license cost?
What documents does the license application require?
What happens if I operate without registering?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland
How Cleveland compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Cleveland to another location·View the Ohio short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle short-term rental permits.