Short-term rental permit rules in Cuyahoga County, OH — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Cuyahoga County does not issue STR permits at the county level. Each of the 59 municipalities sets its own registration rules. Cleveland requires STR registration under Codified Ordinance 675; several suburbs including Lakewood and Cleveland Heights regulate or prohibit STRs in single-family zones.
Cleveland enacted STR registration in 2020 requiring operators to obtain a residential rental license and a separate STR certificate, pay annual fees, designate a local contact, and comply with safety inspections. Lakewood allows STRs only in owner-occupied homes with registration. Rocky River, Bay Village, and Westlake effectively prohibit STRs in single-family residential districts by limiting rental terms to 30 days or more. Operators must check their specific city code before listing on Airbnb or Vrbo. Cuyahoga County charges a 5.5 percent bed tax on all short-term lodging countywide.
Operating unregistered STR in Cleveland: $500 first offense, $1,000 repeat. Suburbs typically $100-$500 per day.
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See how Cuyahoga County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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