Cleveland, OH Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

CCO Chapter 677A, adopted by Cleveland City Council in 2019 and amended periodically since, requires anyone renting a dwelling unit for fewer than 30 consecutive days to first secure an STR registration certificate through the Department of Building and Housing. The application requires proof of ownership or written landlord authorization, a floor plan identifying all sleeping areas and egress, proof of property insurance, the name and 24/7 phone number of a local responsible party who must respond to complaints within one hour, a signed affidavit that the unit complies with the Ohio Residential Code and Cleveland Housing Code, and payment of the registration fee. Certificates are issued per dwelling unit, not per operator, and are non-transferable on sale. An in-unit inspection checks working smoke alarms on every floor and outside sleeping areas, a CO alarm on every floor with fuel-burning appliances, proper egress from bedrooms, stair rails, GFCI protection in wet areas, and posted emergency contact and evacuation information. Operators must collect and remit Cuyahoga Countys 5.5 percent lodging tax plus the Ohio state sales tax. Airbnb collects and remits both on behalf of hosts under voluntary collection agreements. Renewal is annual, and violations include operating without a certificate, exceeding occupancy (typically 2 per bedroom plus 2), or hosting parties that trigger repeated police response.