Cleveland's Updated Nuisance Law: What Property Owners Need to Know
Cleveland is taking significant steps to address properties that frequently receive complaints. The Cleveland City Council has agreed to amend the nuisance law, making it easier for police to designate a property as a nuisance and impose fines on the owners.
The new law updates an older version from 2018, which proved difficult to enforce. The previous law aimed to curb issues such as littering, loose animals, loud music, and open fires. However, it required arrests or tickets to count as nuisance activities, complicating enforcement efforts.
Under the old law, only property owners, residents, or invited guests could be part of nuisance complaints, excluding uninvited troublemakers. This limitation made it challenging to hold owners accountable for the actions of guests or unauthorized events.
Between 2019 and 2024, the city declared only 26 properties as nuisances. The revised law allows officers to classify 911 calls as nuisance activities based on evidence such as probable cause, witness statements, or video footage, without needing an arrest.
The updated law broadens the definition of nuisance activities to include anyone related to the property. Owners will now be responsible for activities such as parking lot parties. This change aims to help officers manage nuisance properties more effectively, adding violations like drug offenses, stunt driving, and street racing.
Under the revised law, properties are considered nuisances if police respond three times within a year. Owners must then create a plan to address the issue or face $100 daily fines. Subsequent nuisance responses will increase fines: $250 for the fourth call, escalating to $500, $750, and $1,000 for further incidents.
The new law also includes due process protections for owners, allowing appeals to the safety director and the Board of Zoning Appeals to safeguard against false complaints.
If you own property in Cleveland, it's crucial to understand these changes and ensure compliance to avoid hefty fines. You can contact us today for more information on how to protect your property and stay informed about local legislation.
This blog was drafted by Nicholas Weiss, the owner and founder of N.P. Weiss Law. For more information about Nick, visit his bio page.
This article is meant to be utilized as a general guideline. Nothing in this blog is intended to create an attorney-client relationship or to provide legal advice on which you should rely without talking to your own retained attorney first. If you have questions about your particular legal situation, you should contact a legal professional.
