DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND HOUSING

The Ticket to a Cleaner Cleveland
Through Code Enforcement

Reasons Why

The ticketing system for building, housing and zoning code violations was put into effect by the City of Cleveland in 1991. It was designed by the Building & Housing Division of the Department of Community Development for these reasons:

    • To provide a means of facilitating compliance from property owners within a reasonable period of time;
    • To improve the efficiency of the system by reducing the paperwork and steps required for enforcement of interior or exterior code problems;
    • To rid Cleveland's neighborhoods of nuisance factors such as litter, tall grass and junk cars;
    • To increase the value of residential and commercial properties by improving the general appearance of a neighborhood.

NOTE:

The code enforcement policy of the City of Cleveland remains the same. Official violation notices are still being issued for major code problems and for those involving mechanical systems such as heating, plumbing and electrical But now, Building and Housing inspectors are legally authorized to issue tickets for building, housing and zoning code problems. Inspections continue to provide safeguards for better building and housing for all citizens.

Conditions that Warrant Tickets

Housing

  • Improper rubbish or garbage disposal
  • Inoperable toilets, sinks, faucets and other broken or missing parts
  • Peeling paint (trim, windows, garages)
  • Wall and floor repairs
  • Pest infestation
  • Exterior property area cleanup (owner)
  • Exterior property area cleanup (tenant)
  • Repairs of sheds, barns, garages, fences
  • Inadequate illumination in common hallways
  • Junk cars on private property
  • No address or unit identification
  • Smoke detectors missing from dwelling units
  • Smoke detectors missing from sleeping areas and head of stairway
  • Non-working smoke detectors

Building

  • General cleanup
  • Stop work orders
  • Sidewalk sales on public property
  • Display structures built without approved plans
  • Ground or pole signs placed without a permit
  • Temporary signs beyond the 30-day limitation
  • Graffiti
  • Failure to maintain abandoned gas stations

Zoning

  • Unauthorized home occupations - such as too frequent garage sales
  • Animal enclosures in residential use districts
  • Failure to remove temporary uses by the deadline (such as tents)
  • Reduction of parking spaces below the required minimum
  • Inadequate parking spaces
  • The storage of commercial vehicles in residential use districts
  • Excessive fence heights and screening requirements around junk yards
  • Parking or other encroachments within the setback
  • Failure to screen dumpsters
  • Failure to maintain signs/remove illegal signs

How the System Works

    1. The Code Complaint Clearinghouse receives a complaint from the general public, City Council, Mayor's Action Center or Neighborhood Code Enforcement Partnership Program.
    2. A title search is conducted to determine the owner of the residential or commercial property.
    3. An inspection is conducted of the exterior of the property. If the complaint is valid, a warning tag is given to the owner, listing the nature of the violations. The allotted time period for voluntary compliance is from 10-30 days for repairs requiring minimal to moderate cash expenditures.
    4. A second inspection is conducted at the end of the,10-30 day period to determine if code violations have been voluntarily corrected. If not, a ticket is issued.
    5. The ticket is hand-delivered by the inspector to the responsible owner if possible or sent by certified mail.

What To Do If A Ticket Is Received

All violations must be corrected, but there are two options for responding to the ticket:

    1. Waive the right to a trial:
      • Sign the ticket and mail the waiver fine of $65 by certified check or money order to the Clerk of Courts; or
      • Appear in the Clerk's Office in the Justice Center in person and pay the $65 waiver fine in cash, certified check or money order.
    2. Appear in Housing Court on the Monday arraignment date listed on the ticket (two weeks later if hand-delivered or five weeks later if sent by certified mail).
      • The judge will entertain a plea of not guilty, guilty, or no contest.
      • Depending upon the plea, the judge may set a fine of up to $100 after the hearing or set a later trial date.

NOTE:

Regardless of which option is chosen, all violations must be corrected to avoid the issuance of a second ticket. If the ticket holder fails to utilize either option, a capias or warrant may be issued for his or her arrest.

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