Common Ordinances M-R

Ordinances You Should Know

This summary of selected Cleveland Heights ordinances includes those areas and issues that are most commonly encountered by citizens on a regular basis. 

Noise/Nuisance Behavior

In the interest of not disturbing the peace of neighbors, residents should remember not to operate any lawn mower within 300 feet of any dwelling before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m. It is also not permitted to make unreasonably loud or disturbing noise (by voice, musical instrument, amplification, television, etc.) of such intensity as to disturb the neighbors. This constitutes disorderly conduct when the sound is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building, structure or vehicle from where it is emanating between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.; or at a distance of 100 feet between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. If the Police are called to a property on a noise complaint, they can issue a citation.

Parking

Parking is not allowed on Cleveland Heights streets between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. If you have an overnight visitor, or have just paved or sealed your driveway, and must park in the street, call the Police Department non-emergency number (216-321-1234) and ask for the officer-in-charge. A motor vehicle cannot be parked in a landscaped front, side or rear yard. Residents with pick-up trucks, vans or panel trucks must park them in a garage with the garage doors closed. Those residents who park their vehicles in the City's municipal lots must purchase a permit that is available at City Hall.

Paint Removal Ordinance

A permit must be obtained from the Building Commissioner for removal of paint, stain or similar coatings from the exterior surface of a home by any means other than hand scraping. Permit fees are $20 for 5,000 square feet or less and $40 for over 5,000 square feet. A permit is not necessary for cleaning operations, such as high pressure cleaning; however, a mesh fabric that allows water to drain yet captures paint chips needs to cover the premises. In the process of renovating, remodeling or painting our homes, we may inadvertently increase the lead content in our home environments, which can be hazardous to our health. Virtually all paints manufactured prior to 1978 contained lead in amounts ranging up to 50% of their total content. Since most of Cleveland Heights' housing stock was built prior to 1970, an ordinance has been put into effect regulating paint removal from home exteriors. A complete copy of the ordinance may be obtained from the Building Department at City Hall (291-4900). The following paint removal methods are prohibited:

  • Open Flame Burning (Although heating element guns are permitted to loosen old paint.) 
  • Abrasive Blasting and Power Sanding (Exceptions: the use of sanders to 'feather edges' of remaining paint once a surface has been scraped; "vacuum blasting" with proper filtration; and abrasive blasting of non-lead-containing surfaces as established by an independent lab test.) 

The ordinance also requires the use of tarping to capture all removed paint, even when hand scraping, and the closing of openings through which dust might enter the home. No such operation shall take place outside the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., nor during rains, snowfalls or when wind speed exceed 20 miles per hour.

A - E | F - L | M - R | S - Z 

For a complete list of Codified Ordinances, click here.