Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
Annual rental registration for non-owner-occupied units ($70 per unit): code says apply by March 1; City says fees due by March 31 Verified
Deadline: Every year by March 1; alternative date March 31 (window opens January 1)
Register every non-owner-occupied residential unit each year and before tenants move in. Codified Ordinance 365.02 says annual applications are due on or before March 1; the City's registration page says renewals open January 1 and all fees must be paid by March 31. Filing by March 1 satisfies both.
Who it covers: Includes units occupied by relatives or friends rent-free. A Certificate Approving Rental Occupancy is also required before renting (no open violations, taxes current, lead-safe compliance; owners outside Cuyahoga or a contiguous county must name a local agent). Report contact changes within 7 days. Expired certificate: $70 plus $100 late fee.
"Application for a certificate of non-owner-occupied residential unit registration required by this Housing Code shall be made annually, on or before March 1st of each calendar year" codelibrary.amlegal.com
"For annual renewal applications, you can apply any time after January 1st. All fees must be paid by March 31st. For new applications, you can apply throughout the year. Rentals must be registered before tenants occupy the property." clevelandohio.gov
"All owners of non-owner-occupied residential properties are required to register. The fee is $70 per unit" clevelandohio.gov
"Such an owner, before renting such a unit, shall obtain a Certificate Approving Rental Occupancy." codelibrary.amlegal.com
"For property owners outside of Cuyahoga or a contiguous county the appointment of a local-agent-in-charge who resides in the county, will now be required." clevelandohio.gov
Notes: Cleveland Codified Ordinances 365.02, 365.03; Building & Housing rental registration page. The code (March 1) and City page (March 31) give different dates.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction
Pre-1978 rentals: Lead Safe Certificate, valid 2 years; re-apply within the 30 days before it expires Verified
Deadline: Every 2 years from the certificate issue date; apply within the 30 days before it expires
Each rental unit built before 1978 needs a Lead Safe Certificate, based on a lead risk assessment completed within 90 days before you submit it. The certificate lasts two years from issuance; re-apply no earlier than 30 days before it expires.
Who it covers: Since October 18, 2024 the City requires a lead risk assessment (not just a clearance exam) to start certification. Alternative: 20-year exemption with a comprehensive risk assessment and paint inspection showing abatement. Vacant units with no rent received: file an annual affidavit instead. No application fee.
"A lead-safe certification is valid for two (2) years from the date of issuance. No earlier than thirty (30) days prior to expiration, an owner shall re-apply for a lead-safe certification by providing the necessary documentation as set forth in this section." codelibrary.amlegal.com
"within ninety (90) days prior to the date of submission evidencing that lead hazards were not identified in the unit." codelibrary.amlegal.com
"Rental properties built before 1978 must obtain a Lead Safe Certification or an Exemption. Owner-occupied properties do not need to be certified." clevelandohio.gov
"starting October 18, 2024, the city started to require lead risk assessments instead of allowing clearance exams to initiate a lead safe certificate." clevelandohio.gov
"There is no fee for application and certification must be renewed every two years from the date of initial certification." clevelandohio.gov
Notes: Cleveland Codified Ordinances 365.04; Department of Public Health and Building & Housing lead-safe pages; Lead Safe Certificate FAQ (Executive Order 2024-03).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction