🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Shaker Heights, OH
Shaker Heights Locks in Its Short-Term Rental Ban Before State Preemption Hits
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Shaker Heights Locks in Its Short-Term Rental Ban Before State Preemption Hits
SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio – Shaker Heights is playing it smart—and fast. On June 23, City Council adopted emergency legislation that formally bans short-term rentals under 30 days, sealing the city’s stance just in time to avoid being overridden by the state.
While the city’s zoning code had long discouraged these rentals, there was never a clear, standalone ordinance saying “no” outright. City Law Director William Ondrey Gruber said that adding this language to the Housing Code gives landlords and homeowners a direct, no-wiggle-room message.
And the timing? Not a coincidence.
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A bill currently pending in Columbus would block cities across Ohio from creating new STR restrictions. But, crucially, there’s an exemption baked in for cities with existing bans already on the books. Thanks to this new ordinance, Shaker Heights will be part of that protected group if the bill becomes law.
“This adds urgency to the proposal,” Gruber told the council. And given how local officials—including Mayor David Weiss—formally opposed the bill in March, they’re clearly not backing down.
Though the memo didn’t mention it, the November 2024 double homicide outside a short-term rental on Shaker Boulevard likely played into the discussion. The mansion had a proper license and met the 30+ day minimum, so it wasn’t in violation, but the event fueled public anxiety about rental homes operating as disruptive “party houses.”
Gruber clarified that rentals longer than 30 days are still allowed with a license. These stays are common among traveling professionals and families in town for medical care. Short-term operators who don’t meet the new rules could face citations and orders to cease.
Councilwoman Nancy Moore voiced concern about how the state, which usually asserts dominance over local rules, is now offering exemptions. “What made the state add it?” she asked. Gruber didn’t have a clear answer, but the consensus was: take advantage of the window while it’s open.
Councilman Sean Malone noted that residents might still be in the dark about the city’s STR ban, recalling the rental boom during the 2016 RNC. He even pointed out that some short-term listings are still live online in the city. Many of those may be legal, but others? Not so much.
Bottom line: Shaker Heights has drawn a firm line in the sand. No short stays. No party pads. And no room for confusion.
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