Frequently Asked Questions

Permit Hours and Times to Call for Inspections:

Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - Noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

While vinyl/synthetic siding is an alternative to painting your home, you should know that damaged wood siding and its underlying structure, while hidden, could continue to rot from hidden moisture. Also, you may want to be aware that the historic character and significance of your home could be reduced with synthetic siding.

Each home contributes to the overall charm and historic character of our City's neighborhoods. The original wood siding and carpentry details of your home are authentic and unique. Vinyl should be thoughtfully and carefully applied to protect as many of the details that contribute to the historic character of a home as possible.

Only a Building Permit is required as long as your home has clapboard siding and no windows or doors are to be removed or added; otherwise, an appearance before the Architectural Board of Review (ABR) would be required. For details view the Architectural Board of Review Rules of Policy and Procedures (PDF).

The following must be submitted:

• At least one close-up photograph of the existing siding. If more than one type of siding is present (clapboard, wood shingles, stucco), please submit a close-up photo of each type of material
• A brochure from the siding manufacturer, including details of the siding
• Clear photos, using a 35 millimeter (mm) camera or equal, of all sides of your home (no Polaroids please)
• A measurement of the height of the existing clapboard or shingle
• A measurement of the height of the proposed synthetic siding

Please note, all contractors must be registered with the Building Department.

We strongly recommend that you do not cover over doors and windows with siding. However, if you choose to pursue this option, you must obtain the approval of the Architectural Board of Review, view the Architectural Board of Review Rules of Policy and Procedures (PDF). For more information, call the Division of Building at 216-291-4900.

Yes, you should be aware of the following:

• Jumping (siding over existing window and door casings) is not permitted.
• Siding shall closely match the original siding in placement, size, proportion and general appearance.
• Window and door trim, if covered with vinyl trim, shall closely match the original wood casing in appearance.
• Siding shall not be applied over brick, stone, stucco or other masonry surfaces.
• Siding shall not be grained to resemble wood (real wood siding does not have a raised wood grain.
• Siding shall be installed in such as manner as to minimize damage to the historic siding beneath.

Contact the Building Department at 216-291-4900 for more information.

Building permits are required for the following:

• To demolish, alter, or make major repairs to any existing building structure, or any portion of that structure.
• To build any new structure/addition. (Plans for new structures or exterior design changes must be approved by the Architectural Board of Review before a permit can be issued.) New roof (only if structural work is involved) coverings, window replacements, new siding (except for small areas of replacement), decks, new steps (or rebuilding steps) all require permits.
• To do any electrical (other than minor violation corrections), plumbing, heating, air conditioning work.
• To do any concrete or asphalt work involving replacement or asphalt resurfacing, or any paving work (brick walks, etc.).

A Stop-Work Order or Violation Notice will be issued, fees will double and a court summons may be issued for non-compliance or repeat offenders.

Whoever does the work obtains the permit. If a contractor is being hired, they need to be registered.

Yes! Permit(s) must be posted during the period of construction.

Yes. Either you or your contractor should call 216-291-4900, Option 1 to arrange for rough-in and final inspections.

Applicants must be no less than 18 years of age nor have attained the 32nd birthday at the date of appointment and must be a citizen of the United States.  Must have documented evidence of current State of Ohio Paramedic Certification of National Paramedic Certification and State of Ohio FFI/II Certification.  Candidates that are currently enrolled in a Paramedic class or FFI/II class may apply with proof of enrollment (letter from Director of program).  However, the candidate may not be appointed to the Division until the course(s) are successfully completed. An applicant must be a bona fide resident of Cuyahoga County, or the adjacent counties of Lorain, Medina, Portage, Summit, Geauga or Lake.  

The Cleveland Heights Fire Department is required by law to maintain the privacy of certain confidential health care information, known as Protected Health Information or PHI, which is mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This Notice is given to all persons whom we generate any medical information.  The Notice describes your legal rights, advises you of our privacy practices and lets you know how the Cleveland Heights Fire Department is permitted to use and disclose PHI about you. 

 Notice of Privacy of Protected Health Information (PDF)

Batteries should be replaced twice a year (when you change your clocks at the beginning and end of daylight savings time).  A smoke detector that beeps every few seconds probably needs to have the battery replaced.

The Cleveland Heights Fire Prevention Bureau handles all inspections.  Call them at 216-291-2973 for details.

Tours of the city's two fire stations are available during the months of January, May, August and December.  Fire Station #1 is located at 3445 Mayfield Road, and Fire Station #2 is located at 12560 Cedar Road.  Call 216-291-2673 option #1 to arrange for a station tour.

The Fire Department will send an engine to a street party if one is available.  Please fill out the CHFD Public Relations form.

The Cleveland Water Department is responsible for the maintenance of all city fire hydrants. Call their office at 216-664-3130 for assistance.

Cleveland Heights paramedics will transport patients to the closest and most appropriate of several nearby hospitals, including the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospital and Metro Health.

Yes. CO detectors can save lives. They will sound an alarm if there is any abnormal increase in carbon monoxide, a deadly colorless and tasteless gas. Call the Fire department at 216-291-2673 for more information.

As needed (typically every 2 years), the Civil Service Commission tests for entry-level firefighters.  Tests will be announced on the City of Cleveland Heights website and will be shared to various social media platforms.

Applications are solicited each June. However, the first step for an organization interested in CDBG funding is to discuss their proposed program to determine if it is an eligible CDBG activity by emailing Brian Iorio at 216-291-4845.

The city maintains a database of demographics for each business district and surrounding neighborhood. Please email Brian Anderson, Business Development Manager at 216-291-2617 or visit the Economic Development page.

The City has loan and grant programs. Please email Brian Anderson, Business Development Manager at 216-291-2617 or visit the Economic Development page for more information.

Planning Department staff will be able to answer your questions in regard to permitted uses of land. Some uses are permitted 'by right,' which means that no special approvals are needed, while others may be 'conditionally permitted.' Conditionally permitted uses of land generally require Planning Commission review and approval. Call the department at 216-291-4878 or email the department. you can also email Brian Anderson, Business Development Manager at 216-291-2617 for more information.

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To obtain a list, please email Brian Anderson, Business Development Manager or 216-291-2617.

On occasion, the City will issue a request for qualifications for developers on property that it owns. For current availability, please email Brian Anderson, Business Development Manager or phone at 216-291-2617.

Fences may be up to seven feet in rear and interior side yards, although with fences parallel to and within seven feet of a house (either the fence-owner's or a neighbor's), the fence's height may be no more than its distance from the house. Front- and corner-side-yard fences are limited to three feet in height and require Architectural Board of Review approval. Chain-link or wire-mesh fencing is not permitted in front or corner side yards, and barbed wire is not permitted at all. A permit issued by the Planning Department is required for all new and replacement fences in the city. See the Fence Regulations / Fence Permit Application (PDF).

Unfortunately, the only sure way to determine the location of a property line is to have a survey done. The City does not become involved in property-line disputes. Call 216-291-4878 for more information.

Zoning regulations are in place for many reasons, including the need to prevent negative impacts on neighbors and to protect the property values of a neighborhood. However, sometimes, due to an unusual circumstance on their property, a person is justified in seeking a variance from the regulations. Most variances require the review and approval of the Board of Zoning Appeals, but some may be granted administratively. For more information, please contact the Zoning Administrator at 216-291-4855 or email them.

Yard signs are permitted to advertise a property for sale or rent, to advise of a garage or yard sale, or to express an opinion (on an upcoming election, for example). Signs must be placed parallel to the street and set back at least 20 feet from the right-of-way line; the right-of-way line is usually along the inner edge of your sidewalk. Other restrictions also apply. For details, please call the Department of Planning and Development at 216-291-4878 or email the department.

In most cases, the answer would be yes, but many restrictions and limitations apply. An annually renewable permit is also required. Please direct your questions to the Planning Department or at 216-291-4878.

The Certificate of Occupancy costs $200 for the first unit you are renting, $50 for the second unit and $25 for each additional rental unit with a maximum fee of $1,225.

The cost is $200 for the first unit and $50 for each additional unit.

You or your real estate agent may also come into the office at Cleveland Heights City Hall, 40 Severance Circle and fill out the application form or applications can be mailed to you. If you fill out the application in the office, a date and time for the inspection will be scheduled. If you mail in the application, you must call the office at 216-291-5900 to schedule the date and time.

Point of Sale Application Inspection (PDF)

We are normally scheduling two weeks in advance.

You may be placed on a cancellation list. We try to make every effort to schedule.

No. In Ohio, a tenant whose landlord refuses or fails to make repairs cannot simply withhold their rent. However, the tenant may deliver to the landlord written notice of the defective conditions or repairs requested. Then, if the landlord does not make the repairs in a reasonable amount of time, the tenant may deposit the rent with the Court.

For more information please visit the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court Website.

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New Point-of-Sale Inspections are scheduled at 9:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reinspections are scheduled between the hours of 9:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

You normally will receive your report within 5 working days.

No. Violations may be assumed by the buyer. However, if 'Class A' violations remain, monies must be placed in escrow and verification supplied to the Housing Inspection Office prior to title transfer.

Call the Housing Inspections office at 216-291-5900 to schedule a reinspection.

Inspectional Services must have a copy of the Acknowledgement Form signed by the buyer on file, the information for the title company and a letter from the title company of 'Class A' violations are noted stating they are holding funds in escrow.

Call Housing Inspections at 216-291-5900 and schedule a reinspection. If the violations pass inspection, the department will send a letter to the title company holding the funds and let them know how much to release.

You must register with Housing Inspections. A Certificate of Occupancy is required each year and you must have a new interior/exterior inspection every three years.

The number of occupants is determined by the allowable occupancy for the unit. However, no more than three unrelated persons may occupy any unit.

Call Inspectional Services at 216-291-5921 or file a complaint on the Access Cleveland Heights App 24 hours a day and an inspector will investigate the problem.

Call Inspectional Services at 216-291-5921 or file a complaint on the Access Cleveland Heights App 24 hours a day and an inspector will investigate the problem.

Call Inspectional Services at 216-291-5921 or file a complaint on the Access Cleveland Heights App 24 hours a day and an inspector will investigate the problem. The Housing Inspections staff is available for questions at 216-291-5900, Monday through Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm

Permits are needed for races, walkathons and bikeathons. Contact the Mayor's Action Center by calling 216-291-2323 or mac@clevelandheights.gov for additional information.

Arbor Day is usually celebrated the last Friday in April. The City of Cleveland Heights - designated a Tree City USA - hosts an Arbor Day celebration each year with participation from local schools and City staff. For information about the City's Arbor Day Celebration, contact the Mayor's Action Center by calling 216-291-2323 or mac@clevelandheights.gov for additional information.

An annual Memorial Day ceremony is held each May involving veteran groups, community organizations, civic and religious institutions, schools and residents. Contact the Mayor's Action Center by calling 216-291-2323 or mac@clevelandheights.gov for additional information.

No permit is needed for a garage sale, however certain restrictions do apply:

• Items offered for sale should not be displayed in the front of the property.
• No more than two garage or yard sales per calendar year may be conducted at any one property.
• Each garage or yard sale may run for no more than three consecutive calendar days.
• Hours for such sales shall be no earlier than 8 a.m. and no later than 6 p.m.
• Garage and yard sales must be conducted by the owner(s) of the personal items to be sold.

Email Community Relations for more details.

The City has a noise ordinance that prohibits unreasonably loud or disturbing noise by voice, musical instrument, amplification, television, car, etc. between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. If noise gets too loud from a neighboring property, you may wish to ask your neighbors, if you feel comfortable doing so, to lower their music, voices, etc. If, after speaking to them, the noise level does not improve, or, if you feel you cannot speak to them, call the Police Department non-emergency number at 216-321-1234 while the party/loud noise is in progress. Sometimes the noise stops before the police arrive. In an emergency situation, of course, call 911.

Please call the Mayor's Office at 216-291-3737.

Call 216-291-2323 or Email The Mayor's Action Center.

Leaves in plastic bags will not be collected. All yard waste is transported to a composting facility and plastic bags cannot be collected as they contaminate the load. 

Rake or blow loose leaves to the curb for April and November pick-up (weather permitting). 

You may also place leaves in paper Kraft bags, which are collected weekly from the tree lawn from May through October.

Brush, tree, and hedge trimmings must be cut and tied into bundles no larger than four feet in length and two feet in diameter. 

Large piles of loose brush will only be collected by special request and will be subject to a fee. Please fill out the Bulk/Loose Brush Pick-up Request Form to make arrangements for collection.

Loose leaves that are raked or blown to the tree lawn will be collected in April and November (weather permitting). 

From May through October leaves must be placed in paper Kraft bags and placed on the tree lawn for pick-up on your regular refuse /recycling collection day.

Kraft bags can be purchased from home improvement stores.

The Housing Preservation Office (HPO) offers various programs to assist Cleveland Heights homeowners/residents with violations and repairs to their homes. The loans and grants provided through HPO are publicly funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and, as such, require that all participants using these programs have gross incomes at or below the federally established limits based on family size. Applicants must also be owner/occupants. For more information, contact Housing Preservation at 216-291-4869 or email.

In addition, the Home Repair Resource Center, a non-profit organization established to maintain and strengthen Cleveland Heights houses, offers loan programs, do-it-yourself repair assistance, and a Resource Library. Contact them at 216-381-6100.

Cleveland Heights Ordinance 751.06 states "No person shall deposit or cause to be deposited snow or ice which has been removed from private property onto the median strips or any streets, sidewalks or other paved portions of the public rights of way of the City, or onto any private property without the permission of the owner.” If you see this occur, please call the Police Non-Emergency number at 216-321-1234 to report it.

Snow may not be pushed or blown into the street from private property, nor may it be pushed onto your neighbor's property.  Please remind your snow plow service that they are not permitted to push snow onto medians, across the street or onto property that it did not fall upon.

In removing the snow and ice, the City responds first to all of the main roads, and secondary "feeder" streets, which must be kept open to provide a transportation network to the largest volume of people. Hills and areas near schools are also a priority. Once these areas are in passable condition, crews head to clear the residential side streets.

Crews clear the residential side streets after the main roads after the main roads are cleared.

The snow must be removed from the traveled portion of the road. Unfortunately, this cannot be helped and we apologize for the inconvenience it causes you. Snow left in driveways by the city while snow plowing is the residents' and owners' responsibility to remove. When the city receives a heavy snowfall, if possible, do not shovel your driveway until after the plow has gone by.

The plows are designed to ride on “shoes” that raise the blade approximately one inch from the roadway surface. This is done to prevent damage to both the vehicle and the infrastructure from raised manholes, catch basins or water valves.  Streets with low traffic volumes will therefore remain snow covered for longer periods of time.

There are approximately 20,000 driveways in the City. The cost to clean all the driveways and the liability to the City for damage to the driveway or property is prohibitive.

Secondary and residential streets are plowed, but not salted. The cost to salt the residential streets is prohibitive. In addition, the road salt has a negative environmental effect and reduces the longevity of the road surface.

The City does not handle move-outs. Any items that fall outside of the 4 bulk items permitted during your bulk item collection week will require a special pick up at an additional charge. Bagged trash is NOT considered a bulk item and can NOT be placed outside of the city carts. Please fill out the Bulk/Loose Brush Pick-up Request Form to request a special pickup.

If you have bulk items left on the tree lawn, it is because a bulk truck will pick up the large loads and will follow the regular refuse trucks. Bulk items are only picked-up during your designated bulk pick up week and must be placed on the curbside by Monday morning at 7am for pick up throughout the week. https://www.clevelandheights.gov/255/Large-Or-Bulk-Items

Refuse must be placed on the tree lawn before 7 a.m. on the day of your collection. If you put it out after 7 a.m. on the morning of your collection day, it might have been missed. Call 216-691-7300 or email Public Works to let them know. You can also submit Refuse and Recycling requests 24 hours a day through the Access Cleveland Heights App.

Swing sets are considered a special collection pick up. Please fill out the Bulk/Loose Brush Pick-up Request Form to request a special pickup.

The City will collect up to 3 additional bags of refuse per household after City holidays. For more information please visit https://www.clevelandheights.gov/253/Holiday-Collection-Schedule.

Through a contract with the City of Cleveland Heights, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health provides health services for Cleveland Heights residents. Senior citizen blood pressure clinics are free of charge and held at the Senior Activity Center (located in the Community Center at One Monticello Boulevard). Call 216-691-7377 for days and times. No appointments are necessary.

For questions and concerns about general food safety and environmental issues (such as black mold spores), log on to Cuyahoga County Board of Health or call them at 216-201-2000.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health can provide helpful insight about the West Nile Virus, including information about larviciding, the origins of the disease, and adulticiding. Contact their offices at  216-201-2000 for more information.

The City of Cleveland owns Lower Lake and the Lower Lake dam and leases them to the cities of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights within their boundaries.

The cities of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District have conducted maintenance on the dam as required.

Please see the recording of the Nov. 18, 2025 joint meeting of the Cleveland Heights YouTube page.

Section 106 federal review will be part of any project that is planned to address Lower Lake dam.

There will be a plan manage wildlife, consistent with existing environmental regulations, in conjunction with any final plan for Lower Lake.

The cities have entered into many agreements with NEORSD over the years regarding the parklands and lakes.  NEORSD has conducted or funded many projects within the parklands. This has included Lower Lake.

The cities have not determined whether there is a need for a coalition or a committee, but the cities have been talking with stakeholders and will continue to seek public input.

Lower Lake dam will be the subject of future public meetings of the Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights city councils and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. Public comment will be accepted at these meetings.

In August, the administrations of both cities began considering the idea of holding a joint city council meeting regarding Lower Lake dam at which ODNR would share an overview of dam safety and Lower Lake dam conditions.

The two cities communicated about posting the Nov. 18 meeting on the meetings calendars of their websites. The cities collaborated on a joint news release, which both cities posted on their websites and disseminated to local media.

Both cities posted this meeting on the meetings calendars on their websites on or about October 30. The two cities posted and disseminated a news release regarding this meeting on November 12. The City of Shaker Heights posted the meeting agenda, which included the Zoom link, on November 14. The City of Cleveland Heights posted the announcement and Zoom link on its Facebook page in advance of the meeting. The City of Shaker Heights also posted information about the meeting on its Facebook page in advance of the meeting.

The estimated top of dam storage volume of Lower Shaker Lake is 178 acre-feet.

Garfield Park Lake Dam appears to not meet the size and hazard thresholds to be regulated by the ODNR Division of Water Resources, so the Division does not have an estimate of its storage volume, but it stores much less water than Lower Shaker Lake.

Yes. Shreve Lake Dam is a Class I dam located in Wayne County, owned by the State of Ohio, and managed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. That dam was remediated in 2024 with construction of a new principal spillway and lake drain. Prior to its remediation, the lake had to be drained for 9 years as an Interim Risk Reduction Measure (IRRM) due to concerns that the dam would fail through its principal spillway. An IRRM is a temporary emergency measure to reduce the risk of dam failure until a dam can be remediated, modified, or breached.

There is no listing for Roy Rogers Dam in the State of Ohio in either the ODNR Division of Water Resources’ (Division) Dam Safety Program database, or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) National Inventory of Dams.

The embankments have an effect, but it depends on the size of the flooding event. The ravine downstream of Lower Shaker Lake Dam is relatively steep and narrow, so it does not diminish flood waves like a flat, wide valley would.

There is no definition of “unsafe dam” in Ohio’s dam safety laws. In the 1970s, the USACE often used the word “unsafe” for its Phase I Inspection Reports to describe a dam not meeting safety standards. The terms “small floods” and “large floods” are defined terms in the field of engineering. For dam safety engineering, Figure 3-1 below provides a good framework for describing and comparing floods.

Yes. An estimated top of dam storage volume for any impoundment includes silt and sediment in the reservoir area for two reasons: (1) owners often periodically remove silt and sediment, and (2) when silts and sediment are saturated, they can remain “flowable” or can be easily eroded during severe hydrologic events.

While the Division is aware of this and other infrastructure improvements downstream to address localized flooding, those improvements cannot handle the amount of water suddenly released from a dam failure. The volumes and flow rates of a dam failure are significantly higher than those improvements are designed to carry.

A cleaned culvert is certainly able to address localized flooding better than a clogged culvert, but no culvert can handle the amount of water suddenly released from a dam failure. The volumes and flow rates of a dam failure are significantly higher than culverts are designed to carry.

The Lower Shaker Lake Dam was properly classified as a Class I dam in 1979 as part of the USACE Phase I inspection and has remained in that classification under Ohio’s dam safety laws. Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 1501:21-13-01 requires a dam to be placed in Class I when sudden failure of the dam would result in either the probable loss of human life, or the structural collapse of at least one residence or one commercial or industrial business, regardless of the dam’s classification based on total storage volume or height. The Dam stores a considerable volume of water during flood events, and the sudden failure of the Dam would release that water into a highly populated, urban area. This has been verified by lower tier analyses and is sufficient for placing the dam in Class I, unless a higher-tier analysis shows otherwise. Because the Dam has severe deficiencies that require remediation regardless of its classification, performing such a higher-level analysis on the Dam would not be useful.

Regulation and management of localized storm water flooding is not within the jurisdiction of the Division. Removal of a dam removes the risk of catastrophic dam failure. The amount of water, and the speed and force of water, that is uncontrollably released upon anyone downstream of a dam when it suddenly fails, is not comparable to localized flooding in a storm event.

Assuming this question relates to modifying Lower Shaker Lake Dam similarly to Garfield Park Lake Dam, where the dam and lake were modified to be much smaller, and alongside the larger stream, the advantage discussed was that doing so could remove the Lower Shaker Lake Dam from the Division’s jurisdiction. The lake would still have a dam, just one that is no longer regulated by the Division.

Both Upper and Lower Shaker Lake Dams have been classified as Class I since the USACE Phase I inspection in 1979. If the Doan Brook literature lists those Dams as Class II, it is mistaken.

The Lower Shaker Lake Dam has been listed in poor condition since the USACE Phase I inspection in 1979.

Full question: How does ODNR coordinate its reports, findings and/or recommendations with federal environmental law, including the Clean Water Act §§404/401, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA) §§7 and 9, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and NHPA §106? To the extent that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may be evaluating NEORSD’s plans at Horseshoe Lake, will any information or materials presented by ODNR impact such a review?

Answer: It is the responsibility of a dam’s owner to coordinate with the federal government to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulations such as the Clean Water Act §§404/401, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA) §§7 and 9, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and NHPA §106. ODNR’s Division of Water Resources provides information to the dam’s owner and to federal agencies to facilitate their reviews and understanding of the dam.

Doan Brook is the only watershed that runs through University Circle. With respect to overland flow within that watershed, the Lower Shaker Lake Dam’s basin is the biggest contributor to the University Circle area. There are also small catchments along Doan Brook between the dam and Ambler Park, small catchments around the University Circle area, and a small basin north/northeast of the park. Urban areas also have sewersheds that may differ from overland runoff. For additional information see NEORSD report or refer to the USEPA’s kmz coverage “catchments”.

The Lower Shaker Lake Dam could be modified to meet all current dam safety standards for a lower classification or to remove the Dam from the Division’s jurisdiction.

It is the responsibility of a dam’s owner to evaluate and choose an option to bring their dam into compliance with Ohio’s dam safety laws. It should be noted that the site for Lower Shaker Lake Dam has significant constraints beyond dam safety engineering. Historic remnants, a park setting, nearby roads and many other factors have an impact on the options and costs. An owner of a dam often commissions an engineering study of potential options where the site constraints, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of various options, are identified. Such a study could consider various water features and configurations.

It is the responsibility of a dam’s owner to evaluate and choose an option to bring their dam into compliance with Ohio’s dam safety laws. It should be noted that the site for Lower Shaker Lake Dam has significant constraints beyond dam safety engineering. Historic remnants, a park setting, nearby roads and many other factors have an impact on the options and costs. An owner of a dam often commissions an engineering study of potential options where the site constraints, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of various options, are identified. Such a study could consider various water features and configurations.

Correct. There are generally 3 options a dam’s owner may choose to bring their dam into compliance with Ohio’s dam safety laws: (1) fully remediate the dam to meet all current dam safety standards for the dam’s current classification; (2) modify the dam to meet all current dam safety standards for a lower classification or to remove the dam from the Division’s jurisdiction; or (3) breach (remove) the dam. The dam’s owner proposes their preferred option to the Division for review and approval.

Complete question: Do ODNR guidelines allow us to target the differential-risk, rather than the full-storm risk? (FEMA guidelines allow dam classification to ask about the DIFFERENCE between the "storm event flood" and the "storm event flood including a dam breach" and judge the risk due to the excess only. This was not done in the EAP analysis---the inundation maps shown there represent storm inputs, which actually peak long after the (fairly harmless, easily conveyed) modeled dam breach.)

Answer: 

Yes. Please see Ohio Administrative Code Rule 1501:21-13-02(B) for more information about the critical flood.

The Division accepted the current Emergency Action Plan (EAP) inundation mapping for the Lower Shaker Lake Dam because the overall extent of the inundation was similar to the results of other analyses, and it is useful for providing the general extent of inundation downstream from the Dam. The Division informed the Dam’s owners that the mapping could be used in the EAP until the Dam is brought into compliance, and then the mapping would need to be updated. The current EAP inundation mapping is sufficient for mapping, but not for estimation of detailed impacts. For example, FERC guidance states “it is not appropriate to assume that a dam fails on the rising limb of the inflow.” The “PMF Failure Scenario” in the current EAP inundation mapping was based on failure of the dam on the rising limb of the inflow. Therefore, using the EAP to conclude “fairly harmless” flooding is not appropriate.

The Cleveland Heights City Hall Calendar of Events may be found online.

The Office of Public Relations is responsible for the content of this website. Please direct your questions and comments to us by email or call 216.291.5794.

A variety of events take place every year in Cleveland Heights, including a Dr. Martin Luther King celebration, Memorial Day ceremony, Arbor Day gathering, Cain Park Arts Festival and much more.

Residents who do not have a tree on the tree lawn in front of their house are eligible for a new tree planting  during spring (mid-April through May) and Fall (end of October through November). Please call 216-691-7300 or email the Forestry Division to request a tree planting, trimming, or removal on your tree lawn.

If you do not want a new tree to be planted on the tree lawn in front of your house, contact the Forestry Division at 216-691-7300 or Email the Forestry Division to let them know.

Contact Forestry at 216-691-7300 or Email the Forestry Division. An arborist will examine it to determine if it needs to be trimmed or removed. You can also submit Forestry requests 24 hours a day through the Access Cleveland Heights App.

No! Trees on tree lawns are on public property. If the tree is diseased, Forestry will remove the tree. Healthy trees will not be removed. If you cut down or remove a tree that is on public property, you may be cited and fined.

No. Trees that are on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. Please contact a private tree service company.

If the limb is from a City tree or tree lawn tree, and is blocking the sidewalk, driveway or driveway apron, Forestry will remove it. Call 216-691-7300 or Email the Forestry Division. You can also submit Forestry requests 24 hours a day through the Access Cleveland Heights App.

If the limb is from a tree on private property, the homeowner is responsible for clearing the area. 

If the limb is on a wire, call the Illuminating Company at 800-589-3101.

No. Please call the Illuminating Company at 1-800-589-3101.

The city maintains a database of demographics for each business district and surrounding neighborhood. Please contact Brian Anderson, Assistant Director of Economic Development or visit the Economic Development webpage.

Planning Department staff will be able to answer your questions in regard to permitted uses of land. Some uses are permitted 'by right,' which means that no special approvals are needed, while others may be 'conditionally permitted.' Conditionally permitted uses of land generally require Planning Commission review and approval. Call 216-291-4878 or email Planning or contact Brian Anderson, Assistant Director of Economic Development for more information.

The City has loan and grant programs. Please contact Brian Anderson, Assistant Director of Economic Development or visit the Economic Development Department for more information.

Please contact Brian Anderson, Assistant Director of Economic Development or visit the Economic Development Department.

To report dogs and cats running at large, found or lost, barking, defecating, etc., call the Animal Protective Unit at 216-291-4987.

To report dogs and cats running at large, found or lost, barking, defecating, etc., call the Animal Protective Unit at 216-291-4987.

Call the Animal Protective Unit at 216-291-4987.

Call the Animal Protective Unit at 216-291-4987.

Dog licenses may be obtained through the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter. Please visit https://animalshelter.cuyahogacounty.gov/services/dog-licensing or call 216-443-3192 for more information.

Call the Animal Protective Unit at 216-291-4987.

Dead cats and dogs will be collected from residents' property, but will not be removed from the house. If the animal is inside the house, you must bag the animal and place it on the tree lawn for collection by Public Works. Call 216-691-7300.

The Cleveland Heights Police Department is located at Cleveland Heights City Hall:

40 Severance Circle
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

It is open 24 hours a day; entrance is in the back of City Hall.

In case of emergency, call 911 from any phone in the city. This number applies for any emergency - police, fire, and medical emergency. For non-emergency calls requiring police assistance, call 216-321-1234.

Yes. To report suspicious activity, call 216-321-1234.

In most cases, no it is not permitted. Parking is not permitted on most Cleveland Heights streets between the hours of 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. unless approved by the Chief of Police for a specific reason (new driveway, etc.) On some streets, overnight parking is allowed with a permit. For permit information, call the Treasury Office at 216-291-5770.

Call 216-321-1234 after 4 p.m. and supply the make of your vehicle and your license plate number so that you are not ticketed.

Yes. Children under 12 cannot be out on the following from the onset of darkness until 6 a.m.:

• Highways
• Public Grounds
• Public Parks
• Public Streets
• Sidewalks

Children 12 or older, but under 16 years old, cannot be out between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. No one 16 years of age or older, but under the age of 18, can be out between 12 midnight and 6 a.m. Exceptions to these rules are when children and teens are accompanied by parents, guardians, or members of the family who are 18 years of age or older; when they are on errands or other legitimate business under the parents' direction; or when they are engaged in gainful and lawful employment during curfew hours. Parents and guardians shoulder the responsibility for enforcing curfew regulations. All persons charged with curfew violations will be referred to Juvenile Court.

Cleveland Water has emergency teams on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be reached at 216-664-3060.

Visit Cleveland Water’s website at Cleveland Water Department's website to view the Water Quality Report, or call the Water Quality line at 216-664-2639.

Call the Cleveland Water Emergency Dispatch Center at 216-664-3060 to report:

• Broken Water Mains
• Missing Manholes Covers
• Other Water-Related Emergencies
• Poor Water Pressure

City of Cleveland Heights Utilities Division Public Works at 216-291-5995.

The Cleveland Water Division is the water service provider for the City of Cleveland Heights and the Billing Agent for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) for wastewater treatment. Customers are billed monthly. Cleveland Water/NEORSD bills can be paid as follows:

• Cleveland Division of Water – 1201 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, Ohio
• Cleveland Division of Water website – www.clevelandwater.com
• Phone payment at 216-446-6834

The City of Cleveland Heights bills for landfill and local sewer charges. Local sewer charges cover repairs and maintenance of the local sewer system. Charges are billed quarterly and can be paid as follows:

• Cleveland Heights City Hall – 40 Severance Circle, Cleveland Heights, Oh
• Cleveland Heights website – www.clevelandheights.com
• PSN automated phone payment at 1-877-885-7968

Cleveland Water does have a process to mail bills to tenants. Please go to Cleveland Water Department's website to learn more.

Cleveland Water has a number of programs available that may help. Please go to the Cleveland Water Department website to learn more, or contact Customer Service at 216-664-3130.

No. The transition charge is based on water usage and will terminate after the 5 year transition period. The transition charge covers the cost of converting to Cleveland Water.

No. You will not be able to pay your Cleveland water bill at Cleveland Heights City Hall. Visit Cleveland Water Department's website to find out convenient ways to pay your bill.

In removing the snow and ice, the City responds first to all of the main roads, hills and areas near schools. Once these areas are in passable condition, crews clear the residential side streets.

If you spot a pothole on a city street, please call 216-691-7300 during normal working hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also submit pothole requests 24 hours a day through the Access Cleveland Heights App.

Although crews routinely check all areas of the city, they are unable to cover all areas daily and your help is appreciated.

Questions regarding street resurfacing can be made to the Public Works Office at 216-691-7300.  

If the overall condition of your street is bad, contact Public Works at 216-691-7300 to check if it is on an upcoming resurfacing list. The list is usually projected over the next three years and is updated annually.

According to Cleveland Heights Ordinance 521.04, property owners are responsible for keeping the sidewalks clear of debris as well as snow.

Unfortunately, it cannot be helped. The snow must be removed from the traveled portion of the road. 

When the city receives a heavy snowfall, if possible, do not shovel your driveway until after the plow has gone by.

The plows are designed to ride on “shoes” that raise the blade approximately one inch from the roadway surface. This is done to prevent damage to both the vehicle and the infrastructure from raised manholes, catch basins or water valves. 

Once salt is applied, the interaction of the salt and vehicle traffic is required to melt the remaining snow cover. Streets with low traffic volumes will therefore remain snow covered longer.

The City of Cleveland Heights employs sensible salting techniques which include sodium chloride deicing agents (road salt) being applied on main streets; while secondary side streets receiving applications of road salt ONLY at stop signs, intersections, hills, and within school zones.

Please contact NOPEC at 1-855-667-3201 or  www.nopec.org/enrollment.

Located at City Hall Lower Level, 40 Severance Circle, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118. The business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Note: City Hall will be closed in observation of all major holidays, which includes Juneteenth and Veteran’s Day.

All Cleveland Heights residents are required to pay for water, sewer, and local sewer charges.

Water service charges are only billed by the Cleveland Water Department. Sewer service charges are only billed by NEORSD. Local Sewer (maintenance and repairs) service charges are only billed by Cleveland Heights Utilities Department.

NEORSD bill consist of water that exits your house through pipes that must be chemically treated at the sewer plant before it is returned to the lake.

Cleveland Heights Utility bill consist of all maintenance and repairs of the sewer mains in Cleveland Heights only. The catch basins and manhole covers are also maintained by the city. Water services are handled by Cleveland Water and can be reached at 216-664-3130 or websiteinquiries@clevelandwater.com.

This per-unit fee helps us address the high costs of rubbish disposal. The cost is $17.60 per month per unit, and $9.10 per month per unit if part of the Homestead Exemption. This fee can only be exempted for commercial properties that has their own private hauler company.

Note: If a commercial property has their own private hauler and want to be exempt from services and charges, that request along with documented proof (i.e. service agreement) must be submitted to our office via email utilitydept@clevelandheights.gov or mail:

Cleveland Heights Utilities Department
40 Severance Circle
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

The local sewer rate is $4.345 per 100 cubic feet, which is based and calculated on water consumption used. 

If part of the Homestead Exemption or Affordability Program, the rate is $2.607 per 100 cubic feet.

This bill is generated quarterly. Bills are normally mailed out at the very end of January, April, July, and October.

Yes. The Cleveland Heights Utilities Department offers the Homestead Exemption to seniors 65 years or older or permanently disabled owner-occupied homeowners with an annual income of $39,500 or less, and the Affordability Assistance Program to owner-occupied homeowners that household income is at or below 200% of the poverty level.

Must be qualified and approved by Cleveland Water or Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District in order to apply with the Cleveland Heights Utilities Department.

You may apply online by visiting:

https://www.clevelandheights.gov/Homestead-Sewer-Rate-Application for the Homestead Sewer Rate Application
https://www.clevelandheights.gov/Sewer-Affordability-Application for the Sewer Affordability Application

For more information, contact the Cleveland Heights Utilities Department at 216-291-5995 (Option 5) or email utilitydept@clevelandheights.gov.

You may have a water leak. Contact Cleveland Water Department at 216-664-3130 or websiteinquiries@clevelandwater.com for further investigation.

You may pay your utility bill through the following options by:

• Telephone at 216.291.5995 (Option 1)
• Mail stub along with Check / Money Order to the Cleveland Heights Utilities Department, 40 Severance Circle, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
• Place stub along with Check / Money Order in City Hall Drop Box (in front of City Hall)
• Visiting online at www.clevelandheights.gov/Pay-Your-Local-Utliity-Bill

No. Your water and sewer bill must be paid to the Cleveland Water Department. You may visit www.clevelandwater.com or call 216-664-3130 to learn payment options.

Cleveland Heights Utility bill can only be paid to Cleveland Heights. To pay your Cleveland Heights Utility bill please visit https://www.clevelandheights.gov/565/Pay-Your-Local-Utility-Bill.

The CID Number is your account unique identification number for online registration purposes.

The Previous Balance is the amount billed the previous quarter. The Balance Prior to New Charges is the balance that is currently past due.

No. The Utilities Department does not offer payment plans.

You may not receive your bill due to one of the following reasons:

• You may have registered your account with our online customer portal and opted out of paper bills. Please visit our payment portal to review account.
• The mailing address on file is not current. Contact our office to have the mailing address updated at 216-291-5995 (Option 3) or utilitydept@clevelandheights.gov.

You can contact the Cleveland Heights Utilities Department at 216-291-5995 (Option 2) or sewer@clevelandheights.gov. There is a $100 sewer cleaning fee assessed for services during regular business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you are part of the Homestead Exemption, the fee will be reduced to $50.

Note: We can only clean the sewer if there is a clean-out on the floor in your basement, or a test tee in your lawn.

Call Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) at 216-881-8247 or go online at www.neorsd.org to apply electronically. 

Cleveland Heights does not offer the summer sprinkling program.

Yes. Sewer charges are based upon water consumption.

Cleveland Heights Utilities Department no longer bill tenants. All bills and charges are solely the responsibility of the property owner.

Water services are handled by Cleveland Water and can be reached at 216-664-3130 or websiteinquiries@clevelandwater.com.

Water services are handled by Cleveland Water and can be reached at 216-664-3130 or websiteinquiries@clevelandwater.com.

Water services are handled by Cleveland Water and can be reached at 216-664-3130 or websiteinquiries@clevelandwater.com.

Please contact the Cleveland Heights Utilities Department at 216-291-5995 (Option 2) or sewer@clevelandheights.gov.

Contact the Cleveland Heights Utilities Department at 216.291.5995 (Option 3) or utilitydept@clevelandheights.gov. We recommend registering your account online at www.clevelandheights.gov/Pay-Your-Local-Utliity-Bill to review, print, or pay your bill 24/7.

Please contact the Cleveland Heights Utilities Department at 216-291-5995 (Option 3) during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. or utilitydept@clevelandheights.gov.

Please visit www.clevelandheights.com/Collection-Schedule, enter and search your property address, and information about your collection day will appear.

Please contact our office at 216-291-5995 (Option 3) or utilitydept@clevelandheights.gov AFTER the property has transferred AND have been recorded with the Cuyahoga County Recorder’s Office.

Cleveland Heights Utilities Department can only provide information regarding local sewer and landfill charges. Please contact via email at utilitydept@clevelandheights.gov to submit request.

To receive information regarding water and sewer charges status, please contact Cleveland Water Department at 216-664-3130 or websiteinquiries@clevelandwater.com.

Contact the Illuminating Company to report an outage by calling 1-888-544-4877 or visiting www.firstenergycorp.com.

CDBG stands for the Community Development Block Grant, an annual grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to the City of Cleveland Heights for the purposes of benefitting low- and moderate-income households and the prevention and removal of slums and/or blight.

CDBG funds a variety of projects and programs, including: housing rehabilitation, economic development, public works, social service agencies, food pantries, youth and educational services, fair housing education and enforcement, planning projects and grant administration.

CAC stands for Citizens Advisory Committee.  It is made up of 22 members with a Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary. 10 seats are reserved for representatives of the City’s 10 historic elementary school boundaries. An additional 12 seats are open to residents from all parts of the community. Members are appointed annually by Cleveland Heights City Council.

The committee provides a means for the community to obtain information on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, assists in the evaluation and preparation of the CDBG yearly application, participates in monitoring the implementation of the CDBG program, and reviews the City's annual CDBG budget.

The CAC usually meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm. The CAC does not meet in December and July but meets twice in August and September.

Members are also assigned to one of several subcommittees in order to review applications and interview applicants who have applied for CDBG funding. This is done in order to make recommendations for funding to the full CAC. The subcommittees meet separately in August and September.

The minimum time commitment for CAC members is estimated to be:

Go to the Boards and Commissions section of the City’s website and click on the link on the right side of the page entitled “Boards and Commissions Application (PDF).” Fill out the form and return it to the City following the directions on the application.

Yes. All members are asked to include information on the Annual Subcommittee Selection Form that indicates any organization(s) that they or their family members are associated with who are current CDBG subrecipients or would possibly apply for funding in the next CDBG fiscal year.

Members are asked to abstain from voting on any recommendation pertaining to the request of any organization(s) that they or their family members are associated with who are requesting CDBG funds.  Members are also asked to refrain from participating in any discussion related to the vote.

Bulk item collections any other time or in excess of the four-item limit are subject to a fee of $10 per item per Ord. 935.02.

To find your bulk collection route view the 2026 Cleveland Heights Refuse and Recycling Calendar. The bulk collection week routes are color coded on each month of this calendar. Please place your bulk items on your tree lawn for collection on the first day of your route week.

For additional bulk items, to request collection on any other day, or to request a special collection of loose brush, please use the Bulk Pickup Request form online. Cost is $10 per bulk item for a special pick-up.

Sorry, payment is required in advance before we can schedule your pick-up.

Special collections are usually picked-up within 24-72 hours on regularly scheduled collection days (Mon.-Fri.). There are no special collections on weekends.

No, Special Bulk Pick up must be arranged separately with a 4 item limit at a rate of $10 per item. Please complete the Bulk Pickup Request Form to arrange this special pick up.

Yes, the fee would be $30 ($10 per section) and you can schedule the pick-up in advance. Please remember fabric furniture and mattresses need to be bagged or wrapped in plastic.

No, the city does not collect construction & demolition and/or building materials. We recommend that you contact a private hauling service. A list of some private hauling services is provided at the following link: Refuse Private Hauling Companies (PDF)

Yes, the charge would be based on the volume of material to be collected. The minimum charge is $30 and increases $30 for each additional cubic yard.

No, the city does not service move-outs or evictions. Property owners are responsible for disposing of these items at their own expense. Violators will be cited by the city
for placing these items on the treelawn. We recommend that you contact a private hauling service. A list of some private hauling services is provided at the following link: Refuse Private Hauling Companies (PDF)

Up to 4 bulk items can be placed on the treelawn the Monday of your bulk collection week. Plastic bags that do not fit inside your city issued cart are not included in a scheduled bulk pick up. Items that exceed the total of 4 and/or are bagged, must be scheduled through the Bulk Pickup Request Form and charged at a rate of $10/item,
up to 4 items.

No, the city does not collect construction & demolition and/or building materials. We recommend that you contact a private hauling service. A list of some private hauling services is provided at the following link: Refuse Private Hauling Companies (PDF)

No, ONLY fabric furniture (e.g. sofas, recliners, chaises) and mattresses should be bagged or wrapped in plastic.

Most hardware stores and home improvement stores should sell these items in the moving supplies area.

No, the city will not collect these. You must arrange for collection from the company that services the bags. Additionally, you cannot place these bags on the tree lawn, they must be placed on your property. Placing dumpster bags on tree lawn will be considered as illegal dumping and will be subject to fines.  

NEORSD’s restoration of the Doan Brook to its natural state will result in a new and more natural greenspace for the community. Residents are encouraged to view NEORSD’s June 15 presentation or this video, which provides an overview of the recommendations and examples of NEORSD’s stream restoration work, including the complete restoration of the Doan Brook in University Circle near the Cleveland Museum of Art.

This new greenspace will provide an opportunity to create a new recreational amenity for the community to enjoy. The City is committed to working with residents through a public process to explore the possibilities for this new amenity; the City is also committed to seeking funding to help bring the community’s vision to reality.

Yes. A walking path will remain.

The park will not change. Picnic pavilions, the playground, and the pathways will remain.

NEORSD is committed to paying $28.3 million to remove the dam at Horseshoe Lake, restore the stream bed and construct a new dam at Lower Lake and some maintenance costs for both Horseshoe Lake and Lower Lake.

The breakdown of costs is $13.6 million for the Lower Lake improvements and $14.7 million for the Horseshoe Lake improvements. These improvements would be funded through NEORSD's regional stormwater management program due to the regional benefits that the improvements provide. Note: NEORSD will not contribute $14.7 million to the cities to offset the cost to rebuild a dam at Horseshoe Lake because their studies have determined there is no significant regional stormwater benefit to keeping the dam and therefore Horseshoe Lake.

The cost to the City will be zero. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) will fund the entire cost of its recommended plan for Horseshoe Lake and Lower Lake through its Regional Stormwater Management Program. The estimated cost is $28.3 million. This program is funded through stormwater fees on monthly sewer bills paid by residents in NEORSD’s 60-plus member communities. Learn more at neorsd.org/shakerlakes.

NEORSD’s Regional Stormwater Management Program addresses problems related to stormwater runoff from hard surfaces. Runoff contributes to regional stream flooding, erosion, and water-quality issues, and the Program works to address stormwater problems that cross community boundaries. Due to the impacts downstream of flooding in the Shaker Lakes, this project is covered under the Regional Stormwater Management Program.

The estimated cost to rebuild Horseshoe Lake dam and manage the sediment is $20.7 million. This is not something that NEORSD would contribute regional stormwater management dollars toward because it does not align with their goals. This entire cost would be borne by the cities of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights. In addition, there would be ongoing costs related to dam maintenance and sediment removal that would be the responsibility of the cities.

No. NEORSD can only fund work that aligns with the goals of the Regional Stormwater Management Program. As such, it would not be able to divert the $14.7 million to help fund the rebuilding of the dam at Horseshoe Lake.  The City of Shaker Heights and the City of Cleveland Heights would be responsible for the entire $20.7 million estimated cost of rebuilding the dam, plus ongoing maintenance costs.

The cost for this is estimated to be $34.3 million, which is beyond the funding ability of NEORSD and is not an option being offered. In this scenario (rebuild the dams and manage sediment at both lakes), the cost for Lower Lake improvements are estimated to be $13.6 million and would be NEORSD funded due to the flooding benefits they provide. The costs for constructing a new dam at Horseshoe Lake and managing the sediment are estimated at $20.7 million.  As explained during NEORSD's June 15 presentation, lacking tangible flood control benefits, NEORSD regional stormwater management dollars could not be utilized to build a new dam at Horseshoe and manage the resulting sediment accumulation. As such, the needed $20.7 million would need to come from the municipalities.

In spring 2019, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) determined that the existing Horseshoe Lake Dam was structurally deficient. As a Class 1 dam, a sudden failure of Horseshoe Lake Dam could cause significant property damage and potential loss of life downstream. For this reason, ODNR directed our cities to almost fully drain Horseshoe Lake and keep it drained.

NEORSD has conducted preliminary environmental assessments of the sediment at Horseshoe Lake. Residents can learn more from the June 15 presentation (sediment is discussed at 45 minutes). Residents can email NEORSD for additional information.

Visit neorsd.org/shakerlakes to view the June 15 presentation, an additional video about the recommendations for Horseshoe Lake, and other information, including the slide deck. If you still have questions about the recommendations, please email community@neorsd.org.

No, every household is automatically slated to receive one 95-gallon refuse cart and one 64-gallon recycling cart.

Smaller cart options are reserved for seniors (65 and over) only who feel that they may have difficulty maneuvering a larger trash or recycling cart. The city may contact recent applicants for smaller carts to verify that they meet the age requirements.

First, if you are considering a smaller cart we recommend that you visit the Community Center located at 1 Monticello Blvd. where there are sample carts available and try them out.  If you are considering a smaller cart the middle size 64-gallon cart is the most advisable option for both refuse and recycling. It is approximately 44” high and offers good stability when wheeling the cart to the curb. All the carts have large wheels and maneuver easily. The smallest 32-gallon carts are significantly smaller and are only approximately 36” high.  This height might cause some individuals to have to bend over when trying to wheel the cart to the curb.  

Yes, if you currently participate in the disabled assistance collection program, this service will continue. You will receive both refuse and recycling carts, and one of our friendly city staff members will wheel the carts down to the street and empty them and return them to the location where they are stored on your property.

Unfortunately, No.  Based on feedback, this option is only reserved for seniors that might have mobility issues.  Smaller carts are not generally offered in other communities but we want to ensure the success of our program.

Yes. You will receive both carts for each unit.

Unfortunately, No.  We will only be collecting refuse/recycling in our prescribed carts. Additionally, NO bags outside of the city issued carts will be accepted.

The city operates a single stream recycling collection system. All acceptable recycling items are on our Recycling webpage will be placed loosely (not bagged) in the recycling cart and placed at the curb weekly. The City follows the Cuyahoga Recycles guidelines. Please visit CuyahogaRecycles.org to learn more.

Cardboard should be flattened and can go into the recycling cart.  If there are large boxes that cannot fit into the cart, it should be flattened and neatly stacked next to the recycling cart.

All trash must be bagged within the city issued carts. Bags outside of the cart will NOT be accepted. Recycling however should remain loose. NO bagged recycling will be accepted.

No, yard waste collection will follow the current collection guidelines, and will be placed at the curb separate from your refuse and recycling carts in a Kraft bag. for more information please visit https://www.clevelandheights.gov/1423/Lawn-Yard-Waste-and-Kraft-Bags.

Each cart will contain an integral Ultra High Radio Frequency Identification (UH-RFID) tag which will be specifically coded to each address. City staff will have scanners that can identify a found cart and which address it belongs to.

Carts will remain property of the city. Each residential unit will be issued one refuse cart and one recycling cart. If a residential unit purchases an additional cart the additional cart will remain property of the resident.

Yes, the carts are covered by a full 10-year warranty, and if carts are damaged they will either be repaired or replaced.

Yes, pre-purchased additional City carts are covered by the same full 10-year warranty and will either be repaired or replaced by the city.

For more information about Bulk Pickup in Cleveland Heights, please visit the Bulk Pickup FAQ page.

Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are only required on Federal projects per the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act. This is not a Federal project and an EIS is not required. However, this project will require Federal permitting through the Army Corps. Of Engineers.

Complete Question: Residents rely on the trails surrounding Horseshoe Park for fitness and transportation.  Breaking the loop around the park by eliminating the dam and spillway will force residents to rely on Park Drive and Lee Road, which are more dangerous and less scenic.  Will the city fund both a temporary and, eventually, permanent bridge over the marshland (the former lake) to facilitate use of this important space that Shaker residents have fought hard for, treasured, and grown accustomed to?

Answer: Yes. The walkway around the lake will remain. We expect the walkway connecting North and South Park will be rebuilt in some form. Resident input about the walkway during the design phase will be considered. Please note: The existing walkway currently is and will remain closed until further notice due to deteriorating and dangerous existing conditions.

Complete Question: Past circumstances led Horseshoe Lake to be classified as a Class 1 dam. Given NEORSD’s reworking of the Lower Lake dam, if non NEORSD funds are raised to pay for it, can Horseshoe Lake be rebuit as a Class 4 dam (in other words, 50 acre feet or less and therefore exempt from permit requirements and related costs)? If not, why?

Answer: Per ODNR regulations, a dam is exempt from jurisdiction if it is 6 feet or less in height regardless of storage volume; less than 10 feet in height with no more than 50 acre-feet of total storage volume, or not more than 15 acre-feet of total storage volume regardless of height. The current dam height is 29'.  The existing, approximately 20 feet of sediment depth within the Lake would need to be addressed (removed) to lower the dam height to 6 feet, or lowered to 10 feet in height if impounding less than 50 acre-feet of storage volume. Either dam lowering scenario (to a height of 6 feet or less, or 10 feet) would require full dam replacement and significant sediment removal. Lake sediment deposit removal greater than approximately 8 feet in depth was not cost estimated by NEORSD.

A rebuilt Horseshoe Lake (meeting the ODNR requirements @$20.7 million) would have the same amount of active storage volume as the existing Horseshoe Lake, with an average depth of 8 feet. The Stormwater Master Plan analysis found that the active storage volume has no tangible downstream flood control benefit.

NEORSD has investigated federal and state grant funding programs and determined that limited to no grant dollars are programmed for hazard dam replacement.

Complete Question:  NEORSD cited cost for Horseshoe of $6 mil, then $20 mil in a clarification response; then Cleveland.com story cites $30 mil. We need independent cost assessment. The lake has been drained for 2 yrs, so why the pressure to proceed before real costs can be assessed and funding sought? Also, no lake will mean less appeal, less visitation, fewer bird species, lower property values, and potential crime without visibility from the street.

Answer: The dam is in active failure mode and necessitates prompt action. NEORSD's proposed plan includes removal of the dam at Horseshoe Lake, full restoration of Doan Brook and eventual replacement of the dam at Lower Lake. The cost for this plan is $28.3 million as presented to the communities during the June 2021 joint municipal public meetings. To replace the dam at Horseshoe Lake, the estimated cost is $20.7 million, plus annual maintenance costs, borne by the Cities of Shaker and Cleveland Heights. NEORSD can not fund this solution due to insignificant flood control and regional stormwater benefit to the region. The eventual replacement of Lower Lake's dam is $13.6 million; this is how the cleveland.com story cited a $34.3 million cost for replacement of both dams ($20.7M + $13.6M = $34.3M).

Complete Question: Why so much money? From my past recollection  of 3 yrs. ago, NEOSD advised that fixing the dam & watershed issue at Horseshoe Lake would cost $6M. As part of that discussion, NEOSD would pick up the tab. Now, with a drained lake, NEOSD states that the cost of fixing the dam would be in excess of $21M. AND, even though Customers in NEO have been paying 3-times what was assessed prior to ‘Save the Watershed’, we [Shaker Hts & Cle Hts] are told that “you [S.H. & C.H.] need to pick up the

Answer: The initial estimate involved repairs to the existing spillway and the installation of overtopping protection. The worsening dam conditions around the spillway caused a reassessment that dam reconstruction or dam removal were the only options to ensure public health and safety. As part of the reassessment, sediment testing and analysis indicated the need for extensive sediment handling and removal to facilitate either dam reconstruction or dam removal.

Complete Question: If the horsehoe Lake is eliminated, will the new dam at the lower lake have to be gigantic in order to handle the water from the Horse Lake area, and what will that mean to the integrity of historic site and the neighborhood asthetics?

Answer: Horseshoe Lake does not provide much active storage and therefore it's removal would not impact the design or size of the Lower Lake dam when it is reconstructed.   Lower Lake dam is also a Class I dam regulated by ODNR and passes only 2% of the design flood that is required by Ohio Revised Code.  In order to properly reconstruct the dam to meet current regulations the overall appearance and configuration of the dam will have to be altered.

Complete Question: The Shaker Lakes represent far more to our community than a means of flood control.  They are a place of community, a wildlife refuge, an important historical location, and much more.  Not maintaining this irreplaceable community resource is as irresponsible, reprehensible and shortsighted as was the plan to build a highway on this site years ago.  As a longtime resident of Shaker, I ask you who is being served by the penny wise and pound foolish policy of viewing this resource in this way?

Answer: The NEORSD recommendation seeks to balance safety, responsible stormwater management, cost, preservation of the environment, and the creation of a community amenity. Our goal is to balance these and other considerations that will best serve the community now and in the future.

Complete Question: Since boating, swimming and fishing are going to be permitted in Lower Lake, the fleeing nesting and breeding wildlife that need a lake environment will need a protected refuge; since Marshall and Green Lake are too small and built upon, wouldn't Upper Horseshoe Lake be the only and best place for that?

Answer: One goal of the NEORSD recommendation for Horseshoe Lake is to restore the area to its original natural state and allow for birds and fish to thrive in their natural environment.

Complete Question: If NEORSD removes Horseshoe dam and Lake, then the resulting new dam at Lower Lake will need to be much larger, destroying the beauty and historical significance of the present restoration. Wouldn't restoring the existing 2 dams be the more secure and beautiful option? Furthermore, the 2-mile, 20' wide, multi-million dollar Doan Tunnel already being built in Ambler Park is immense. Assuming that holds enough storm water to solve the problem of flooding in University Circle, why has NEORSD stated that Horseshoe Lake has to be removed to solve flooding there?

Answer: The design and materials originally used to construct Horseshoe and Lower Lake Dams do not meet the current safety standards for a Class I dam. ODNR Dam Safety Program requires modern engineering and materials specifications to ensure the protection of life and property per the Ohio Revised Code. The Doan Valley Tunnel was constructed to control combined sewer overflows at 11 locations along Doan Brook; the tunnel was not constructed to mitigate flooding along the brook.

Complete Question: How can we let Horseshoe lake disappear! Maybe the Sewer district says the lake isn't worth fixing but do they live here? Do they realize what Shakerites went through long ago to make sure a highway didn't run through Shaker - taking ALL of the lakes away?! This community thrives on having these lakes as a lifestyle, a place of peace, water to soothe the soul! Not to mention the people that live around the lake and have that as an asset when selling - it's hard enough with the high taxes - at least let the lake be an asset for homeowners/sellers. And who say's they won't take the other lakes around the Heights area. This sets a bad precedent and needs to be readdressed immediately. Thank you -

Answer: Protecting the beauty of the Shaker Lakes and parklands and continuing to ensure they are a destination for hikers, bird watchers and picnickers is a priority for both cities as well as NEORSD and other stakeholders. The two cities, along with ample opportunity for community input, will work with NEORSD throughout the process to ensure that our lakes and parklands remain a beautiful asset for our communities and the region.

Complete Question: Was heavy machinery used to on the bridge and deck at Horseshoe Lake dam for recent parapet work and could that have contributed to further and more drastic deterioration and weakening of the dam and spillway?

Answer: The equipment used to make the recent repairs to the observation deck would have had minimal, if any, impact on the structure. The forces of the equipment on the deck are more vertical in nature.  It is our understanding, the structural instability of the dam and spillway structure are primarily a result of the hydraulic pressure (which is horizontal).  While backfilling the excavation, we purposely placed material in lifts to minimize the hydraulic pressure. Also, the material used did not require any a vibratory equipment for compaction as this may have led to additional damage.

Complete Question: In the early going shortly after Horseshoe Lake was drained, could earth-moving equipment have been brought in (from North Park or South Park or the park itself) to remove the silt and dig out more potential depth in the lake bed to reduce strain and water pressure on the dam during storms?

Answer: No. This would not have made an appreciable difference, as the lake would still have overtopped in a heavy rainfall. In addition, with more water, more pressure would have been put on the dam.

Todd Walburn is the Mayor’s Action Center Coordinator. He works with dozens of City employees to coordinate resolutions to resident questions, complaints, and requests for action. The MAC is a non-emergency dispatch service for all city departments, not including Police and Fire Safety services.

By Phone/Email: 

1. The Coordinator or other City employee receives a request via phone or email. 
2. The resident’s request is entered into the Access Cleveland Heights App and is automatically assigned to the proper department. 
3. The Department acknowledges the request. 
4. The assigned City employee works to resolve/repair/answer the request and closes the request, notifying the resident who placed the request when work has been completed. 

By Access Cleveland Heights on App or Browser:

1. The resident enters the location and description of the request on the app or the web platform on the Cleveland Heights website. 
2. This is automatically assigned to the proper department and processed the same way as a phone or email request.

There is no “Anonymous submission” option in Access Cleveland Heights.  Some sensitive categories, however, are private by default.  “Neighbor Complaints,” “Private Residential Property,” and “Animal Control” requests are only visible in SeeClickFix by the requesting resident and City staff. This is to protect privacy.  If you would prefer not to use SeeClickFix, you are welcome to call (216) 291-2323 or email the Mayor’s Action Center (mac@clevelandheights.gov) and ask the MAC coordinator to submit a request on your behalf.

CivicPlus is a software company that specializes in city government communication.  SeeClickFix is the program created by CivicPlus that many city governments use to create, track, and measure non-emergency resident requests.  Access Cleveland Heights is the name that Cleveland Heights uses to brand and identify requests specific to our City.

If you’d prefer not to use the app, requests can be submitted via phone or email.  You can even stop by City Hall during regular business hours and speak with the MAC Coordinator.

The Mayor’s Action Center is open during regular City Hall Business Hours, 9 am-5 pm, Monday through Friday.  In the event that you need to make a report after hours, you can email mac@clevelandheights.gov, and your request will be addressed the next business day. The MAC does not respond to emergencies and voicemail; email and app requests are only monitored during normal business hours. For urgent matters or concerns for personal safety or potentially harmful situations, please call 911. For non-urgent police matters, please call (216) 321-1234.

Each category of requests is assigned a specific number of days based on how long it's expected to have them resolved.  These range from two days for potholes and animal control to ten days for concrete repair and traffic signs & signals.  Each month we track our success completing requests using the reporting feature of SeeClickFix.  The results of these reports tell us how well we are doing and where we need more staff or more efficient processes. For a report on the MAC during the 12-month period starting in March 2024 and ending March 2025, see MAC Coordinator Todd Walburn’s report to City Council on April 7, 2025, found here (at the 2 hr, 48 minute mark).  

For residents who have registered for Access Cleveland Heights, they will be able to get updates on their requests as City staff make progress.  The only exception to that is for Private Residential and Private Commercial Property requests, which get transferred to another city-run platform (CivicPlus) when a city inspector has been assigned.  Even in such cases, residents can always ask for updates on any request in Access Cleveland Heights by reaching out to the MAC Coordinator via phone or email. 

Cleveland Heights City Departments appreciate the collaborative relationship we have with City residents.  City staff can’t be everywhere, and residents may see and respond more immediately in cases when city crews are busy responding to other requests.  Residents assist us by being our eyes and ears, helping us to forward requests to the right City Department for repair and expedite improvements. We couldn’t do it without you.

Over 40 percent of all food ends up in landfills where it rots amongst other waste and emits methane. Methane is a toxic greenhouse gas 27 times more powerful than carbon. Composting turns this waste into nutrient-rich soil, which in turn helps to grow more food.

The bin is located at Dave's Supermarket at Severance Town Center, 3628 Mayfield Road.

Sign up for free online using Rust Belt Riders Cleveland Heights registration form. After sign up, a welcome email is sent to you with details about the program AND has the 4 digit code to access the bin.

Participants are encouraged to use a reusable bucket or container with a lid to transport your food scrap to the drop site.

• Rust Belt Riders buckets are available to purchase at any Phoenix Coffee shop or at its downtown headquarters at 2701 St. Clair Avenue.  They are $12 and come with a lid.
• You are also welcome to use your own storage container!

The bins are serviced weekly. Rust Belt Riders is the service provider.

Click here for a list of what is and is not compostable at the Rust Belt Riders website.

Yes! Please email Rust Belt Riders and they can help get you transferred over.