The ordinance, backed by Mayor Bibb & Director of Building and Housing Sally Martin, removes a long-standing requirement that the city serve all code violations via certified mail – a step necessary for prosecution that property owners could easily dodge.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – In one of what’s expected to be many changes aimed at improving how the city of Cleveland fights blight, City Council this week approved a cost-saving measure that’s intended to make it easier to prosecute code violations.
Under the new law, service of all code violations will only require a notice sent through regular mail, plus a paper notice physically posted on the problem building. Eliminating the certified mail requirement would remove one hurdle that would otherwise be necessary before prosecutors would even consider pursuing prosecution, Martin told council’s Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. But the change does not affect actual prosecutions for code violations, or condemnation orders, which will both still require their own certified mail service process to move forward, she said.
Council members and Martin readily acknowledged that there are a host of other changes that will likely need to be made to improve Cleveland’s code enforcement. Among the thorny housing issues that members said they want Building and Housing to address are companies who quickly transfer deeds to subsidiaries to avoid responsibility for code violations, and owners who collect rents, but don’t reinvest money into property improvements.
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