ORDINANCE 28-2026 - AN ORDINANCE to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, clarifying that short-term rentals are a form of Bed and Breakfast Establishment pursuant to LCO 1161.03(c) and establishing additional criteria regulating this conditional use. (1st read & referred to HPD 7/6/26)
Airbnb and similar companies have proven that they do not actually care about the safety of Lakewood or the legitimate concerns of neighbors near these properties. Lakewood PD has tried to be helpful, but have stated to us that an update/change to the local ordinance is the only thing that will allow them to enforce what is right for our community when necessary. Please vote for these changes to align Lakewood with other NE Ohio communities who have modernized their regulations to protect tax paying and community engaged neighbors.
Short-term rentals jeopardize the peace and safety of our family-oriented communities. More oversight and guidelines are necessary to protect those of us that are properly investing in our neighborhoods.
I heartily support the ordinance. The restrictions are common sense and will go a long way in alleviating the “problem renters” or the “party house” atmosphere that we have experienced in our neighborhood and will help to keep Lakewood a community that others will want to move into, not away from. Thank you for your quick response to this growing problem.
I agree with the other comments.
As a neighbor to one of these airbnbs I think we need some accountability.
Unfortunately the bad apples ruin things for the good ones!
Joey Artino has it written out best.
Thank you all for your hard work and time in this pressing issue!
Please vote to support these additional measures to ensure that Lakewood remains a place for residents who want to be engaged in their communities! We do not need short term rentals disrupting our residents. This just makes sense for Lakewood homeowners.
I've lived next door to an Airbnb for more than 5 years. This ordinance is much needed and is a good start to holding homeowners accountable for who they're letting into their homes and disrupting our neighborhood.
The owner of the property lives out of state and is unreachable. Airbnb doesn't help with any issues. City council needs to take it into their own hands to preserve the city of homes that Lakewood is supposed to be.
Tonight I'm asking this council to finish the short-term rental ordinance it began drafting last
year, with these conditions:
First — owner-occupancy required. If you want to operate a short-term rental in Lakewood, you
live here. Shaker Heights and Chicago already require this.
Second — no short-term rentals within 1,500 feet of a school.
Third — a three-strikes provision tied to the rental permit itself.
Three documented nuisance
violations — verified police calls, citations, confirmed incidents — and the permit is revoked.
Not fined. Revoked. That is the only penalty that isn't simply the cost of doing business. STR listings without a permit $2500 fine PER LISTING
This ordinance should be written to protect the community first — not the landlord's bottom line.
The only people who lose when this passes are the ones who were never Lakewood residents to
begin with.
Airbnb and similar companies have proven that they do not actually care about the safety of Lakewood or the legitimate concerns of neighbors near these properties. Lakewood PD has tried to be helpful, but have stated to us that an update/change to the local ordinance is the only thing that will allow them to enforce what is right for our community when necessary. Please vote for these changes to align Lakewood with other NE Ohio communities who have modernized their regulations to protect tax paying and community engaged neighbors.
Short-term rentals jeopardize the peace and safety of our family-oriented communities. More oversight and guidelines are necessary to protect those of us that are properly investing in our neighborhoods.
I heartily support the ordinance. The restrictions are common sense and will go a long way in alleviating the “problem renters” or the “party house” atmosphere that we have experienced in our neighborhood and will help to keep Lakewood a community that others will want to move into, not away from. Thank you for your quick response to this growing problem.
I agree with the other comments.
As a neighbor to one of these airbnbs I think we need some accountability.
Unfortunately the bad apples ruin things for the good ones!
Joey Artino has it written out best.
Thank you all for your hard work and time in this pressing issue!
Please vote to support these additional measures to ensure that Lakewood remains a place for residents who want to be engaged in their communities! We do not need short term rentals disrupting our residents. This just makes sense for Lakewood homeowners.
I've lived next door to an Airbnb for more than 5 years. This ordinance is much needed and is a good start to holding homeowners accountable for who they're letting into their homes and disrupting our neighborhood.
The owner of the property lives out of state and is unreachable. Airbnb doesn't help with any issues. City council needs to take it into their own hands to preserve the city of homes that Lakewood is supposed to be.
Tonight I'm asking this council to finish the short-term rental ordinance it began drafting last
year, with these conditions:
First — owner-occupancy required. If you want to operate a short-term rental in Lakewood, you
live here. Shaker Heights and Chicago already require this.
Second — no short-term rentals within 1,500 feet of a school.
Third — a three-strikes provision tied to the rental permit itself.
Three documented nuisance
violations — verified police calls, citations, confirmed incidents — and the permit is revoked.
Not fined. Revoked. That is the only penalty that isn't simply the cost of doing business. STR listings without a permit $2500 fine PER LISTING
This ordinance should be written to protect the community first — not the landlord's bottom line.
The only people who lose when this passes are the ones who were never Lakewood residents to
begin with.