On February 5, 2024, the Cleveland City Council passed Ordinance 1039-2023, also known as Residents First. After several months of meetings with various stakeholders, including ACAR, there were several amendments, 11 pages in total, to the original ordinance. However, a few highlights are noted below.
Key amendments included:
| Original Proposal | Amendment |
| Point of Sale inspections, with interior and exterior inspections and a minimum $5,000 escrow, on vacant residential. | Point of sale inspections – exterior only – on vacant residential. Slated to begin July 2024. |
| Local Agent in Charge – identified agent equally as liable for criminal and civil fines if the owner does not comply. | Added language requiring the seller to indemnify the identified local agent, and added language that the City will make a good faith attempt to only hold the owner liable. However, it does reserve the right, at its sole discretion, to hold the agent liable. |
| Vacant Commercial Building Registration – included registration fee, annual administrative fee, and required bonds. | Amended to exempt vacant commercial properties with no violations from paying the bond. |
To read the entire ordinance, click here.
To view the City’s slide deck summarizing the entire ordinance, click here.
Author: Jamie McMillen
