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One of the keys to keeping Cuyahoga Heights a great place to live and work is ensuring that each of our homes and yards are properly maintained. A clean, well-maintained community does much more than just makes our Village a pleasant place to live. Neighborhoods where homeowners perform routine, basic maintenance on their structures and yards consistently enjoy substantially higher property values. In most cases, the Village has enforceable codes that mandate certain maintenance related responsibilities. Adherence to these codes, along with some good common sense, will make certain that our Village remain a desirable place to live and work. As a neighbor and resident, I hope you will join the rest of our community in taking an active role in helping keep the Village of Cuyahoga Heights a great place to live! Here are just a few things to keep in mind.
Every structure or accessory structure, including fences, shall be maintained in good repair and be free of conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance. For example: siding materials must be maintained and in good repair without holes, loose or rotting materials, or peeling paint. Roof shingles must be in good repair, not worn or missing.
These items shall not be allowed to accumulate on any property.
Motor vehicles parked outdoors must be in operable condition and have a current license and registration.
Please be advised that residents are required by law to maintain their lawns. Grass and weeds shall be maintained, controlled and cut with an orderly and neat appearance. Grass length shall not exceed six (6) inches. In addition, all trees, shrubs or plants shall be trimmed; dead, decayed or broken portions thereof shall be removed. Residents that do not comply are in violation of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of Cuyahoga Heights, Chapter 1490.11 of the Exterior Property Maintenance Code. Village Ordinances can be found on our web site at under the “Legal Department.”
Norm Casini, our Building Commissioner, is available at the Cuyahoga Heights Village Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 7:00-9:30 a.m.; otherwise, all other times please contact him at (216) 524-6068.
For the protection of our residents, our Village code requires that all contractors, both large and small, be registered with the Village prior to starting any job. The Building Department requires the following information when a contractor is registering to work in the Village:
Ø a Certificate of Insurance indicating evidence of insurance for bodily injury in the amount of $1,000,000 for each occurrence, subject to an aggregate limit of $1,000,000 and for property damage in the amount of $100,000 for each occurrence, subject to an aggregate limit of $100,000. The Village of Cuyahoga Heights must be named certificate holder.
Ø proof of Workers’ Compensation insurance.
Ø a check in the amount of $100 payable to the Village of Cuyahoga Heights.
Ø a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of the registration.
Contractors who register as Electrical, HVAC, Hydronics, Plumbing, Refrigeration, and Sprinkler contractors must submit a copy of their current State License. The contractor must be registered with the local tax agency, R.I.T.A.
The Village of Cuyahoga Heights is a Certified Residential and Commercial Building Department. A one-percent (1%) State Assessment Fee will be applied to residential permits, and a three-percent (3%) State Assessment Fee to commercial permits. Contractors performing work on residential property must conform to the new Residential Code of Ohio.
At the recent August Council meeting, the Village Council passed eleven ordinances that effected various areas of the Village’s building code. Over the past several months, Law Director Jon Greenberg and Bldg. Commissioner Norm Casini reviewed our current building codes and made recommendations to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board. The Board reviewed and forwarded their recommendations to the Village Council. The following changes were made:
1) Amending Section 1440.03 of the Codified Ordinances enhancing the purpose and application of our Building and Housing Code.
2) Amending Section 1442.15 of the Codified Ordinances by changing the amount of permit fees and adding general work permit fees.
3) Increasing the Building Standards Assessment fund from $500.00 to $1000.00
4) Amending Section 1444.03 of the Codified Ordinances defining the intervals of site inspection by the Village Building Commissioner and Village engineer of all buildings being constructed in the Village.
5) Amending Section 1448.02 of the Codified Ordinances individually listing the type of contractors that must register with the Building Department.
6) Amending Section 1464.04 of the Codified Ordinances requiring property owners, prior to constructing a fence within two feet or less from the lot property lines, the owner of the lot shall have the lot surveyed by a registered surveyor and submitted along with a drawing of the fence to the Building Commissioner for approval.
7) Enacting a new chapter 1486 that regulates the mandating of protective barriers and safety devises for all swimming pools in the Village.
8) Two ordinances amending Sections 1490.11, 1026.02, 1026.03 and 1260.04 and creating a new section 1026.05 pertaining to the installation and location of driveways.
9) Enacting new sections 1490.14 and 1490.15 of the Codified Ordinances allowing the Building Commissioner to make biannual exteriors inspections of all building within the Village and a right of entry to perform any duty imposed upon the Commissioner.
10) Enacting a new chapter 1492 the regulates residential dwellings within the Village. This chapter establishes minimum standards necessary to make all dwelling structures safe and inhabitable to avoid a blighting or deteriorating influence on our community.
11) An ordinance amending Chapter 1494 of the Codified Ordinance pertaining to Rental Properties. The Village Council passed on September 10, 2008 a comprehensive rental property ordinance that encompasses compliance, rental certificates, inspections, and right of entry.
-To download an "Application for Rental Certificate of Inspection for Occupancy"
just click on the link>>
The Mayor, Council and the members of the Planning & Zoning Board felt the need to update our Building Codes for the health, safety and welfare of the Village residents.
The following ordinances can be found on the Village’s website under Building Department or a copy can be requested from the Clerk’s office during normal business hours.
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Norm Casini
Building Commissioner
RCU Architects, Inc.
7311 Valley View Drive
Independence, Ohio 44131
(216) 524-6068
(216) 524-6072 (Fax)
www.rcuarchitects.com
email: rcu@rcuarchitects.com
The architectural office of Rauschenbach, Casini, and Urban was established in 1960. Thirty nine years later, in 1999, the firm was incorporated as R.C.U. Architects and continues to provide quality architectural design services. Mr. Casini currently serves as the Village of Cuyahoga Heights’ Building Commissioner and has held the job since 2000. He is in the office at the Cuyahoga Heights Village Hall every Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:00-9:30 a.m. Mr. Casini is a registered engineer, in addition to a registered architect. He is also certified as a CBO and plan examiner. |
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