The City of Cleveland gives residents tools to deal with recurring problems in their neighborhoods. Like the house down the block where the tenants are always throwing loud parties. Or the parking lot around the corner where young people gather to show off on their minibikes and ATVs. Or the guy across the street who’s always letting his dogs run loose.
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, you should know how to make use of the nuisance law changes that City Council passed in 2025. Council Member Michael Polensek said the changes would help residents deal with “neighbors from hell” like the house in his ward that’s the source of constant complaints about “fights, chaos, shooting, cars parked all over the street, all hours of the night.”
The updated nuisance law makes it easier for the city to take action against the owner of a home or business where frequent violations are taking place. The key change is that police officers no longer have to witness law-breaking to act. They can investigate based on residents’ complaints, and the city can treat complaints as evidence in a legal process to address the problem. Another change under the law is that it applies to people visiting a property, not just people who live in or own the property…