Updates & News
September 2024 Village Newsletter
Norm Casini
Commissioner
Norm Casini currently serves as the Building Commissioner for the Village of Cuyahoga Heights and has held the job since 2000. He is a registered engineer and architect and is certified as a CBO and plan examiner.
Ken LaBella
Assistant Commissioner
Ken LaBella began working as Assistant Building Commissioner on March 16, 2015.
Cuyahoga Heights Village Hall
4863 East 71st Street
216-641-7020
k.labella@cuyahogaheights.com
Office Hours
Building Department hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
Building Department Forms
Application for Rental Certificate of Inspection for Occupancy
Zoning Board of Appeals Application
Out-of-County Owners Application
Registration of Vacant Dwelling Structure
Statement of Assumption of Violations
Maintaining an Attractive and Desirable Community
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.
Exterior of Houses and General Maintenance
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.
Garbage, Junk, Debris, Trash, Litter and Similar Items
These items shall not be allowed to accumulate on any property.
Motor Vehicle Storage and Repair
Motor vehicles parked outdoors must be in operable condition and have a current license and registration.
Overgrown Grass
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.”
Heritage Home Program
The Heritage Home Program is available to owners of Cuyahoga Heights homes that are 50 years and older. Specialists working for the Program answer home maintenance and rehab questions and provide an impartial opinion – one that doesn’t include trying to sell a product or service. This advice is absolutely FREE. This component of the Heritage Home Program is what sets it apart from other programs of its kind. Now any homeowner wishing to do work on their older home can have the help and answers they need in order to get the project done properly. We urge you to take advantage of the following FREE services:
- Site visits to the property to answer home repair, improvement and maintenance questions
- Advice about increasing energy efficiency
- Contractor Resources
- Evaluation of contractor bids and estimates
Qualified homeowners also have the option of obtaining a low-interest, fixed-rate Heritage Home Program loan, with rates as low as 1.4% for up to 10 years! There are no maximum income restrictions. The owner just needs to have good credit and sufficient equity in the home to support the loan. There are no points involved with the Heritage Home Program loan and the interest is tax deductible! Here is the link to the program: www.heritagehomeprogram.org.
Contractor Registration
Contractor Registration Application
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:
- 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.
- Proof of Workers’ Compensation insurance.
- Payment in the amount of $100 payable to the Village of Cuyahoga Heights.
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.