Cleveland Heights Planning and Development Committee October 15, 2026

The Cleveland Heights City Council Planning and Development Committee held a public hearing on October 15, 2026, on Ordinance 142-2026, proposed zoning text amendments to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Staff described provisions including conditional-use approval by the Planning Commission, an owner-occupancy requirement, size limits of up to 800 square feet on lots under 6,000 square feet and 1,000 square feet on larger lots, and no additional parking requirement for an ADU. New detached or attached units would generally need a five-foot setback; conversions within existing garages could be three feet from the property line. Staff estimated five or fewer ADUs would be built per year. A separate ordinance passed October 5 prohibits short-term rentals in ADUs, with rentals required to be at least 31 days. Staff also noted that qualifying construction may be eligible for the city’s existing GROW tax-incentive program.

Public comments included support for housing choice, aging in place, caregiving, and allowing homeowners to proceed with projects, as well as concerns about parking, density, privacy, green space, utilities, enforcement, and the conditional-use process. No vote was taken at this hearing. The committee said the ordinance would be discussed at a council reading on October 19, when council would consider public feedback and decide whether further changes are needed; a vote was not planned for that date. No procurement activity was identified.