Residents press University Heights officials to enforce short-term rental rules after noisy weekend

A University Heights family told the city’s housing committee on Oct. 12 that a short-term rental next door generated multiple late-night disturbances over a single weekend, prompting three police calls and, they say, threats directed at their children.

The residents, Matthew and Christina Christieson, said the house at 3746 Silsbee (as reported to the committee) hosted a Friday-night party and a larger gathering Saturday that they estimated involved “at least 80 people.” Matthew Christieson said the noise and confrontations are especially dangerous for their son, who has a severe form of epilepsy: “If he's startled awake at night, he has seizures. These seizures could kill him, essentially.”

The committee’s housing and law staff reviewed enforcement options and the city code during the hearing. Law director Bridal (last name given in the record as Bridal) told the committee he reviewed a pending Cleveland ordinance and said it looks “very similar to our ordinance that was passed last year.” He noted differences elsewhere — including that Cleveland’s proposal includes a 15% density cap for short-term rentals on a block — and told the committee that litigation around complete bans has occurred in other states. Bridal also said a pending Ohio Senate bill (referred to in the meeting as Senate Bill 104) would, in its current form, bar local bans and set a $50 annual application fee; University Heights’ existing fee is $2.50 with free renewals.

Housing and Community Development Director Markelle Davis told the committee the city has encountered one- and two-family homes that are not registered as rentals and that the housing department typically learns of problem properties only after neighbors complain. “We have run across a number of 1 and 2 family homes that have not registered,” Davis said. She and other committee members urged residents to call police during incidents so officers can document complaints.

Councilman Christopher Cooney pointed the committee to city code 6-48-17(b), which he said requires the chief of police or a designee, upon finding two or more nuisance activities defined in that section within a 12-month period, to serve written notice declaring the property a nuisance. Cooney also noted that repeated police responses can allow the city to assess property owners for the cost of those calls.

Committee members described obstacles to immediate enforcement: staffing gaps in the housing department and uncertainty about whether some problem properties had applied for the available rental permits. Mayor (name not specified in the record) and other officials said the housing ordinance adopted June 17, 2024, is in effect and includes limits on occupancy and quiet hours (quiet hours cited in the meeting: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; occupancy limited to two people per bedroom plus three additional occupants). Bridal and staff said parties are prohibited under the ordinance.

Officials said the practical enforcement path for a property like the one described includes (1) police responding to disturbances and issuing citations under noise and nuisance sections of the code, (2) the housing department verifying registration and pursuing rental-certificate remedies, and (3) pursuing a nuisance declaration under code section 6-48-17 if the police document repeated nuisance activity. Several committee members emphasized that police reports are the key documentary evidence to support later administrative or court action.

Speakers at the meeting urged additional steps: several residents asked the city to consider a cap on the number of short-term rentals, a minimum-night requirement (Bay Village’s 29-day minimum was cited by a speaker), and tighter registration and tax-collection oversight. Staff acknowledged ongoing work: the administration said it has several active court cases against problem properties and that some implementation questions (including bed-tax reporting and whether the city must revise parts of the ordinance) remain under review.

No council vote or ordinance amendment was taken during the committee meeting. The committee moved to advance the agenda to hear the short-term rental item early and later adjourned by motion.

The Christiesons said they will contact the housing department and call police if disturbances continue. Committee members asked staff and the mayor to follow up with the police department and the housing office to ensure officers can cite under the short-term rental provisions when responding to calls.