Mayfield Heights City Council on May 28 approved an amended ordinance (2025‑18) that prohibits short‑term rental uses in areas zoned U‑1 residential and adds a penalty section to enable enforcement.

The ordinance was first read and tabled April 28; after committee discussion and a joint building/legislative review, council amended the ordinance to include a new Section D titled “Penalty.” The amendment was moved and approved during the May 28 meeting and the ordinance was then adopted as amended.

During council discussion, Councilmember Miner asked for clarification on enforcement steps before criminal penalties. Law Director Schmidlin explained the ordinance includes a penalty provision and described the enforcement process: "You'll be notified. You'll be warned. And then, if it's not remedied, you get ... cited, and the citation goes to Leonard's Municipal Court where it will be dealt with down there." He said the ordinance classifies the offense as a first‑degree misdemeanor under the Ohio Revised Code and the city code and noted that municipal procedure provides warning and administrative steps before prosecution.

Council discussed outreach and enforcement logistics. Councilmember Balestreya asked the billing department to check online listings and notify residents whose properties are advertised as short‑term rentals that the use is now prohibited and carries consequences. Councilmember Talvin recommended contacting platform companies such as Airbnb or VRBO to request removal of listings; council indicated staff can provide a copy of the ordinance to platforms.

A council question about the earlier moratorium elicited a staff response that the new ordinance supersedes the moratorium and that the moratorium will expire in December; no separate action was required to end it.

Council members approved the ordinance as amended by roll call. Council and staff emphasized that the city will follow progressive enforcement steps—notice, warning, citation—before any criminal prosecution would be pursued.