Council places rental-properties amendment on first reading as state bills progress

Mayfield Heights City Council placed an amendment to the city's rental-properties code on first reading and agreed to wait for state action before advancing local short-term rental rules.

Why it matters: The proposed city ordinance would update chapter 1341 (rental properties), which includes rules for short-term rental regulation. Law Director Mr. Schmidlin told council that House Bill 563 and Senate Bill 104 in the Ohio legislature could affect how the city may regulate short-term rentals and home rule authority.

What was said: Mr. Schmidlin explained the city has had a moratorium on short-term rentals that the council renews on a regular schedule; council members noted the moratorium renews semiannually (in June and December). The law director recommended placing the local ordinance on first reading so the city can monitor the state bills and avoid premature local changes that could conflict with new state law.

Council action: Council placed Ordinance 20 25-12 (amend chapter 1341 rental properties) on first reading, with no final vote on the ordinance. Council directed staff to monitor House Bill 563 and SB 104 and return with recommended language or next steps once the state bills progress.

Next steps: The law department and planning staff will track the state legislation and report back. The law director said the city could either advance a local ordinance now and revise it later or wait to adopt language after the state bills move; council opted to hold at first reading.

Ending: Council did not take final action on local rental regulation; follow-up is contingent on state legislative developments.