Politics & Government

Solon Ordinance Would Require Registration of Rental Units

City council decided earlier this week to refer the ordinance – which had been debated for about a year – back to planning commission because it had changed so significantly

An ordinance to give Solon officials a better handle on the city's growing number of rental properties has gone through significant changes over the last few months.

City officials had once explored requiring regular inspections of rental properties, but after city council frowned on the idea, the new draft ordinance would only require owners to register their property and no inspections are necessary, according to a memo from Planning Director Rob Frankland.

On Tuesday, city council referred it to the planning commission for their recommendation before city council takes it on.

Find out what's happening in Solonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ward 4 Councilwoman Toni Richmond said it's a good idea to send it to planning because it's essentially a new ordinance after council worked to remove the inspection provisions.

Under the draft ordinance, owners would be required to register their units between Sept. 1 and the end of the year, at a fee of $15. Rental properties would have to be renewed every five years between January and March 31. 

Find out what's happening in Solonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An owner or owner's agent who violates the permit would be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor.

City officials have been discussing some sort of rental-property registration for about a year. One of the major hang-ups was a provision for internal inspections of rental properties, which city council members did not support because they worried it would be an invasion of privacy.

Planning officials say a rental occupancy registry would help them keep better track of how many rental properties are in the city and how many people are living in them.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Solon