Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals

To our customers,
Currently our office is open to the public, and as we all continue to contend with COVID-19 and its variants, the Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals will follow CDC recommendations and guidelines that are designed to mitigate the spread of the pandemic.

Instructions to Appellant for Filing Appeals

  1. A person filing an appeal must have legal and/or equitable interest in the property affected in the appeal, or be an attorney or agent representing the person having legal or equitable interest.
  2. The Board requires the owner or his/her representative to be present at the virtual/ public hearing.
  3. The following listed items, properly executed and attached to the Appeal Application shall constitute an appeal, provided the thirty (30) day time limitation established by Ordinances 3103.20(e) and 367.09 has not expired.

To File an Appeal

  1. Prepare an explicit statement, with original signature, addressed to the Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals, setting forth the following;
    1. Request for hearing of appeal from decision of the Plan Examiner and or Building and Housing Ordinances.
    2. Clear and accurate description of the construction or use (if applicable).
    3. All facts and reasons why the determination sought should be granted.
  2. Complete the Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals Application.
  3. An appeal fee is required (Ord. No. 2393.02 Section 3103.21) when the appeal is filed. All checks are made payable to the City of Cleveland. The fee charged are as follows:
    • a. One, Two, Three Family Dwellings $30.00
    • b. All Other Structures $130.00
    • c. Product Approvals & Any Other Appeals $65.00
  4. Submit the aforesaid statement, drawings, pictures and application fee to the Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals, 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 516, Cleveland, Ohio 44114

*Download the Application Here (PDF)*

APPEAL APPLICATION MUST BE EITHER MAILED IN OR HAND DELIVERED ALONG WITH APPLICABLE FEE

All preparations, including notices, necessary for the hearing of an appeal will be executed by this office after the receipt of all items listed above.

2024 Meeting Dates (PDF)
Download

View/Download Agendas Below
(PDF)

View and Download Previous Meeting Recordings on our YouTube Channel.

YouTube Playlists
City Planning Commission-YouTube

New Hearing Procedures

Due to ongoing elevated public health concerns, The Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals will conduct public hearings using WebEX Platform video-conferencing technology. These public hearings will be closed to in-person attendance other than City staff and hearing officials. Under the conditions specified by law, all appellants, their representatives and witnesses will be provided virtual access links to public hearings no less than 24 hours before their public hearing.

The Board will make special provision for all appellants who do not have access to video-conferencing technology.

The Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals meetings will also be
live streamed on YouTube.

In order to keep the WebEx session to a manageable size we are asking individuals that wish to participate in the meeting to contact the Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals office by phone or email (email is preferred). Those individuals not planning to comment on any agenda item during the WebEx session are encouraged to view one of the live streams.

How to reach us

We can be reached Monday through Friday via email at bbsa@clevelandohio.gov or 216-664-2418.

*** For the quickest response please email us. ***

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

  • Meetings are held twice a month on Wednesday's at 9:30 a.m. using WebEX Platform video-conferencing technology. Check the Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals webpage for hearing dates: https://planning.clevelandohio.gov/bza/bbs.html
  • Yourappeal may be dismissed if you do not appear.
  • Postponements are not granted for the mere convenience of the parties, their representatives or witness(es). All participants are expected to arrange time off from everyday affairs, including management duties, work, school, vacation, doctor appointments, etc.
  • All related documents for your appeal can be emailed and or submitted at the time of filing (i.e. digital drawings, pictures or contracts) etc.
  • If an interpreter is need for these proceedings, please notify the Board immediately.
  • If you find that the video-conferencing technology is not handicapped accessible. Please notify the Board immediately.
  • Unforeseen delays and or interruptions (i.e. loss of Wi-Fi connections) may transpire when utilizing technology. If this materializes you will have 24 hours and or until the next business day to contact the board for further instructions.
  • If you have any witness (es), it is your responsibility to inform them of the date, time, format and or meeting location.
  • The Board does not compensate for parking fees/infractions.

Appeal application: https://planning.clevelandohio.gov/bza/bbs/BBSBA-Application.pdf 
Adopted resolutions:  https://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/legislation-laws/city-record
Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals email:  BBSA@clevelandohio.gov 
Board of Building Standards & Building Appeals office number:  216-664-2418
Violations notices: Accela Citizen Access

Forms, Publications, Links

Community Development Corporations

Have additional questions about neighborhood specific programming? Please contact your corresponding CDC for further assistance.

  • Bellaire Puritas Development Corp 216-671-2710
  • Buckeye Shaker Square Dev. Corp 216-491-8450
  • Burten Bell Carr Dev. Corp 216-341-1455
  • Collinwood Nottingham 216-383-9772
  • Cudell Improvement, Inc 216-228-4383
  • Detroit-Shoreway Dev. Corp 216-961-4242
  • Fairfax Renaissance Dev. Corp 216-361-4800
  • Famicos Foundation216-791-6476
  • Harvard Community Service Corp 216-991-8585
  • West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development 216-252-6559
  • Little Italy Redevelopment Corp 216-791-4907
  • Metro West Community Dev 216-961-9073
  • Midtown Cleveland, Inc 216-391-5080
  • Northeast Shores Dev. Corp.216-481-7660
  • Ohio City, Inc. 216-781-3222
  • Old Brooklyn Dev. Corp.216-459-1000
  • Slavic Village Development Corp.216-429-1182
  • St. Clair Superior Development Corp.216-881-0644
  • Tremont West Development Corp. 216-575-0920
  • Union Miles Development Corp. 216-341-0757
  • University Circle, Inc.216-791-3900
  • Westown Community Dev. Corp.216-941-9262

Resource Guide

  • Home Repair Loan Program  216-458-HOME
  • Heritage Home Program  216-426-3116
  • Community Housing Solutions  216-651-0077
  • Home Weatherization & Housewarming Assistance  216-574-7100
  • Plumbing/Sewer Repair  216-574-7100
  • Safe at Home/Handyman Program  216-800-8556 ext. 2103
  • Cuyahoga County Housing Enhancement Loan Program  216-664-2149
  • Cuyahoga County Veterans Services Commission  216-698-2600
  • Senior Homeowner Assistance Program  216-664-2833
  • Repair-A-Home  216-664-2045
  • Lead Hazard Control Program  216-664-2045
  • Greater Cleveland Habitat For Humanit  216-429-1229
  • Cleveland 50/50 Sidewalk Residential Replacement Program  216-664-2232
  • Lead Safe Resource Center  833-601-5323 www.leadsafecle.org

Department of Building and Housing

Department of Community Development

Commission Members

  • Robert Maschke, Architect •
  • Peggy Lipscomb, Architect (alternate)•
  • Patrick M. Gallagher, Chairperson & Labor Representative •
  • Joe Denk, Mechanical Engineer•
  • Darius Moss, Mechanical Engineer (alternate)•
  • Howard Bradley, Builder