Overview: Are short‑term rentals allowed in Beachwood, OH?

Short‑term rentals are explicitly allowed in the City of Beachwood when you obtain and maintain a Certificate of Short‑Term Rental Occupancy. Under Beachwood Codified Ordinance Section 1391.011, a “short‑term rental unit” is a dwelling or portion of a dwelling offered or advertised for rent for fewer than 30 consecutive calendar days (e.g., via a website, app, or any listing platform). The certificate is required prior to occupancy and must be renewed annually. STRs in hotel/motel units and “roomers” as defined in the zoning code are excluded.

Bottom line: STRs are allowed in Beachwood for stays under 30 days, but only with a valid Certificate of Short‑Term Rental Occupancy and full compliance with inspections, insurance, local/state codes, and taxes.

How to start a short‑term rental business in Beachwood

To operate lawfully as a short‑term rental in Beachwood, follow this step‑by‑step sequence:

1. Confirm eligibility and prepare required information

• Confirm your property is in Beachwood and is a single‑family residential dwelling or portion thereof.
• Ensure you can list and rent the property for fewer than 30 consecutive days (the legal definition of STR in Beachwood).
• Identify an owner, and designate a manager/agent who can respond quickly to habitability, safety, functionality, or operational issues. Provide the agent’s name, address, and telephone number to the Building Commissioner.

2. Secure the mandatory certificate

• Submit a completed Short‑Term Rental Application to the Building Department.
• Pay the annual non‑refundable fee and any related fees.
• Provide proof of insurance covering the short‑term rental unit and name the City of Beachwood as an additionally named insured.
• Schedule and complete the required inspections (one interior and four exterior).

3. Complete all inspections

• Owner/manager/agent must attend scheduled inspections.
• Cancellations within 24 hours trigger a fee; repeated failures to attend can result in termination or denial of recertification.
• The certificate is valid for one year from issuance.

4. Comply with tax obligations

• Register the STR with Cuyahoga County’s Lodging Occupancy Tax (Bed Tax) program and begin collecting/remitting the 6.5% bed tax monthly.

5. Operate in compliance

• Maintain compliance with Fire, Health, Zoning, and Building Codes at all times.
• Address any nuisances or notices from the City promptly.
• Renew your certificate annually and keep insurance current with the City as an additional insured.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

You must obtain and maintain the following to operate an STR in Beachwood:

• Certificate of Short‑Term Rental Occupancy (Beachwood Building Department)

  • Application required annually.
  • Required information includes: owner name/address/phone; property address; names/addresses/phone numbers of occupants; agent or manager contact if the owner cannot respond promptly; and other information requested by the Building Commissioner.
  • Insurance: proof of coverage naming the City of Beachwood as an additional insured.
  • Inspections: one interior + four exterior per year.

• Annual fees (City of Beachwood)

  • Certificate of Short‑Term Rental Occupancy (application, renewal, reinstatement, resubmission): $1,000
  • Untimely application: $1,100
  • Failure to timely notify of cancellation or failure to appear at scheduled inspection: $250

• County disclosures and taxes

  • Residential Rental Property Disclosure Form: submit to the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer per R.C. 5323.02 and 5323.99. This is required for residential rental properties generally (long‑term or short‑term).

• Cuyahoga County Lodging Occupancy (Bed) Tax

  • 6.5% bed tax on lodging to transient guests.
  • Register via the county’s MUNIREVS portal; file monthly bed tax returns by the 21st of the month following collection.
  • Required for hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, Airbnb, house rentals, room rentals, etc.

• Underlying code compliance

  • Fire, Health, Zoning, and Building Codes.
  • Other City ordinances regarding nuisances, inspections, and recertification.

Specific regulations for short‑term rentals in Beachwood

Key Beachwood requirements governing STRs include:

• Certificate of Short‑Term Rental Occupancy

  • Required before occupancy; must be renewed annually.
  • Must be present at inspections (owner/manager/agent).
  • Insurance naming the City of Beachwood as an additional insured is mandatory; certificates will not be issued without it.

• Inspections

  • One interior and four exterior inspections annually (appointment‑based).
  • If you, your agent, or an occupant refuses consent to inspection, the City may seek an administrative search warrant.
  • Cancellations within 24 hours trigger the $250 fee; repeated no‑shows can lead to certificate termination or denial of recertification.

• Management/Agent requirement

  • If you cannot respond promptly to habitability, safety, functionality, or operational concerns, you must retain a local manager/agent and provide their contact information to the Building Commissioner.

• Grounds for denial or revocation

  • False statements; substantial noncompliance with Fire, Health, Zoning, or Building Codes; failure to comply with applicable code provisions; or consecutively failing to comply with nuisance notices or inspection attendance.

• Remedial actions and nuisances

  • Noncompliance with notice: the City may issue a notice to vacate or pursue legal action.
  • Nuisance premises: the owner/operator’s permit may be revoked for at least one year (365 days) for repeat offenders, at the Commissioner’s discretion.
  • The City can consider noncompliance when deciding whether to recertify a property.

• Unlawful operation and sales

  • You may not sell, rent, or lease a property subject to outstanding violation notices until all violations are corrected and you receive written approval from the Building Commissioner.

• Fee schedule (municipal)

  • Certificate fees: $1,000 (application, renewal, reinstatement, resubmission).
  • Untimely application fee: $1,100.
  • Inspection cancellation/no‑show fee: $250.

County and state context

• Cuyahoga County Bed Tax

  • A 6.5% lodging tax applies to transient guests. All lodging establishments—including STRs—must register with the County Fiscal Officer’s Lodging Tax Office and file monthly returns (due by the 21st of the following month) via the MUNIREVS portal.
  • This is the principal county‑level tax and registration requirement impacting STR operators.

• State of Ohio

  • In addition to local rules, you must comply with Ohio’s Residential Rental Property Disclosure obligations (R.C. 5323.02 and 5323.99) to the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer.
  • State‑level rulemaking on short‑term rentals continues to evolve. Monitor legislative updates and any preemptive effects on local regulation.

Contact information for local authority in charge of STRs

• City of Beachwood Building Department

  • Phone: 216‑292‑1914
  • Email: building@beachwoodohio.com
  • Address: 25325 Fairmount Boulevard, Beachwood, OH 44122
  • City Phone: 216‑464‑1070

• Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer — Lodging Occupancy Tax Office

  • Address: 2079 East Ninth St., 3rd Floor 121‑E, Cleveland, OH 44115
  • Phone: 216‑443‑7140 (general lodging tax)
  • Phone: 216‑698‑2540 (general questions)
  • Fax: 216‑443‑2094
  • Registration and Filing: MUNIREVS portal (see sources below)
  • MUNIREVS Support (GovOS): (888) 751‑1911; blt.str.support@govos.com

Links to source pages and documents

• City of Beachwood — Single‑Family Residential Rental Properties and Short‑Term Rentals

  • www.beachwoodohio.com/130/Single-Family-Residential-Rental-Propert

• Beachwood Ordinance No. 2022‑109 (Ch. 1391 Certificate of Rental Occupancy and Ch. 1391.011 Certificate of Short‑Term Rental Occupancy)

  • www.beachwoodohio.com/DocumentCenter/View/8112

• Short‑Term Rental Application (City of Beachwood)

  • www.beachwoodohio.com/DocumentCenter/View/10193

• Rental Occupancy Application (City of Beachwood)

  • www.beachwoodohio.com/DocumentCenter/View/52

• Residential Rental Property Disclosure Form — Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer

  • fiscalofficer.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/Residential-Rental-Property-Disclosure.aspx

• Cuyahoga County Lodging Occupancy Tax (Bed Tax)

  • cuyahogacounty.gov/fiscal-officer/departments/lodging-occupancy-tax

• MUNIREVS — County STR Registration and Filing

  • cuyahogacounty.munirevs.com/

• Code of Regulations for Transient Guests (Cuyahoga County)

  • cuyahogacms.blob.core.windows.net/home/docs/default-source/fiscal-library/code-of-regulations-for-transient-guests.pdf?sfvrsn=967c5f2b_2

Notes:

• Nearby cities (e.g., Shaker Heights, Berea) may regulate STRs differently—some restrict stays under 30 days or are considering permitting reforms. This guide addresses Beachwood’s rules and county/state obligations only.