Street and Sidewalk Obstruction Permits
Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 411.011
in effect§ 411.011 Street and Sidewalk Obstruction Permits
(a) No person shall place or cause to be placed any object or property so as to obstruct the public's use of any highway, lane, road, street or alley without first obtaining a street obstruction permit and/or a street opening permit, if necessary, from the Director of Capital Projects.
(b) An application for a street obstruction permit shall contain the following information:
(1) The name of the applicant;
(2) The location of the proposed obstruction;
(3) The purpose of the obstruction;
(4) A description of the obstruction;
(5) The proposed commencement date, time and estimated duration of the obstruction; and
(6) A traffic maintenance plan.
(c) An application for a street obstruction permit for construction and rehabilitation projects regulated by Chapter 3115, shall contain the information required in division (b)(1) through (b)(5) above, and in addition shall include a traffic and pedestrian maintenance plan. Such plan shall be approved, subject to revision, by the Division of Engineering and Construction in consultation with the Division of Traffic Engineering, according to pedestrian safety criteria required by rules and regulations promulgated by the Directors of Capital Projects and Public Works based on Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (OMUTCD) standards. In addition to the requirements of Chapter 3115, required criteria shall include the following:
(1) A plan for safe alternative re-routing of pedestrians and wheelchair riders, if the applicant presents specific reasons that the existing sidewalk cannot stay open or abutting walkway cannot be maintained with safety measures during construction;
(2) Pedestrians and wheelchair riders shall not be lead into conflict with vehicles, equipment, or operations moving through or around the work zone;
(3) Temporary pedestrian access re-routes or detours must be continuous, unobstructed, and protected from construction;
(4) Accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
(5) If a temporary pedestrian access re-route must involve crossing the roadway, a plan to direct pedestrians and wheelchair riders with advance signing directing them to the nearest official crosswalk; and
(6) A plan to erect appropriate signage notifying pedestrians and wheelchair riders of work zones in compliance with rules and regulations and to post a copy of such permit at each approach to the work zone.
(d) The application shall be accompanied with the applicable fees set forth below for the permit and any inspection costs related thereto. The application shall also be accompanied with evidence of a public liability insurance policy issued by an insurer authorized to transact business in Ohio, in an amount not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00), listing the City of Cleveland as an additional insured. As used in this division, a City-Sponsored Event means an event supported or produced by one of the branches, departments, or offices of the City of Cleveland that furthers the functions or goals of that branch, department or office, and a CDC qualifying event means an event held or sponsored by a community development corporation, organized under RC Chapter 1702, that is open to the public at no charge, is anticipated to attract and/or keep members of the public at the event location, and includes food truck staging or is a festival that obstructs the street, and includes food truck staging or is a festival that obstructs the street.
The Director of Capital Projects shall charge the following fees for obstruction permits issued under this section:
(1) Construction work partially taking a portion of the street and may include the sidewalk:
A. In Central Business District:
$50.00 per week for 20 LF up to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks, $190.00 per month for 20 LF
B. In Other Commercial Districts:
$25.00 per week for 20 LF up to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks, $85.00 per month for 20 LF
C. In Residential Areas: $20.00 per month.
(2) Construction work entirely taking the street and may include the sidewalk:
A. In Central Business District:
$100.00 per week for 20 LF up to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks, $380.00 per month for 20 LF
B. In Other Commercial Districts:
$50.00 per week for 20 LF up to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks, $190.00 per month for 20 LF
C. In Residential Areas: $20.00 per month.
(3) Construction work partially taking the sidewalk only:
A. In Central Business District:
$25.00 per week for 20 LF up to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks, $85.00 per month for 20 LF
B. In Other Commercial Districts:
$12.50 per week for 20 LF up to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks, $44.50 per month for 20 LF
C. In Residential Areas: $20.00 per month.
(4) Construction work taking the entire sidewalk only:
A. In Central Business District:
$50.00 per week for 20 LF up to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks, $190.00 per month for 20 LF
B. In Other Commercial Districts:
$25.00 per week for 20 LF up to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks, $85.00 per month for 20 LF
C. In Residential Areas: $20.00 per month.
(5) Dumpster or Portable Onsite Storage Unit:
A. In Central Business District: $20.00 per month plus an additional $50.00 for inspection.
B. In Other Commercial Districts: $20.00 per month plus an additional $50.00 for inspection.
C. In Residential Areas: $20.00 per month.
(6) City-Sponsored Special Event: No charge.
(7) Non-City-Sponsored Special Event: $100.00 per event.
(8) CDC Qualifying Event: no charge.
(9) Block Party: $25.00 per event.
(10) Filming: $20.00 per filming location.
(11) Bus Parking: $50.00 per day for each bus.
(12) Expedited Reviews: $50.00 additional fee for any requested and performed expedited reviews.
(e) The Director may deny or revoke a street obstruction permit whenever the Director finds:
(1) The applicant has previously violated the provisions of a street obstruction permit or has submitted materially false or incomplete information on any street obstruction permit application; or
(2) The obstruction would unreasonably interfere with another obstruction for which a permit has been issued; or
(3) The time, place or size of the obstruction would unreasonably interfere with public convenience and safe use of the street; or
(4) The obstruction would unreasonably interfere with the movement or service capability of emergency or service vehicles; or
(5) The obstruction would unreasonably interfere with a construction project.
(f) Whoever violates division (a) of this section shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(g) This section shall not apply to any person that has been issued a permit under Chapter 3109 relating to encroachment permits.
(Ord. No. 1141-2023. Passed 2-3-25, eff. 2-4-25)
Source: City of Cleveland, Ohio, Codified Ordinances and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/cleveland/latest/cleveland_oh/0-0-0-22232Fetched: 11/1/2026