MAJOR QUALIFYING EVENTS

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland pt. SIX, tit. IX, ch. 697A

in effect

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 697A.01 Definitions

§ 697A.01 Definitions As used in this chapter, the following words, phrases and terms have the following meaning: (a) "Local Organizing Committee" means an organization located in the Greater Cleveland area and responsible for performing and providing support, hospitality and local organizing functions in connection with the Major Qualifying Event. (b) "Major Qualifying Event" means an event for which the City has entered into an agreement, authorized by Council, to host the event in conjunction with the Local Organizing Committee or Sponsor. (c) "Major Qualifying Event Security and Traffic Plan" means the plan developed and implemented by the Director of Public Safety under this chapter. (d) "Sponsor" means the organization responsible for conducting the Major Qualifying Event. (Ord. No. 1028-18. Passed 1-14-19, eff. 1-15-19)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 697A.02 Major Qualifying Event Permits

§ 697A.02 Major Qualifying Event Permits (a) Notwithstanding any Code provision or ordinance to the contrary, the Directors of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Building and Housing, Capital Projects, and the Commissioner of Assessments and Licenses, as applicable to the duties of their respective departments or divisions, are authorized to issue appropriate permits and authorizations related to activities associated with Major Qualifying Event. (b) Notwithstanding any Code provisions or ordinances to the contrary, the various City directors are authorized to develop and implement policies and practices for consolidating applications for and expediting review and issuance of City licenses, permits, approvals, reviews and inspections as required by the laws of the City as needed for the Major Qualifying Event and related activities and to issue a comprehensive permit that incorporates various City permits for the Major Qualifying Event, including review and approval of a comprehensive signage plan in the Central Business District and the major routes into the City as proposed by the Local Organizing Committee or Sponsor, in a form acceptable to the Director of Law. The consolidated application process and issuance of a comprehensive City permit as described in this section shall be coordinated by the Director of Public Works or the Director's designee. (Ord. No. 521-2024. Passed 7-10-24, eff. 7-16-24) (BOC Res. 377-24. Adopted 8-7-24)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 697A.03 Major Qualifying Event Security and Traffic Plan

§ 697A.03 Major Qualifying Event Security and Traffic Plan (a) Notwithstanding any Code provision or ordinance to the contrary, the Director of Public Safety is authorized to develop and implement a security and traffic control plan during the Major Qualifying Event in consultation with Local Organizing Committee and the Sponsor, including the development and implementation of a traffic plan that involves the closing of streets and rerouting of traffic to accommodate the increased traffic, buses and vehicles related to the event, and designation of passenger pick-up and drop-off areas during the event. (b) As part of the Major Qualifying Event Security and Traffic Plan and notwithstanding any Code provision or ordinance to the contrary, the Director of Public Safety may promulgate regulations to be approved by the Board of Control that place reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on the use of the public rights-of-way and public property during the Major Qualifying Event, to allow appropriate access and operation of affected businesses and/or to protect public safety, person, property, and to accommodate the interests of person participating in the Major Qualifying Event and persons not participating in the Major Qualifying Event. The regulations may include the issuance of public gathering permits, demonstration permits, temporary use permits, parade permits, and business access permits during the Major Qualifying Event, may exclude public assemblies in certain areas defined in the regulations and as required by the Major Qualifying Event Security and Traffic Plan, and may prohibit materials and objects defined in the regulations in certain areas of the city around the Major Qualifying Event and related venues. (Ord. No. 1028-18. Passed 1-14-19, eff. 1-15-19)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 697A.04 Major Qualifying Event Vending and Peddling Plan

§ 697A.04 Major Qualifying Event Vending and Peddling Plan (a) Notwithstanding any Code provisions or ordinances to the contrary, the Director of Capital Projects and/or the Commissioner of Assessments and Licenses, as appropriate to their respective duties, are authorized to promulgate and implement a vending and peddling plan during the Major Qualifying Event. (b) As part of the Major Qualifying Event Vending and Peddling Plan and notwithstanding any Code provision or ordinance to the contrary, the Director of Capital Projects and/or the Commissioner of Assessments and Licenses, as appropriate to their respective duties, may promulgate regulations to be approved by the Board of Control that place reasonable restrictions on the sale of goods, wares and merchandise on public rights-of-way and public property during the Major Qualifying Event in areas identified in the regulations. The regulations may include the issuance of special vending permits, may limit the size of vendor signage in areas identified in the regulations, prohibit the sale of goods, wares or merchandise containing counterfeit trademarks, and may prohibit the distribution of free samples of commercial goods, ware, or merchandise in areas identified in the regulations. (Ord. No. 1028-18. Passed 1-14-19, eff. 1-15-19)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 697A.99 Prohibitions and Penalties

§ 697A.99 Prohibitions and Penalties (a) No person shall do any of the following: (1) Fail to comply with the regulations promulgated under division (b) of Section 697A.03; (2) Have in his or her possession any prohibited item identified in the regulations promulgated under division (b) of Section 697A.03 in any area identified in the regulations; or (3) Sell, offer for sale, or distribute items in violation of the regulations promulgated under division (b) of Section 697A.04 in any area identified in the regulations. (b) (1) Whoever violates any of the prohibitions of division (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (2) Except as provided in division (b)(3), whoever violates any prohibition of division (a)(3) is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the offender persists after reasonable warning or request to desist, a violation of division (a)(3) is a misdemeanor of the third degree. (3) Whoever engages in the sale of goods, wares or merchandise containing counterfeit trademarks as prohibited under division (a)(3) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (Ord. No. 1028-18. Passed 1-14-19, eff. 1-15-19)

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/0-0-0-48714Fetched: 11/1/2026