Under the conditions specified by law, the Board of Zoning Appeals will be conducting virtual meetings using the WebEx Platform and in-person meetings in City Hall Room 514. The Board of Zoning Appeals 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 Zoning 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.
To contact the Board of Zoning Appeals office and request access to the WebEx meeting please call 216.664.2580 or email us at [email protected].
For the quickest response please include an email address with your request.
We ask that you include the name of the project you plan to comment on when requesting access to the WebEx meeting.
Download Agendas
Please note: All files after 2011 are in the Adobe Acrobat format. 
Graphics/Photos: Download a PDF copy of the
materials that are presented at the meeting.
To Change the Year, make a selection from the drop down box.
Select the agenda to view from the drop down box.
Older Agendas can be found here.
Important: Any variance granted by the Board expires 6 months afterward if no permit has been issued nor acted upon to exercise the variance rights.
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Phone: 216-664-2580 email:[email protected]
As part of our enhanced public notification practices we will be utilizing yard signs to notify surrounding property owners of a request for a variance to the zoning code. A city staff person will place the yard signs, in a tree lawn area when available, containing information about the requested variance, case number, address, meeting date and time and location.
Board Members
Alanna Faith, Chairwoman • Arleesha Wilson, Esq. • Nina Holzer • Priscila Rocha
Applicants Guide: a printable version (PDF) can be found here
Rules and Regulations can be downloaded here
What are the Board of Zoning Appeals Business Hours?
The Board of Zoning Appeals business hours are from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.
Is there anything I should do before I file my appeal?
Yes. Take the opportunity to talk about the plan with City staff in the Building and Housing Department and with City Planning to determine whether there is a possibility for change that may eliminate the need to appeal for a variance from the Code.
If an appeal is filed, factors that may be taken into consideration by the Board of Zoning Appeals for granting a variance include but are not limited to:
- whether the property in question will yield a reasonable return or whether there can be any beneficial use of the property without the variance;
- if the variance is substantial- a large extent of size, area, distance, etc.;
- whether the essential character of the neighborhood would be substantially altered or adjoining properties would suffer a substantial detriment as a result of the variance;
- if the variance would adversely affect the delivery of governmental services-safety forces, water, sewer, garbage collection, etc.;
- was the property purchased with knowledge of the zoning restriction;
- whether the predicament feasibly may be resolved through some method other than a variance;
- whether the spirit and intent behind the zoning requirement would be observed and substantial justice done by granting a variance.
When and Where will my Hearing be held?
The Board of Zoning Appeals meets on Monday mornings at 9:30am in Room 514 on the 5th floor of Cleveland City Hall. If Monday is a holiday recognized by the city, the meeting is held on the following Tuesday. You will be sent a notice in the mail stating the date and time of your hearing. It is important that you list your correct mailing address on your application. Please understand that a hearing appealing for a variance cannot be held until notices are mailed to nearby property owners and an announcement is published in the City Record. The notification process requires a minimum of 2 weeks.
What time should I arrive for my Hearing?
It is important that you arrive promptly for your hearing at the time listed on the notice you receive in the mail. However, please understand that more than one case is scheduled for the same day, so you may have to wait while other cases are heard.
Do I have to be present at the Hearing?
The person filing the appeal (“the applicant”) is expected to appear at the hearing, in person. The applicant is typically the owner of record of the property. If you cannot appear, you may submit a letter to the Board authorizing an appropriate authority to act on your behalf. Your representative must be authorized to bind you or your organization to the decision of the Board. Your representative must also be familiar with the subject of the appeal and the current conditions and operations of any business associated with the appeal.
What if I need to postpone my Hearing?
Once your case has been scheduled, you may request a postponement if necessary. Please submit your request as early as possible. Generally, the Board will not grant more than 3postponements and limits the number of postponements to there being one request from each participant, by either the applicant or their agent, by an elected City Council official, or by a city department staff member.
If the Board approves my appeal, when can I pick up my permit?
Any action taken by the Board on your case at the hearing will be finalized at its next meeting, unless there is additional information you are required to submit to the Board prior to the finalizing of their vote. When the Board has voted to adopt and approve a voted decision of a previous meeting, a resolution is mailed or may be picked up one week after the decision on an appeal has been finalized by the Board. You may then take the resolution and the original Application for Permit that was filed with the appeal to the Department of Building and Housing to continue with the permit process.
If the Board denies my appeal, can I request from the Board a rehearing or reconsideration?
The Board may grant either a motion for a rehearing of a previous appeal or a motion for reconsideration of any prior Board action, only if the Board determines that new relevant evidence will be presented that was not available at the original hearing or that a change in circumstance exists justifying the rehearing or reconsideration. The Board may require that a request be supported by an affidavit setting out the new evidence or circumstance that justify the rehearing or reconsideration. The filing of a Motion for Rehearing or Reconsideration shall not stay the time by which an applicant has to file an appeal to the Common Pleas Court.
Does my Variance expire?
Any variance granted by the Board expires 6 months afterward if no permit has been issued nor acted upon to exercise the variance rights. You may submit a request to the Board for an affirmation, a 6-month extension, in the event of a delay that may go beyond 6 months from the date when the Board adopted and approved the variance. A brief written explanation and a fee of $50 are required with the affirmation request and it may be submitted one week prior to the date of expiration.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Board of Zoning Appeals staff.
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Telephone:
Fax:
Address: |
216-664-2580
216-664-2631
Room 516, City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
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