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A-to-Z Guide to Living in the City
Wondering how to register a block party? Where to get a bike license? How early you can mow your lawn on Sunday morning? Below is an alphabetical listing of the City regulations and other information our residents ask about most. For more detailed information, including answers to almost any question you may have about Shaker Heights, check out our FAQs.
- Bicycle Licensing: New licenses are $5. Re-issued licenses are 50 cents. Please call the Police Department at 216-491-1220 for registration dates and times and required documents.
- Bicycle Riding: Helmets are required for everyone 5 and older and for all passengers regardless of age. Children under 14 may ride bikes on the sidewalk, but must yield to pedestrians.
- Block Party Requests: Register at least two weeks in advance.
- Cell Phones: Drivers are prohibited from using hand-held cell phones to call or text while driving. There are limited exceptions.
- Child Car Seats: The Fire Department offers free safety checks on car and booster seats required by the state, by appointment, Fridays only. Call 216-491-1200 for details.
- Community Gardens: Join one of Shaker's six community gardens or learn how to start your own.
- Contractors: View a list of contractors registered with the City.
- Customer Service Nominations: The City appreciates nominations from residents for outstanding customer service provided by City employees. Nominations are accepted year-round for recognition in the spring. Use the Employee Recognition Nomination Form (PDF) to make your nomination.
- Dogs: Dogs are not permitted to run at large, and owners are required to pick up dog waste immediately. Nuisance dogs should be reported to 216-491-1490.
- Domestic Power Tools: The operation of any mechanically powered tool, other than a snow blower, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m, or on Saturday or Sunday before 9 a.m. is prohibited.
- Electric Vehicles: Find EV charging stations at The Dealership at 3558 Lee Road. (in the parking lot behind the building) and the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland at 21600 Shaker Boulevard (also in the parking lot behind the building).
- Emergencies: Call 911 from a landline in your home. Call 216-491-1234 from a cell phone. Add the number to your cell phone contacts.
- ENews: Sign up to receive emailed news about your community.
- Fire Hydrants: The Fire Department flushes hydrants in the spring. This can temporarily discolor the water.
- Fire Safety: The Fire Department offers free home fire safety inspections throughout the year. To make an appointment, call 216-491-1215.
- Grass Ordinance: Grass may not be taller than six inches. Tall grass and weeds that are spreading seeds are declared a nuisance.
- Horseshoe Lake Park Picnic Permits: Dates fill up fast! Reservations can be made one year in advance. Call 491-1351 or register online. No reservations taken for Memorial Day, July 4, or Labor Day.
- House Numbers: Addresses must be clearly visible from the street.
- Landscaper Registration: Landscapers and tree maintenance and removal contractors must register with the Building Department. There is a fee.
- Lost Pets: If you have lost a pet, call 216-491-1490 (after hours or emergencies, 216-491-1499).
- Noise: The playing of radios, televisions, musical instruments, and similar devices is prohibited between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, if they create a noise disturbance.
- Parking Ban: There is no parking permitted on Shaker streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Residents may request overnight street parking on a limited basis.
- Power Outages: Please call CEI, not City Hall, at 888-544-4877.
- Rapid: Shaker has two Rapid transit lines (the Blue Line on Van Aken Boulevard and the Green Line on Shaker Boulevard). Find fares and schedules at RTA.
- Recycling: View guidelines for recycling and download the ShakeRecycles app for alerts and for help with questions about recycling.
- ReadyNotify: Sign up for this mass notification system so that you are informed about emergencies and safety situations in the City. Messages are delivered by telephone, cell phone, text message, or email.
- Running: Runners may not obstruct traffic and are required to wear reflective clothing from dusk until dawn.
- Security: If you plan to be away from your home, fill out a Vacation Watch Form to let the police know your plans and how to contact you. Security alarms should be installed by a licensed alarm company.
- Smoke Detectors: By ordinance, residents are required to have at least one photoelectric smoke detector adjacent to the sleeping area in each dwelling unit and at least one smoke detector on each additional level, including the basement.
- Snow Policies:
- Snow Parking Ban. Parking in the street is not permitted when snow reaches a depth of two inches or more. This is to enable plows to safely clear streets of snow.
- Sidewalks. City ordinance requires residents to clear sidewalks, including corner property curb ramps, of snow, ice, and slush by 9 a.m. the day after a snowfall. If the snow on the sidewalks reaches at least six inches, the City will plow after streets are cleared and when crews are available.
- Driveways. Homeowners must clear their own driveways; snow removal contractors must be registered with the Police Department and clearly display permits. Snow may not be pushed into the street, onto sidewalks or medians, or onto another person’s property. Please be aware that City street plowing will result in some snow pushed onto driveway aprons. Homeowners will need to clear their aprons.
- Fire Hydrants vs. Snow. During times of heavy snowfall, fire hydrants need to be cleared of snow.
- Social Media: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
- Solicitors: In most cases, door-to-door solicitors must be licensed and have their licenses readily available upon request. There are some exceptions. Contact Shaker Heights Police Department (SHPD) at 216-491-1220 with questions.
- Taxes: Residents must register with the Regional Income Tax Authority (RITA), which collects local income taxes on behalf of the City. For information about property valuations and taxes, contact the Cuyahoga County Treasurer. Also view Understanding Your Taxes for more information.
- Temporary Sign Ordinance: All temporary signs in residential districts must be removed or replaced after 45 days. Signs may not be located in the public right of way and must be placed at least 20 feet from the nearest sidewalk.
- Trash Delays: For reminders, download ShakeRecycles on your mobile device or from your computer. Call the Public Works Department, 216-491-1490, to report a missed pick-up. Calls must be received the next business day. Collections scheduled on or after the following holidays, unless they fall on a Saturday or Sunday, will be one day late:
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Memorial Day.
- Utilities:
- Electric: The Illuminating Company
- Gas: Dominion Energy
- Water/Sewer: Cleveland Water and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
- The City participates in the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) electric aggregation program; the City also has its own natural gas aggregation program.
- Vote: Register with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
- Wood Chips: Wood chips are available while supplies last at the Canoe Club on South Park Boulevard. Residents must bring their own containers and shovels.
- Yard Waste: From October 15 to December 15 brush collection is suspended to focus on leaf collection only. During leaf collection, leaves are picked up from the tree lawn (never in the street) on a biweekly schedule. To reduce trunk damage, please keep leaf piles away from trees. Landscapers should be advised to remove any yard waste from October 15 until April 15 when tree lawn collection resumes.
- After December 15 brush collection resumes as permitted by the weather.
- From April 15 to October 15 yard debris including grass clippings (no trash) must be put in paper leaf bags.