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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. The responsible department is indicated in the parentheses (see key below). 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. (PD)
- Bicycle Riding: Helmets are required for everyone age 5 and older and for all passengers regardless of age. Children under 14 may ride bikes on the sidewalk, but must yield to pedestrians. (PD)
- Block Party Requests: Register at least two weeks in advance. (REC)
- Cell Phones: Drivers are prohibited from using hand-held cell phones to call or text while driving. There are limited exceptions. (PD)
- Child Car Seats: The Fire Department offers free safety checks on car and booster seats required by the state, on Fridays by appointment only. Call 216-491-1200 for details and to make an appointment. (FD)
- Community Gardens: Join one of Shaker's six community gardens or learn how to start your own. (NR)
- Composting: Rust Belt Riders offers composting services in Shaker Heights. Residents may also install compost bins in their yards (requires a one-time, $5 permit).
- 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. (PW)
- 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. (PD)
- ENews: Sign up to receive the City's monthly newsletter and the Mayor's Report. (CM)
- Fire Hydrants: The Fire Department flushes hydrants in the spring and performs hydrant maintenance in the fall. Hydrant flushing can temporarily discolor the water. Please run the water until clear. (FD)
- Fire Safety: By ordinance, all residents must have photoelectric smoke detectors. The Fire Department offers free home fire safety inspections throughout the year. To make an appointment, call 216-491-1200. (FD)
- Grass Ordinance: Grass may not be taller than six inches. Tall grass and weeds that are spreading seeds are declared a nuisance. (PW)
- Home Improvements: Be sure to understand the City requirements for permitting and plan review before starting your home improvement project. (BH and P)
- 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. (REC)
- 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. (BH)
- Lost Pets: If you have lost a pet, call 216-491-1490 (after hours or emergencies, 216-491-1499). (PW)
- Noise: Domestic Power Tools—The operation of any mechanically powered tool, other than a snow blower, between the hours of 9 pm and 7 am, Monday to Friday or before the hour of 9 am on Saturday and Sunday is prohibited. Other noise disturbances are also not permitted in Shaker Heights. View the complete ordinance. (LAW)
- Parking Ban: There is no parking permitted on Shaker streets between 2 am and 6 am. Residents may request overnight street parking on a limited basis. (PD)
- Power Outages: Report your outage to First Energy, not City Hall. Call 888-544-4877 or report online.
- 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 visit Cuyahoga Recycles for help with questions about recycling. Please "know what to throw" so you don't contaminate the recycling stream. (PW)
- ReadyNotify/CodeRED: Sign up for this mass notification system so that you are informed about emergencies and safety situations in the County and City. Messages are delivered by telephone, cell phone, text message, or email.
- Running/walking: Runners/walkers may not obstruct traffic and are required to wear reflective clothing from dusk until dawn. (PD)
- Security: If you plan to be away from your home, sign up for Vacation Watch to let the police know your plans and how to contact you. Security alarms should be installed by a licensed alarm company. (PD)
- 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. (FD)
- 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. (PD)
- Sidewalks. City ordinance requires residents to clear sidewalks, including corner property curb ramps, of snow, ice, and slush by 9 am 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. (PW)
- 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. (PW)
- Fire Hydrants vs. Snow. During times of heavy snowfall, please keep your fire hydrant clear of snow and visible for Fire Dept. vehicles. (FD)
- Social Media: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. (CM)
- 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. (PD)
- 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 property taxes, contact the Cuyahoga County Treasurer. Also view Understanding Your Taxes for more information. (FIN)
- 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. (LAW)
- Trash: Trash (and recycling) is picked up weekly from residents' backyards via scooter (PW):
- Find your collection day
- Report a missed collection or other problem
- Collections on or after major holidays will be delayed by one day (view Holiday Pick-Up Schedule for the current year)
- View general guidelines for trash and recycling collections
- Utilities:
- Electric: The Illuminating Company/First Energy
- 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. (LAW)
- 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. (PW)
- Yard Waste: Visit Leaf, Grass & Brush Collection to learn how to correctly set out yard waste for collection. (PW)
Department Key
| BH | Building & Housing | LAW | Law |
| CM | Communications & Marketing | PL | Planning |
| FD | Fire | PD | Police |
| FIN | Finance | PW | Public Works |
| HR | Human Resources | REC | Recreation |