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Vacant Lot Program
There are many City owned as well as privately owned vacant lots where you may be able to build your dream home or expand your existing home.
View Available City-Owned Lots
How to Acquire City-Owned Lots
Vacant lots in the City’s land bank can be purchased for:
- building owner-occupied single-family homes;
- expanding side yards;
- community purposes.
To acquire a City owned residential lot, complete the appropriate vacant lot application:
For more details on the City’s Vacant Lot Program, refer to the Program Guidelines and Process Chart.
Guidelines for Side Lots
- Applicant must own and occupy the adjacent lot.
- To qualify, applicants must be in good standing with City departments, current on property taxes, and not in foreclosure.
- The purchase price is $1.00.
- Successful applicants will be required to consolidate the parcel on which their home sits with the vacant lot. The survey and consolidation process costs approximately $1,000 to $3,000. Recording the new plat and filing the deed will cost approximately $100.
Guidelines for New Construction
- To apply, you must have already reviewed the City’s infill guidelines and discussed your plans with the Planning Department prior to completing an application.
- Looking for a builder? The City is partnering with Knez to build new homes on City-owned vacant lots. Read about a home built by Knez in the Moreland neighborhood | Learn more at the Knez website
- Pre-Approved Plans Available at a Great Price: View pre-approved home designs (PDF) from Shaker-based RDL Architects. For more information, contact Haley Christopher of RDL at 216-752-4300.
Guidelines for Community Uses
You can propose a community use for a City-owned vacant lot. These proposals will be reviewed by the Neighborhood Revitalization and Development Committee and need the support of the relevant neighborhood association. Leasing for use as a community garden is one such project, and you can find some tips on setting one up here.
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Brendan Zak
Neighborhood Development SpecialistPhone: 216-491-1473