Cleveland’s Land Bank owns thousands of pieces of property across the city. The city owns, manages and maintains those properties. Resident can apple to are able to lease or purchase some of the vacant pieces of property. Explore Cleveland’s map of available land.
Is there a difference between the Cuyahoga County Land Bank and the Cleveland’s land bank?
Cuyahoga County has its own land bank with a similar mission, and though they do sometimes work together, the county’s land bank is completely separate from the Cleveland Land Bank.
What can I do with the land?
Property owners whose lot shares a border with a vacant lot can buy it to expand their own yards. The current price for a yard expansion parcel is $200. Owners interested in building on the property, like constructing an addition to a home or a new garage, go through a lengthier process with the City Planning Commission, which has to approve any construction changes.
Residents can also apply to lease vacant properties from the city to create urban gardens or to grow food.
How does the Cleveland Land Bank process work?
Residents submit an Expression of Interest Form and site plan to the Land Bank. Staff check for accuracy, verify the person’s eligibility to own the property, and make sure the application is complete. The request is then sent on to the Cleveland City Council representative and the area’s Community Development Corporation (CDCs).
If everyone approves, it moves forward as a resolution sent to the city’s director of Community Development and the Board of Control for a final sign-off.
The Cleveland Land Bank’s FAQ gives more details on the application and approval process.
Why was my application denied?
Residents can be denied approval to purchase property for a variety of reasons that come up during the application process. Some of the reason include being behind on taxes for other properties they own, submitting an incomplete application, or an objection to the sale by a stakeholder such as the neighborhood community development corporation or a City Council member.
The Land Bank sometimes holds on to lots it decides may be better suited for building a new home on for new businesses.
What if I change my mind, can I just sell it back?
Maybe the extra parcel turns out to be more work than expected or something happens that makes a resident unable or unwilling to continue maintaining the property.
The city maintains the right to take the property back if the new owner doesn’t maintain or improve as part of the agreement with the city.
The CLEVLOT initiative was established by the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to encourage and assist property owners on Cleveland’s Southeast Side to purchase vacant lots and to provide resources for their repurpose and reuse.
Getting ahold of the land bank
Residents can contact the Land Bank office by email at CD-DND@clevelandohio.gov, or call the office at 216-664-4126.
