Westlake, Ohio, OH — the municipal code, in plain language

Current through March 19, 2026 | State legislation current through December 31, 2025. Official source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/westlake/latest/overview

Every town writes its own rules, and Westlake, Ohio's live in its municipal code — 309 chapters covering day-to-day questions like fences, parking, pets, permits and property upkeep. Below is the full map of what the code covers.

What's in the Westlake, Ohio code

• 1. Westlake, Ohio
• 2. CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF WESTLAKE, OHIO
• 3. CERTIFICATION
• 4. DIRECTORY OF OFFICIALS
• 5. ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. 1993-48
• 6. EDITOR'S NOTE
• 7. COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
• 8. TABLES OF SPECIAL ORDINANCES
• 9. TABLE A - FRANCHISES
• 10. TABLE B - EASEMENTS
• 11. TABLE C - VACATING OF STREETS AND ALLEYS
• 12. TABLE D - DEDICATION AND PLAT APPROVAL
• 13. TABLE E - ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL OF REAL PROPERTY
• 14. TABLE F - LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY
• 15. TABLE G - CHANGE OF STREET NAME
• 16. TABLE H - DETACHMENT OF TERRITORY
• 17. TABLE I - ZONING MAP CHANGES
• 18. CHARTER
• 19. Article I POWERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY
• 20. SECTION. I-1. POWERS.
• 21. SECTION. I-2. MANNER OF EXERCISE.
• 22. Article II THE MAYOR
• 23. SECTION II-1. QUALIFICATIONS.
• 24. SECTION II-2. POWERS.
• 25. SECTION II-3. REMOVAL.
• 26. SECTION II-4. TERM OF OFFICE.
• 27. SECTION II-5. DUTIES.
• 28. SECTION II-6. VACANCY IN OFFICE OF MAYOR.
• 29. ARTICLE III THE COUNCIL
• 30. SECTION III-1. NUMBER AND TERM.
• 31. SECTION III-2. QUALIFICATIONS.
• 32. SECTION III-3. DUTIES OF COUNCIL.
• 33. SECTION III-4. PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL.
• 34. SECTION III-5. REMOVAL.
• 35. SECTION III-6. VACANCIES.
• 36. SECTION III-7. CLERK AND OTHER EMPLOYEES.
• 37. SECTION III-8. MEETINGS.
• 38. SECTION III-9. QUORUM.
• 39. SECTION III-10. PROCEDURE.
• 40. SECTION III-11. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
• 41. SECTION III-12. CODIFICATION OF ORDINANCES.
• 42. SECTION III-13. ENACTMENT OF ZONING ORDINANCES.
• 43. ARTICLE IV ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
• 44. SECTION IV-1. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS.
• 45. SECTION IV-2. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
• 46. SECTION IV-3. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
• 47. SECTION IV-4. DEPARTMENT OF LAW.
• 48. SECTION IV-5. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
• 49. SECTION IV-6. DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING.
• 50. SECTION IV-7. DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND INSPECTIONS.
• 51. SECTION IV-8. DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING.
• 52. SECTION IV-9. PLANNING COMMISSION.
• 53. SECTION IV-10. BOARD OF BUILDING AND ZONING APPEALS.
• 54. SECTION IV-11. BOARD OF BUILDING APPEALS.
• 55. SECTION IV-12. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
• 56. SECTION IV-13. RIGHTS RETAINED BY PEOPLE.
• 57. ARTICLE V FINANCE
• 58. SECTION V-1. ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE.
• 59. SECTION V-2. APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.
• 60. SECTION V-3. TRANSFERS AND BALANCES.
• 61. SECTION V-4. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.
• 62. SECTION V-5. PUBLIC BIDDING.
• 63. SECTION V-6. PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
• 64. ARTICLE VI TAXATION
• 65. SECTION VI-1. LIMITATION ON THE RATE OF TAXATION.
• 66. SECTION VI-2. SUBMISSION OF EXTRA LEVY TO VOTE.
• 67. SECTION VI-3. OTHER TAXES.
• 68. SECTION VI-4. LEVY OF TAXES FOR POLICE AND FIRE.
• 69. SECTION VI-5. LIMITATION ON THE RATE OF TAXATION.
• 70. ARTICLE VII NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
• 71. SECTION VII-1. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
• 72. SECTION VII-2. NONPARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
• 73. SECTION VII-3. DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY.
• 74. SECTION VII-4. QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES.
• 75. SECTION VII-5. DESIGNATION OF CANDIDATES.
• 76. SECTION VII-6. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES.
• 77. SECTION 7VII-. ELECTION PROCEDURES.
• 78. ARTICLE VIII INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, RECALL
• 79. SECTION VIII-1. INITIATIVE.
• 80. SECTION VIII-2. REFERENDUM.
• 81. SECTION VIII-3. RECALL.
• 82. SECTION VIII-4. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
• 83. ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER
• 84. SECTION IX-1. INDEXING.
• 85. SECTION IX-2. AMENDMENTS.
• 86. ARTICLE X CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
• 87. SECTION X-1. REVIEW.
• 88. ARTICLE XI GENERAL PROVISIONS
• 89. SECTION XI-1. EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHARTER.
• 90. SECTION XI-2. EFFECT OF CHARTER UPON EXISTING LAWS AND RIGHTS.
• 91. SECTION XI-3. SAVING CLAUSE.
• 92. SECTION XI-4. INTERPRETATION OF CHARTER.
• 93. SECTION XI-5. FRANCHISES.
• 94. SECTION XI-6. CONTINUANCE OF PRESENT OFFICERS.
• 95. SECTION XI-7. OATH OF OFFICE.
• 96. SECTION XI-8. REFERENCES TO GENDER.
• 97. SECTION XI-9. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST.
• 98. SECTION XI-10. MEETINGS OF GOVERNMENTAL BODIES TO BE PUBLIC; EXCEPTION.
• 99. PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
• 100. TITLE ONE - General Provisions
• 101. CHAPTER 101 Codified Ordinances
• 102. CHAPTER 105 Wards and Boundaries
• 103. CHAPTER 107 Payments to Contractors
• 104. CHAPTER 109 Public Meetings
• 105. TITLE THREE - Legislative
• 106. CHAPTER 121 Council
• 107. CHAPTER 123 Ordinances, Resolutions and Documents
• 108. TITLE FIVE - Administrative
• 109. CHAPTER 131 Mayor
• 110. CHAPTER 133 Department of Law
• 111. CHAPTER 135 Department of Finance
• 112. CHAPTER 137 Police Department
• 113. CHAPTER 139 Fire Department
• 114. CHAPTER 141 Administrative Department
• 115. CHAPTER 143 Department of Engineering
• 116. CHAPTER 145 Department of Purchasing
• 117. CHAPTER 147 Department of Public Service
• 118. CHAPTER 149 Department of Buildings, Structures and Inspections
• 119. CHAPTER 151 Parks and Recreation Commission
• 120. CHAPTER 152 Department of Recreation
• 121. CHAPTER 157 Westlake Assistance and Service Commission
• 122. CHAPTER 159 Civil Service Commission
• 123. RULES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
• 124. CHAPTER 161 Department of Planning and Economic Development
• 125. CHAPTER 163 Industrial Commission
• 126. CHAPTER 166 Community Improvement Corporation
• 127. CHAPTER 167 Employees Generally
• 128. CHAPTER 169 Community Services Department
• 129. CHAPTER 171 Litter Control Board
• 130. CHAPTER 173 Juvenile Diversion Commission
• 131. CHAPTER 177 Westlake Tree Commission
• 132. CHAPTER 179 Records Commission
• 133. CHAPTER 181 Travel Expenses
• 134. CHAPTER 183 Equipment, Services and Personnel Policies
• 135. CHAPTER 185 Westshore Central Dispatch Center
• 136. TITLE SEVEN - Judicial
• 137. CHAPTER 189 Municipal Court
• 138. TITLE NINE - Taxation
• 139. CHAPTER 191 Admissions Tax
• 140. CHAPTER 193 Earned Income Tax
• 141. CHAPTER 194 Income Tax Effective January 1, 2016
• 142. CHAPTER 195 Excise Tax on Hotel Accommodations
• 143. CHAPTER 197 Motor Vehicle License Tax
• 144. PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
• 145. TITLE ONE - Administration
• 146. CHAPTER 301 Definitions
• 147. CHAPTER 303 Enforcement, Impounding and Penalty
• 148. CHAPTER 305 Traffic Control
• 149. TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
• 150. CHAPTER 311 Street Obstructions and Special Uses
• 151. CHAPTER 313 Traffic Control Devices
• 152. TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
• 153. CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
• 154. CHAPTER 333 OVI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
• 155. CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
• 156. CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
• 157. CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
• 158. CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
• 159. TITLE SEVEN - Parking
• 160. CHAPTER 351 Parking Generally
• 161. CHAPTER 353 Junk Motor Vehicles
• 162. TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
• 163. CHAPTER 371 Pedestrians
• 164. CHAPTER 373 Bicycles and Motorcycles
• 165. CHAPTER 375 Snowmobiles, Off-Highway Motorcycles and All Purpose Vehicles
• 166. PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
• 167. CHAPTER 503 Advertising
• 168. CHAPTER 505 Animals and Fowl
• 169. CHAPTER 509 Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance
• 170. CHAPTER 513 Drug Abuse Control
• 171. CHAPTER 515 Fair Housing
• 172. CHAPTER 517 Gambling
• 173. CHAPTER 521 Health, Safety and Sanitation
• 174. CHAPTER 523 Picketing
• 175. CHAPTER 525 Law Enforcement and Public Office
• 176. CHAPTER 529 Liquor Control
• 177. CHAPTER 531 Noise Control
• 178. CHAPTER 533 Obscenity and Sex Offenses
• 179. CHAPTER 537 Offenses Against Persons
• 180. CHAPTER 541 Property Offenses
• 181. CHAPTER 545 Theft and Fraud
• 182. CHAPTER 549 Weapons and Explosives
• 183. PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
• 184. CHAPTER 711 Fortunetelling and Clairvoyancy
• 185. CHAPTER 713 Gas and Oil Wells
• 186. CHAPTER 715 Gasoline Stations
• 187. CHAPTER 717 Christmas Tree Sales
• 188. CHAPTER 719 Home Sales
• 189. CHAPTER 739 Mechanical Amusement Devices
• 190. CHAPTER 751 Peddlers, Solicitors and Canvassers
• 191. CHAPTER 753 Business Operations
• 192. CHAPTER 755 Licensing and Operation of Sexually Oriented Businesses
• 193. CHAPTER 757 Hotel Regulations
• 194. CHAPTER 759 Commercial False Alarms
• 195. PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
• 196. TITLE ONE - Street and Sidewalk Areas
• 197. CHAPTER 901 Street Excavations and Drilling
• 198. CHAPTER 903 Construction of Driveway Drainage
• 199. CHAPTER 905 Sidewalk Installation and Replacement
• 200. CHAPTER 907 Drainage Ditches
• 201. TITLE THREE - Public Utilities
• 202. CHAPTER 911 Water
• 203. CHAPTER 913 Pretreatment
• 204. CHAPTER 915 Sewer Use Regulations; Rates and Charges
• 205. CHAPTER 917 Electricity
• 206. CHAPTER 919 Gas
• 207. CHAPTER 921 Cable Television Regulations
• 208. TITLE FIVE - Other Public Services
• 209. CHAPTER 941 City Parks
• 210. CHAPTER 943 Community House
• 211. CHAPTER 944 Tri-City Park
• 212. CHAPTER 945 Recreation Center
• 213. CHAPTER 947 Cemeteries
• 214. CHAPTER 949 Trees, Weeds and Grass
• 215. CHAPTER 951 Garbage and Rubbish Collection
• 216. CHAPTER 953 Municipal Swimming Pool
• 217. CHAPTER 955 Humus/Wood Chip Sales
• 218. CHAPTER 957 Ambulance and Paramedic Fees
• 219. PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND PLATTING CODE
• 220. TITLE ONE - Planning amd Development Generally
• 221. CHAPTER 1101 Planning Commission
• 222. CHAPTER 1103 Industrial Commission
• 223. CHAPTER 1105 Reserve Areas for Public Use
• 224. CHAPTER 1109 Shopping Center Development Plans
• 225. CHAPTER 1111 Storm Drainage
• 226. CHAPTER 1115 General Fee Schedule
• 227. TITLE THREE - Land Planning and Subdivision Regulations
• 228. CHAPTER 1121 Title and Purpose
• 229. CHAPTER 1123 Definitions
• 230. CHAPTER 1125 Procedures
• 231. CHAPTER 1127 Planning Principles and Design Standards
• 232. CHAPTER 1129 Land Improvements
• 233. CHAPTER 1130 Buffering
• 234. CHAPTER 1131 Plans and Plats
• 235. CHAPTER 1133 Modifications; Appeals; Fees and Penalty
• 236. CHAPTER 1135 Erosion and Sedimentation In Land Development
• 237. CHAPTER 1137 Tree Regulations
• 238. PART TWELVE - ZONING CODE
• 239. TITLE ONE - Scope and Application
• 240. CHAPTER 1201 Intent and Application
• 241. CHAPTER 1203 Definitions
• 242. CHAPTER 1205 Establishment of Code and Map
• 243. TITLE THREE - Zoning District Regulations
• 244. CHAPTER 1210 Public Recreation and Education District
• 245. CHAPTER 1211 Residential Districts
• 246. CHAPTER 1212 Planned Unit Development District
• 247. CHAPTER 1213 Location of Sexually Oriented Businesses
• 248. CHAPTER 1214 Automobile Parking Districts
• 249. CHAPTER 1215 Planned Office District
• 250. CHAPTER 1216 Business Districts
• 251. CHAPTER 1217 Integrated Shopping Facility District
• 252. CHAPTER 1218 Industrial Districts
• 253. CHAPTER 1219 Health Campus District
• 254. TITLE FIVE - Regulations Applying to All Use Districts
• 255. CHAPTER 1220 Development Plans
• 256. CHAPTER 1221 Parking and Loading Facilities
• 257. CHAPTER 1222 Heliports and Helistops
• 258. CHAPTER 1223 Sign Regulations
• 259. CHAPTER 1224 Siting of Wireless Telecommunications Facilities
• 260. CHAPTER 1225 Nonconforming Uses
• 261. CHAPTER 1226 Standards for Specific Uses
• 262. CHAPTER 1227 Conditional Uses
• 263. CHAPTER 1229 Similar Uses
• 264. CHAPTER 1230 General Provisions
• 265. TITLE SEVEN - Administrative Provisions
• 266. CHAPTER 1231 Administration, Enforcement and Penalty
• 267. CHAPTER 1233 Board of Building and Zoning Appeals
• 268. CHAPTER 1235 Amending Procedures
• 269. CHAPTER 1237 Design Review Requirements
• 270. PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
• 271. TITLE ONE - Standards
• 272. CHAPTER 1301 Residential Code of Ohio
• 273. CHAPTER 1303 Ohio Building Code
• 274. TITLE THREE - Administration
• 275. CHAPTER 1311 General Administration and Enforcement
• 276. CHAPTER 1313 Permits and Inspections
• 277. CHAPTER 1315 Fees for Permits and Inspections
• 278. CHAPTER 1316 Park and Recreation Fees
• 279. CHAPTER 1317 Board of Building Appeals (Repealed)
• 280. CHAPTER 1321 Registration of Contractors
• 281. TITLE FIVE - Water Supply and Sanitation
• 282. CHAPTER 1337 Drainage and Sanitation
• 283. CHAPTER 1341 Flood Hazards
• 284. CHAPTER 1343 Illicit Discharge and Illegal Connection Control
• 285. TITLE SEVEN - Other Local Provisions
• 286. CHAPTER 1355 Apartments
• 287. CHAPTER 1356 Rental License
• 288. CHAPTER 1357 Demolition of Buildings
• 289. CHAPTER 1359 Moving of Buildings
• 290. CHAPTER 1361 Building Facing and Sheathing
• 291. CHAPTER 1363 Grading and Drainage
• 292. CHAPTER 1365 Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs
• 293. CHAPTER 1367 Removal of Topsoil
• 294. CHAPTER 1369 Access to Construction Sites
• 295. CHAPTER 1371 Adequate Water Supply for Fire-Fighting Purposes
• 296. CHAPTER 1373 Adult Day Care Facility
• 297. CHAPTER 1377 Gasoline Service Stations
• 298. CHAPTER 1379 Encroachment
• 299. CHAPTER 1381 Real Property Maintenance Code
• 300. CHAPTER 1383 Sign Regulations
• 301. CHAPTER 1385 Interim Structures
• 302. CHAPTER 1386 Commercial Exterior Lighting
• 303. PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
• 304. CHAPTER 1503 Underground Storage Tanks
• 305. CHAPTER 1509 Fire Lanes
• 306. CHAPTER 1511 Open Burning
• 307. CHAPTER 1519 Fireworks
• 308. CHAPTER 1520 Liquified Petroleum Gas Regulations
• 309. CHAPTER 1521 Westshore Regional Community Emergency Response Team