Cleveland Land Bank

Land Bank Resource Center

Land Bank Inventory

Inventory Viewer (Quick Guide)

Land Bank Expression of Interest

Cuyahoga County Land Bank

Land Reutilization Program Ordinance

Land Bank Success Stories

The City of Cleveland’s Land Reutilization (Land Bank) Program is designed to acquire vacant land and market it to individuals, developers, and non-profit organizations for redevelopment. The goal is to contribute to the economic, social, and environmental betterment of Cleveland through the redevelopment of City-owned land.

The Land Bank application process ensures that vacant property is transferred to responsible parties committed to restoring the property to productive use. Interested parties must submit a written application to the Land Bank office and outline the details of their proposals. Each Land Bank Application has its own Guide, which outlines important information such as specific application requirements, Land Bank policies, and related procedures.

General application process:

1. Applicant completes a Land Bank application including required information and site plan
2. Proposal is evaluated to determine if the development is suitable for the neighborhood; proposed improvements may be subject to the City's design review process
3. The Councilperson for the area is informed of the proposal and comments from the City Planning Commission and area Community Development Corporation are gathered
4. Applicant is notified of decision on application; if approved, conditions may be attached
5. Administrative approvals are obtained, a deed is prepared for signature, and the property is transferred to the interested party

Pricing Information

The City is required to sell the property in accordance with Section 5722 of the Ohio Revised Code and the City of Cleveland Codified Ordinance Section 183.021. The price of the Land Bank lots is governed by the City of Cleveland's Board of Control.

• Lots approved for sale as residential side yard expansions are sold for $200 (Note: In areas where new housing is prioritized, lots may not be approved for sale as side yards.)
• Lots approved for new residential construction are sold for $200 (Note: in areas with high demand for new housing, special pricing and restrictions apply.) or  fair market value (for new homes built to generate market rate wealth).
• Lots for agriculture/garden are sold for $200 with claw back provision that is triggered used for non-agricultural or garden purposes if approved.
• Lots acquired for certain interim uses such as community gardens and construction staging/geo-technical work are leased or licensed under negotiated terms and conditions: generally, 1$ per year for garden/greening uses and market rate for non-greening uses (10% of County valuation with a $300 minimum per parcel).
• Property sold for other uses require a third-party valuation to determine the property’s fair market value

Buyers are also responsible for costs related to the recording of deeds, surveys, consolidation of parcels, appraisals when required, etc.

Additional Resources