The Unified Zoning Code Seeks to Modernize and Streamline Development Regulations

County Planning today unveiled a new initiative to develop the Cuyahoga County Unified Zoning Code (UZC), a coordinated effort to modernize zoning standards, unlock development opportunities, and reduce barriers that currently exist across the county’s 59 jurisdictions.

Communities across Cuyahoga County have outdated zoning codes that are both expensive to update and often incompatible with current development needs, leading to costly delays and inconsistencies for residents, developers, and local governments. Many communities lack updated zoning maps or rely on outdated hard copy versions, further complicating redevelopment efforts.

To address these issues, the Unified Zoning Code initiative aims to:

• Establish a comprehensive zoning ordinance, held and maintained by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, yet adopted, administered, and enforced by communities that opt-in to the code
• Create a centralized online zoning map for participating communities
• Provide planning expertise and support while maintaining local control, administration, and authority
• Ensure zoning remains current through a multi‑community maintenance consortium

“Our county is mainly built out, and new approaches are needed to repopulate our communities and build upon existing infrastructure. The Unified Zoning Code initiative supports neighborhood reinvestment by giving communities a faster, more cost‑effective path to updated zoning,“ said Mary Cierebiej, AICP, Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. “It provides local governments with modern regulations that streamline development processes while developing a coordinated approach with partnering communities.“

Recent work by County Planning and partner communities has demonstrated the impact of removing zoning barriers. More than 25,000 parcels across several communities no longer require variances for development, and South Euclid alone has seen over 56 new infill housing projects, with more than 100 new homes expected over two years.

“We are very grateful for the support of the County Planning Commission in creating our infill housing code, leading to our current construction boom. In addition, we partnered with County Planning to adopt our Mixed-Use Transit-Oriented Development Code,” said Georgine Welo, Mayor of South Euclid and member of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Board. “Both of these code revisions were thoughtful and very involved processes, and we still have other planning and zoning code updates we need to undertake. Developing a Unified Zoning Code all communities in the County could use would greatly benefit our community in ensuring we have the most up-to-date zoning code possible.”

The opportunity to participate is available to all communities in Cuyahoga County, and participating communities will be named in the coming months. County Planning anticipates working with a zoning consulting firm, legal advisors, and in-house staff to support the development and long‑term maintenance of the UZC. The UZC will be developed collaboratively by the participating communities, adopted by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Board, and communities will adopt and administer the joint code locally.

The Cuyahoga Land Bank and Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS are early funders in the Unified Zoning Code. Additional funding for the project will be pursued through a combination of community contributions and regional, state, and national partners, including philanthropic organizations, economic development agencies, and housing‑focused nonprofits.

“Outdated zoning codes are one of the most significant barriers to housing production, redevelopment, and economic growth across our region. The Unified Zoning Code initiative represents a smart, collaborative approach that preserves local control while providing communities with modern tools to support investment and revitalization,” said Cuyahoga Land Bank’s President & CEO, Ricardo Leon. “Cuyahoga Land Bank is proud to support this effort because creating more predictable and efficient development processes will help communities attract new housing, strengthen neighborhoods, and unlock opportunities for residents throughout Cuyahoga County.”

“The Unified Zoning Code Project creates an important opportunity for participating communities to examine how zoning policies can support housing needs while preserving local decision-making,” said Mike Valerino, Chief Executive Officer of the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS. “We look forward to sharing our members’ firsthand market expertise throughout the stakeholder engagement process as communities explore strategies to improve housing attainability, affordability, and supply.”