Speak Out
Community participation and civic action are essential to the decision-making process in Cincinnati. Public policy is often dictated by the most outspoken constituents rather than those with the best grasp of facts or the best ideas. That’s why it is important for people who care about Over-the-Rhine to take action.
To take action, you can:
- Sign Up to receive updates about important events, issues and activities.
- Become a Member of the OTR Foundation and support our efforts with your donation.
- Alert us to endangered buildings or demolition emergencies.
- Participate in OTR Events and Our Fundraisers.
- Patronize OTR businesses and arts organizations.
- Consider renovating one of OTR’s historic buildings – see our Online Resource Center below
- Join us in advocating at City Hall for better enforcement of building codes and preservation rules using the information below.
We hope you find this page helpful.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Resource Center
City council members are elected at-large and do not represent specific areas of the city. Members serve on different committees, and committees serve different goals.
Most of council’s work is done in committee, thus decisions about issues are generally made by the time the issue is placed on the general council agenda. These committee meetings are the most effective forum for influencing the outcome of an issue.
City Council Information:
Council Homepage
Mayor’s Office:
Mayor's Homepage
Office of the Mayor
801 Plum St, Rm. 150
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 352-3250
City Manager’s Office:
City Manager Homepage
Office of the City Manager
801 Plum St, Rm. 152
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 352-3243
City Departments and Agencies
Planning
The Planning Department oversees the city’s master planning process, zoning, the office of the Urban Conservator, and the Department of Building Maintenance Inspections.
Charles C. Graves III, Director of Planning
805 Central Ave, Ste 700
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 352-4851
Permits
This department also oversees the building inspectors. Due to the limited number of inspectors and the significant number of building problems, the system is frequently complaint-based. Noise gets results. Call the department and ask to speak with the inspector who covers that property.
(513) 352-3277
Department of Buildings Maintenance Inspections
This department is now a division of the Planning Department, and is where permits are obtained.
3300 Central Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45225
Negligent Property Owners
Decisions to prosecute negligent owners are made between inspectors and the Office of the City Solicitor.
Code Enforcement
Solicitor’s Office
(513) 352-3454
Zoning
The Department’s Page on the city website has a number of useful links that answer zoning questions and provide instructions for obtaining permits, etc.
Code Enforcement
Property Records
Community Development
This department’s mission is to work with diverse neighborhood partners to leverage financing and other funding for quality housing, distinct commercial properties, small business development opportunities, and community based programs.
Department of Community Development
805 Central Ave, Ste 700
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 352-6146
City Services
All City Departments
Historic Conservation and Preservation
There are some popular misconceptions about what the city’s Historic Conservation Board does and does not govern. To dispel two of the most common misconceptions: The city’s conservation codes do not limit or dictate paint colors, and do not govern what you do to the interior of the property. However, the historic conservation review process does govern essentially any alteration of the exterior of the property, such as replacing windows, doors, storefronts, placing bars on windows, and erecting fences.
Historic Review in Cincinnati is governed of the City of Cincinnati Municipal Code.
Individual Conservation Standards for Each District, Noted in Part:
If you are doing any work to the exterior of a property in an historic district, in addition to all other necessary permits, you will also need to procure a Certificate of Appropriateness from the City of Cincinnati.
If the work is relatively minor, approval can be easy. The process begins with the staff of the City’s Urban Conservator:
Larry Harris, Urban Conservator
(513) 352-4848
More significant design or alteration decisions must be made by the Historic Conservation Board. This all-volunteer board ordinarily meets on the first Monday of every month at 3:00 pm. but when needed, hearing dates are added. If you want to receive notice of historic conservation board meetings and agendas, contact Larry Harris, Urban Conservator.
Both the staff and board do consider written communications sent prior to a hearing, so your thoughts can receive consideration even if you are unable to attend. Numbers matter. Historic preservation has been a very low priority for the City of Cincinnati for far too long. Letting the staff, the board, and city council members know that you value OTR’s historic building stock makes a difference in how much they value it.
Helpful information
Federal Tax Credits
There are federal tax credits available for historic buildings. To obtain tax credits, the project must meet the US Secretary of the Interior Standards for Historic Rehabilitation. The process includes local historic approval but also requires compliance with federal guidelines that place restrictions on interior modifications. Due to complexity and the fees associated with the process, federal tax credits are generally feasible only for large projects.
Vacant Building Maintenance License (VBML)
In Cincinnati, owners of buildings that have been ordered vacated, in whole or in part, must obtain a Vacant Building Maintenance License (VBML). Please note that merely owning a vacant building is not the trigger for the obligation. The building needs to have been ordered vacated. The city is full of buildings that should be ordered vacated and have not, while buildings that may not appear to require such an order, do.
Prospective buyers interested in purchasing a vacant building should know that the requirement to obtain a VBML will not show up on a title exam, and can be a significant liability.
If a building has been ordered vacated, the owner must either obtain a license or obtain a waiver. Generally speaking, VBML waivers can be obtained if the owner can fulfill three requirements:
- has and can illustrate a development plan for the property that has a timeline of no more than two years (plans do not have to be full architectural drawings);
- a plan for financing (has to be a plan, not a commitment); and
- show the property does not create a safety risk and is not contributing to blight in the area.
Some of the physical requirements can be waived, but buildings will always be required to be secure, waterproof, and safe for first responders.
Insurance
Owners of buildings that have been ordered vacated are required to maintain liability insurance on them. Insurance can be difficult to find and not all insurers offer it.
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