Certificates of Disclosure
Certificates of Disclosure are issued by the Department of Building and Housing, Records Administration section. This document is required when there is a sale/transfer of one to four (1-4) residential dwelling units within the City of Cleveland.
City of Cleveland parcel numbers begin with “0” or “1”. This document provides violation/condemnation and legal use information to the potential home buyer. This is not a point-of-sale inspection. The purpose of this document is to apprise all parties of the property’s code enforcement history, to maintain accurate and current ownership information, and to ensure properties are being used according to City records and in compliance with all City ordinances.
Applying for a Certificate of Disclosure
There is a $60 fee for the certificate. Certificates of Disclosure may be requested through the City of Cleveland Citizen's Access Portal. You may also mail in the certificate of disclosure application or drop it off at the address listed above. However, paper submittals may take longer to process. Any party to the real estate transaction can request the Certificate of Disclosure Application, but it is usually requested by the title company.
Transferring Property
The certificate must be processed by the City prior to transferring the property. Typically, it takes three to five (3-5) days to process. If the status is "closed," he certificate can be reviewed or printed.
Certificate of Disclosure Application
Additional Information
If a property is purchased in cash, a Certificate of Disclosure is still required. It is not required for refinancing a loan. The Certificate of Disclosure is only required when ownership of a property is voluntarily transferred, which includes quit claims. Foreclosure is not considered a voluntary transfer of ownership.