Maple Heights Land Reutilization Program

The City of Maple Heights owns an ever-changing inventory of land parcels across the City – each with the potential to help you build a new dream home, construct commercial space, put an addition on your home, or in some cases – expand your yard.  With the City’s Property Tax Abatement Program, and utilities common across the City – the Vacant Lot Program for New Construction can be a practical way to generate revenue, construct new housing and/or commercial buildings, or otherwise build family wealth and strengthen fair market value for real estate across the region.

Interested in Building a New Home? – Vacant Lot Program

The Vacant Lot Program for New Construction allows owner occupants and developers to purchase lots from the City’s Land Bank for purposes of development. Interested persons should contact the Department of Planning and Development to discuss the proposed project prior to making an application. In addition to the application, the applicant must provide a floor plan and exterior rendering.

If approved, the suggested purchase price is typically the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office’s estimate of Fair Market Value (FMV) per lot, plus closing costs and filing fees.  Presently, through the Vacant Lot Program qualified developers may purchase one or more parcels at a time for infill housing.  Each application is reviewed individually, and other circumstances may apply to particular sites or unique City development goals.  Commercial requests are processed individually depending on site conditions and corridor goals.  Submitting an application is not a guarantee of final approval.

Interested in Expanding Your Yard? – Side Yard Program

PLEASE NOTE:  Standard-size, infill-ready vacant lots are presently being prioritized for new construction via the Vacant Lot Program.  As such – applications for Side Lots will only be considered for sites deemed “unbuildable,” or under other special circumstances.

The Side Yard Program gives residents the opportunity to expand their yard for their enjoyment and to increase the value of their home.

In order to qualify for the Side Yard Program, applicants must:

  • Own and occupy the adjacent home;
  • Be current on their property taxes and assessments (or on a County payment plan);
  • Be in substantial compliance with the City’s Building, Housing, and Zoning Codes;
  • Not have property in Cuyahoga County that was transferred as the result of a tax foreclosure action.

If approved, applicants must consolidate the parcel on which their home sits alongside the vacant parcel.  Surveying is estimated to cost between $1,200 and $2,500 depending on lot size.

If you find a lot you are interested in purchasing through the Side Yard Program, please call the Department of Planning and Development at (216) 587-9032 before making an application.