Bedford City Council took its first formal step toward rewriting the rules for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals in town, voting unanimously Monday night to place proposed legislation on first reading. Council did not discuss the specifics of the changes during the meeting, leaving residents to wait for more detail as the measure works its way through the legislative process.
The proposed legislation would amend Chapter 1967 of Bedford's codified ordinances, which covers short-term rentals, bed-and-breakfast establishments and properties such as Airbnbs, according to Cleveland.com. Councilman Cory Berry said short-term rental legislation is among several issues council is working to move forward, and that the measure will go through multiple readings before any final vote.
Those additional readings, Berry said, will give residents more chances to raise concerns or questions before council takes final action. He encouraged residents to let council know directly if they have issues with the proposal as it develops. Council is separately considering proposed changes to historic downtown district zoning, according to the same report.
A City PDF Hints at More to Come
A document search of the City of Bedford's council-agendas page turned up a PDF dated October 30, 2026, tied to the November 2 council agenda — timing that lines up with Monday's meeting, though the contents of that agenda were not available for review.
Bedford's move puts it in the company of several Cuyahoga County suburbs now wrestling with how to regulate the short-term rental boom. Berea City Council approved regulations in May addressing noise, safety and parking for rentals of fewer than 30 days, and the city's permit program took effect April 20, according to the City of Berea. Under that program, any owner who rents a dwelling for less than 30 consecutive days must obtain a short-term rental permit in all zoning districts, with permits renewed annually from September 1 through August 31. Applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026 face additional proximity rules, including required distances of 1,000 feet from certain sites and 500 feet from another permitted rental.
Cleveland Heights Still Without Rules, Lakewood Weighs a Pause
Cleveland Heights remains one of the few Cuyahoga County communities without regulations specifically governing short-term rentals, even as it is weighing them. As of late September, the suburb had upwards of 200 known short-term rentals, including roughly 140 Airbnbs, and still had no targeted legislation on the books, per cleveland.com's reporting on that city. Cleveland Heights City Council gave an updated ordinance a fourth reading after a public input meeting on September 15, with the draft calling for free annual registration backed by proof of $1 million in liability insurance, occupancy caps of two people per bedroom plus three additional guests, and a $250 fine for a first violation that can escalate to a six-month registration suspension if unpaid within 30 days.
Lakewood has been working since July on its own tighter short-term rental rules, including potential licensing, owner-occupancy requirements and nuisance provisions. In October, Lakewood City Council considered pausing new short-term rentals for six months while it finished reviewing those regulations. Cleveland itself approved new short-term rental rules in June that included licensing requirements, fines and concentration limits.
What Comes Next in Bedford
Elsewhere in the region, Orrville's law director has said that city's draft short-term rental ordinance will also require three readings and ample opportunity for community input before final action, a process similar to the one Berry described for Bedford, according to Citizen Portal. For now, Bedford residents will have to wait for subsequent readings to learn exactly what the city's rewritten Chapter 1967 would require of Airbnb hosts and other short-term rental operators.
