Quality of Life
Quality of Life
The Quality of Life Division’s mission is to improve citizens’ health, safety and welfare in all of the City’s 52 neighborhoods. Quality of Life works to improve residents’ wellbeing through the initiation of affirmative civil and criminal litigation focused on protecting housing resources, blight reduction, and abating chronic, place-based crime and violence.
Quality of Life staff and attorneys forge relationships across Cincinnati to achieve its objectives. Internally at the City, the Division works closely with the City’s code and law enforcement departments, including Buildings & Inspections, Health, Police, and Fire to assist in cross-departmental coordination and provide legal training to our front-line employees. Externally, the Division seeks partnerships with residents, neighborhood groups, and other stakeholders to align the City with the outcomes communities seek.
Nuisance Abatement
Nuisance abatement actions are civil actions filed in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas seeking a court order to abate a hazardous condition or appointment of a receiver to correct the nuisance.
Sex Offender Enforcement
In addition to state law requirements, the Cincinnati Municipal Code imposes residency restrictions on individuals who have been convicted of a sexually oriented offense. When the restriction is violated, a civil action is filed to obtain a court order to require the relocation of the sex offender.
Chronic Nuisance
When crime becomes chronic at an apartment building, the City requires that owners take reasonable steps to mitigate its impact. If owners fail to provide a plan after receiving notice, the owner can be required to pay a civil fine and/or the cost of the City’s response to the crime.
Housing Docket
The Housing Docket was created in conjunction with the Hamilton County Municipal Court to hear criminal cases involving violations of any building, housing, sanitation, health, fire, zoning or safety code, ordinance, regulation or statute applicable to buildings, structures, or any other real property.
The Housing Docket is heard by Municipal Court Judge Bernard Bouchard on Tuesday mornings at the Hamilton County Courthouse. The Housing Docket is open to the public.
Liquor Permits
Though the permitting process administered by the State of Ohio, the City can object to the issuance, transfer, change of ownership or annual renewal of liquor permits. All objections are based on recommendations from the City Manager and approved by City Council. These cases are civil administrative hearings held both locally and in Columbus.