FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Neighborhood Watch Areas
Rev. 01-21-10
1. Who are Elyria's COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES?
Ward 1, Larry W. Tanner
Ward 2, Forrest L. Bullocks
Ward 3, Garry L. Gibbs
Ward 4, Mark F. Craig
Ward 5, Marcus D. Madison
Ward 6, Donna Mitchell
Ward 7, Jerry A. McHugh
Council-At-Large:
Thomas G. Callahan
Michael J. Lotko III
Victor F. Stewart III
Mary F. Siwierka
Council Clerk: Arthur J. Weber
Council of Clerk Office: 326-1550
2. When are City COUNCIL MEETINGS? Council meetings are held the first and
third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in Council chambers, 131 Court St., second
floor. Check with the Council Clerk's office (326-1500) for summer and holiday
meeting dates.
3. Does Elyria have a CURFEW? Yes. EPD phone number is 323-3302.
• 15 and under: After 11:00 pm and before 6:00 am, 7days a week;
• 16 and 17: After 11:00 pm and before 6:00 am, Sunday thru Thursday;
• 16 and 17: After 1:00 am and before 6:00 am, Saturday (Friday night) and
Sunday (Saturday night).
4. Who do I call if a STREET LIGHT IS OUT? First Energy Corp., 1-888-544-4877.
5. Who do I call for DOGS RUNNING LOOSE? The County dog warden, 326-5995.
If the dog( s) are "dangerous" or "vicious" and immediate attention is needed, call
EPD at 323-3302. "Dangerous" and "vicious" dogs are defined in Section 505.1,
Elyria Codified Ordinances. Note: The four main requirements for owning a PIT
BULL:
• They must be licensed with the County;
• They must be kept in a fenced enclosure, floor, sides, and top;
• If being walked in public, the maximum leash length is 6' and the dog must be
muzzled; and
• The owner must carry a minimum of $100,000 of insurance separate from
hislher owners or renters insurance.
6. Who do I call for BARKING DOGS? May be classified as a "noise disturbance"
under Section 509.08, Elyria Codified Ordinances. Call EPD at 323-3302.
7. Who do I call when I see SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN THE AREA? Elyria Police
Department, 323-3302 unless it's an emergency, then 911.
8. How can I help the POLICE NAB THE BAD GUY? Get a description, starting
from the head down. "White male, wearing a Yankees baseball hat, brown hair over
his shoulders, mustache, white sleeveless t-shirt, baggy jeans. He put something in
his left pants pocket which may be drugs. He was walking north on Klein Ave. near
105th S1". If you see a vehicle that may be involved in a crime, get a license number
with a description of the vehicle. Also write down the exact time of the incident.
Call EPD at 323-3302.
9. Who do I call when I notice HIGH GRASS. JUNK CARS, or other Public
Nuisance issues? YOU MUST PROVIDE AN ADDRESS IF THERE IS ONE! If
the complaint involves a vacant lot, identify the location, (ie: The vacant lot between
100 and 108 Klein Ave.). Once you get the address, call the Elyria Building
Department at 326-1491 unless you live in a private development, then call the
association president or complex manager.
10.Who do I call when I notice PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ISSUES? Again,
YOU MUST PROVIDE AN ADDRESS! Once you get the address, call the Building
Dept. at 326-1491 unless the problem is within a manufactured home park, then call
the Health Dept. at 323-7595.
11. Where do I dispose of UNWANTED TIRES? Any Lorain County resident may
dispose of up to 8 unwanted tires per month, with or without rims, at the Elyria
Central Maintenance Garage, 851 Garden St. Hours are from 7 am to 3:15 pm, M-F.
Provide your name, address, and license plate number to the CMG office.
12. Who do I call if TREE ROOTS have lifted my sidewalk more than 2"?
• Call the Parks Dept. (326-1500) to have the forester view the sidewalk.
• Resident is responsible for lifting or removing the sidewalk. This allows the
forester to determine if the sidewalk was lifted or broken by tree roots.
• Once the forester determines the damage was caused by tree roots, the roots
will be "pruned" or the tree will be removed by the City.
• The resident is responsible for replacing the sidewalk.
13. What do I do if I have an unusually LARGE AMOUNT OF RUBBISH to dispose or. Residents may haul up to one pick -up truck load of rubbish per month to the
Central Maintenance Garage, 851 Garden St. between 7:00 am and 3:15 pm, M-F and
place it in a dumpster. Please call (322-3895) prior to hauling a load to verify that
there is room in the dumpster. You must stop at the front desk, show your latest
water bill, and have a CMG employee verify that the contents of your vehicle can be
placed in the dumpster. You may also place large amounts of rubbish on the curb
lawn if you notify the Sanitation Dept. in advance (322-3895). Wood must be
bundled and all nails must be removed.
14. What are the regulations regarding GARBAGE PICK·UP? Garbage shall be
placed in a container with a tight-fitting lid or in a durable plastic garbage bag. It
shall not be placed on the curb lawn before 5:00 p.m. the night before pick-up and
after 6:30 a.m. of the designated pick-up day. Containers shall be removed from the
curb lawn within 12 hours after pick-up. Note: If loose garbage is left on the curb
lawn, it is the resident's responsibility to pick it up immediately. If garbage is
placed early or allowed to remain after your normal pick-up, the resident can be
fined or charged for a special pick-up.
15. Am I permitted to park a VEHICLE ON THE LAWN? Only for a temporary
period of time and only for washing, waxing, and other short-term activities.
Vehicles must be parked on an approved driveway at all other times. EPD can issue a
ticket for a "Front Yard Parking" violation (Section 351.19, ECO) and the Building
Department can cite a property owner if a vehicle is parked anywhere else on the
property other than on an approved driveway.
16. Am I permitted to have a RECREATIONAL FIRE on my property? (Section
521.14, ECO). Yes, but with restrictions. Maximum 3' diameter; Maximum flame
height of2'; Minimum of25' from a structure; Constantly attended until the fire is
extinguished; Must have extinguishing agent present (Minimum 4-A rated fire
extinguisher, garden hose, water barrel, dirt, sand, or water truck). IMPORT ANT:
Open burning that is offensive or objectionable because of smoke or odor emissions
or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous,
shall be prohibited.
17. Are pedestrians permitted to WALK IN THE STREET! (Section 371.05, ECO)
• Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, is it unlawful to walk in
the street.
• Where a sidewalk is not available, pedestrians shall walk only on a shoulder, as
far as practicable from the edge of the roadway.
• Any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon
the roadway.
18. What are the regulations regarding BICYCLES? (Chapter 373, ECO)
• The operator must be licensed to ride on the street. The license may be obtained
from the Elyria Police Dept. at a cost of $1.00.
• Operator must ride on the right side of the street near the edge of the pavement.
• The bicycle shall not carry more people at one time than the number for which
the bicycle is designed.
• Bicycles shall not be operated in Ely Square and shall not be ridden on the
sidewalks of Broad St. from East Bridge St. to West Bridge St.; on Middle Ave.
and Court St. from Broad St. to Third St.; on East Ave. from Depot St. to Third
St.; and on West Ave. from Tremont St. to Third st.
19. Does the City of Elyria have a WEBSITE? Yes, the address is
www.cityofelyria.org. Department information, applications, forms, and other
valuable information about Elyria can be accessed from this site.
20. Can I access the ELYRIA CODIFIED ORDINANCES from the City website. No,
but you can access them from www.amlegal.com.Goto ••Products •••••Library •••click
on Ohio from the map, then "Elyria". You can access ordinances regarding public
nuisance violations (Section 521.1 0), curfew (Section 509.09), animals and fowl
(Chapter 505), open burning (Section 521.13), noise (Section 509.08), and a myriad
of other laws pertaining to quality of life issues.
