The Neighborhood Housing Petition Program enables neighbors to petition the City for mandatory housing inspections, enforcement of housing code violations and financial assistance to make needed repairs. Neighbors can also petition to receive improved sidewalks, curbs, and streets. Neighbors can commit to an ongoing block watch program for crime prevention.

1. How do I know if my neighborhood can petition?
   Any neighborhood within the area indicated in the above map can petition for the program. In this area, 60% of the residents make less than the Federal income guidelines for low and moderate income.
2. Who can circulate a petition?
   Any citizen living and/or owning property in the eligible area may circulate a petition. Only one petition can come from a particular street.
3. How big does a petition area have to be?
   The petition area should be 1 to 4 blocks. This is an area of at least two block faces but no more than 8 block faces. (A block face is one side of a street.) The petition area must have at least 20 properties but no more than 80. A petition area must cover the full block face and may not end at mid-block.
4. Who may sign a petition?
   A petition must be signed by the property owner. A renter cannot sign a petition. An owner is the person whose name appears on the County Records. When two or more persons own a property, each must sign the petition. (Example: husband and wife, two landlords.) A person(s) buying on Land Contract may sign the petition if the Land Contract is recorded with Summit County, and the Land Contract is attached to the petition. Otherwise the Land Contract sellers must sign.
5. How many property owners must sign the petition?
   The property owners of at least 51% of the properties must sign the petition. If there are 20 properties, you must have 11 properties represented. If there are 80 properties, you must have 41 properties represented. Vacant land does not count as a property, nor does commercially used land.
6. How can I find out who the property owners are on my street or in my petition area?
   You may obtain the names and addresses of property owners through the Summit County Auditor's Office. The County Auditor has maps and a computerized file of property owners. The Summit County Auditor's office is located at 175 S. Main Street in Akron on the fourth floor of the Ohio Building. You should know the street boundaries or the addresses of the area. The Planning Department and Auditor's office can help you find this information.
7. When must I return a petition?
   By the deadline announced by the City for each funding round. Return the petition to the Department of Planning and Urban Development, Suite 201, Ocasek Building, 161 S. High Street, Akron, Ohio, 44308 (375-2618).
8. How does the neighborhood show it wants improved sidewalks, curbs, and streets?
   Property owners may also indicate on the petition that they wish to petition for needed capital improvements such as improved walk and curb or street paving. However, this is not a program requirement. By also petitioning for needed capital improvements, you petition will receive additional point credit.
9. How are the property owners share of improved sidewalks, curbs, and streets paid for?
   Property owners can pay their assessed portion in one lump sum or through their property taxes over a ten year period. Owners who have very low incomes (below 50% of median income) will have their assessments paid by the City.
10. What does the City do once it receives my petition?
    The returned petition, signed by a neighborhood representative, is checked against a property tax map to verify the percent of owner signatures. If the petition has at least 51% of the property owners signing, it is considered eligible to compete for funding with other petitions.
11. How does the City determine which petition areas will be selected for funding?
    The City will assign points to each petition. The petitions with the highest number of points will be selected.

1. Points for % of property owners signing are assigned. 100 percentage points is the maximum to be assigned if petition has signatures from every property owner. Example:
   Neighborhood A - 40 houses, 25 owners sign = 63 points (25 / 40 = 63%)
2. If a petition neighborhood is paying assessments on public improvements completed in the ten years, prior to a petition deadline, that petition will receive a bonus of 20 points. If a petition neighborhood requests new public improvements, that petition will receive a bonus of 15 points. Only one or the other bonus can apply. No petition will receive both bonuses.
3. If a petition street is part of a block club or neighborhood council or has a neighborhood watch, that petition will receive a bonus of 15 points. To be eligible for this bonus, a petitioner must submit a block club member roster and either: 1) by-laws; or 2) minutes of two meetings from the last 12 months; or 3) be recognized by the Akron Police Department's Crime Watch Program.
4. There may be some overriding factors which would prevent a petition from being selected. Extreme situations may exist where it is infeasible to rehabilitate home because of environmental problems such as homes with sinking foundations built on bog land or inconsistency with adopted local plans.

12. How will I know if my petition has been approved?
    Petitioners will be notified by letter if their petition is approved. If your petition is not selected, you will also be notified along with an explanation. All petitioners will be notified of their selection status.
13. Does everyone in the selected petition areas need to fix up their home?
    Yes. Petition areas selected are mandatory housing code enforcement areas. All properties within the petition area will be inspected. Any code violations found must be corrected. All property owners and residents within a petition area will be notified and a meeting will be held to explain the program and answer questions.
14. Is anything else required of petition neighborhoods?
    No. Neighborhoods will be encouraged to participate in a Crime Watch Prevention Program. Neighbors should also help the Health Department Sanitarian identify health and safety issues such as weeds, debris, and junk cars.
15. How long do I have to get my property fixed up to code?
    Up to two years.

^top of page