House Rules & Cancellation Policy: Port Clinton Lake View House

These terms are between the guest and Southboyden LLC, which operates the house, and match the rental agreement e-signed in OwnerRez.

A quick summary: up to 8 guests, no pets, no smoking indoors or under the awnings, no parties, quiet hours 10 PM – 7 AM, check-in after 4 PM and checkout by 10 AM.

House rules

Guests & booking

• Up to 8 overnight guests, including children. Only guests named on the booking may stay overnight.
• No parties or events.
• The primary renter must be at least 22 years old and must stay at the house for the entire stay. We may ask for a government-issued photo ID.
• Children of all ages are welcome. Please supervise them, especially near the street and the lake.
• The rental agreement must be e-signed through OwnerRez before we send your door code.

Check-in & checkout

• Check-in is after 4:00 PM. Checkout is by 10:00 AM.
• Self check-in with a smart lock and a personal door code sent before arrival.
• No late checkout. Early check-in is available for an additional $50 when the calendar allows; request in advance.

Quiet hours & neighbors

• Quiet hours are 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM, inside and outside. Keep outdoor music low at all times.
• This is a quiet residential street. Please be good neighbors: no shouting, no loud music outside, and stay off neighbors’ yards and driveways.
• Port Clinton’s disturbing-the-peace ordinance (509.09) applies to everyone, and the City can cite or fine renters for violations (735.01(s)).

Parties, events & filming

• No parties, events or large gatherings.
• No commercial photography or filming.

Smoking

• No smoking or vaping of any kind (including e-cigarettes and marijuana) inside the house or under the awnings. Smoking and vaping are allowed elsewhere outside: stay away from doors and windows and use an ashtray. Cigarette butts and other smoking materials must be fully extinguished and disposed of outside; they may never be disposed of inside the home. A $250 cleaning charge applies if smoking or vaping happens indoors.

Pets

• No pets. Service animals only.

Parking & vehicles

• Free parking in the 2-car driveway plus free street parking.
• Don’t block neighbors’ driveways or mailboxes. No boats, trailers or RVs without approval.

Golf carts & UTVs

• Golf carts, UTVs and other under-speed vehicles aren’t allowed on Port Clinton city streets (Port Clinton Codified Ordinances 377.02). Golf carts are a Put-in-Bay thing: rent one on the island.

Fireworks

• No fireworks of any kind, including on the Fourth of July. Port Clinton prohibits discharging them (Codified Ordinances 1519.04).

Fire pit & grill

• Fires only in the fire pit. It must stay at least 25 feet from the house and anything that can burn (Port Clinton Fire Code 1511.05).
• An adult must watch the fire the whole time. Keep a hose or bucket of water nearby, and put the fire completely out before bed or leaving.
• No fires on windy days or during burn bans. Burn firewood only: no trash, leaves, pallets or yard waste. Bring your own firewood.
• Propane grill: outdoors only, away from siding and overhangs. Never leave it unattended, and close the tank valve when you’re done.

Beach & lake safety

• Lake Erie and the Lakeview Park city beach are one block away. No lifeguard on duty; swim at your own risk.
• Never swim alone, keep kids within arm’s reach, and stay out when waves are high or storms are near.
• Check Ohio BeachGuard and posted signs for water-quality or algae advisories before swimming, especially after heavy rain.

Trash & recycling

• All trash goes in bags inside the outdoor bins. Don’t leave trash out in public view (city short-term rental rules, 735.01(s)).
• Just bag trash and place it in the outdoor bins; we take care of trash and recycling pickup.

House guide

• The house guide is on the kitchen counter. It has everything you need for your stay.

For ferries, beaches, restaurants and day trips, open our free area guide on your phone:

Before you leave (checkout checklist)

• Trash: bag all trash and put it in the outdoor trash bins before you leave. Please don’t leave any bags inside the house or outside the bins.
• Dishes: put all dishes in the dishwasher and start it.
• Linens & towels: strip the beds you used and leave the used sheets and towels on the floor, so our cleaners know exactly what was used. Please leave unused beds made.
• Take personal items and any leftover food and drinks with you.
• Set the thermostat to 78°F in summer (air conditioning) or 68°F in winter (heat).
• Turn off the lights and lock the doors.

Damage & care

• Please treat the house like your own. Our family enjoys it too.
• Tell us right away if anything breaks or is damaged. Accidents happen, and we’re happy to work with you.
• There’s no security deposit. Damage beyond normal wear and missing items are handled as described under Damage in the cancellation & payment policy. Extraordinary messes that require cleaning time beyond the normal turnover are billed at $80 per hour.
• Lost and found items can be shipped back at your cost.

Safety & property

• Smoke alarms, a carbon monoxide alarm, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit are in the house. Emergency information is posted inside the entrance.
• 2 steps up at the front and back doors; one level inside.
• A train passes through the area. It’s not very audible with the windows closed.
• A Ring doorbell camera at the front door and outdoor cameras covering the front and back yards. They record exterior areas only; there are no cameras inside the house.

Port Clinton city rules

• The house is registered with the City of Port Clinton as a short-term rental, and a guest advisory is posted inside the entrance.
• Renters must follow Port Clinton’s Codified Ordinances, and the City may cite or fine renters for violating them.
• Downtown’s Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) allows open drinks only inside its posted boundaries and hours.

Cancellation & payment policy

Payment schedule

• 50% of the total is due at booking. The remaining 50% is charged automatically to the same payment method 45 days before arrival.
• Booking 45 days or less before arrival? The full amount is due at booking.
• Your total includes the rent, the $235 cleaning fee and a 6% lodging tax (Ottawa County 3% + City of Port Clinton 3%) on the rent and cleaning fee.
• All payments are made by secure online payment through our booking system, OwnerRez, and are paid to Southboyden LLC, the owner and operator of the house. We never take card numbers by phone, text or email.

Cancellation refunds: high season (arrivals May 30 – Sep 18, 2027)

• 60 or more days before arrival: full refund.
• 30 to 59 days before arrival: 50% of the nightly rate is refunded.
• Fewer than 30 days before arrival: the nightly rate is not refunded.

Cancellation refunds: off season (all other dates)

• 30 or more days before arrival: full refund.
• 7 to 29 days before arrival: 50% of the nightly rate is refunded.
• Fewer than 7 days before arrival: the nightly rate is not refunded.

48-hour grace period

• Changed your mind? Cancel within 48 hours of booking for a full refund, as long as arrival is at least 14 days away.

What's always refunded when you cancel before arrival

• The $235 cleaning fee (no cleaning happens).
• Lodging taxes on any amount that's refunded.

If we rebook your dates

• If you cancel inside a no-refund or partial-refund window and we rebook any of those nights, we'll refund what we receive for the rebooked nights (up to what you paid for them), minus a $100 rebooking fee.

Date changes

• One date change is free if you ask at least 60 days (high season) or 30 days (off season) before arrival, the new dates are open, and they cost the same or more. Later changes are treated as a cancellation plus a new booking.

Weather, the lake and ferries

• We don't give refunds for bad weather, lake conditions, beach or water-quality advisories, or canceled ferries, boat trips, tours or any other excursions or activities. Lake Erie weather changes fast, and the house is still here for you.
• The one exception: if a government order (such as a mandatory evacuation) legally keeps you from staying at the house, we'll refund the nights you can't use.
• We strongly recommend travel insurance. It's the way to protect yourself against weather, illness and travel problems.

Early departure

• If you leave early for any reason, nights you don't use aren't refunded.

No-shows

• If you don't arrive and haven't canceled, it's treated as a cancellation on the day of arrival: the nightly rate isn't refunded. The cleaning fee and taxes on unpaid amounts are refunded.

Rule violations

• Breaking house rules (for example: more guests than booked, a party, smoking indoors, pets, or a police call for noise) can mean the stay ends immediately, with no refund, plus any damage or extra cleaning charges.

If we have to cancel

• If Southboyden LLC ever has to cancel your stay (for example, serious damage to the house or an emergency), you'll get a full refund of everything you've paid within 7 days. We'll help you look for comparable lodging. Southboyden LLC’s responsibility is limited to the amount you paid.

Damage

• There’s no security deposit. Guests are responsible for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and for missing items, which may be charged to the card on file as set out in the rental agreement.

Rental agreement & taxes

• Every booking includes a short rental agreement between you and Southboyden LLC, e-signed through OwnerRez before your door code is sent. It includes these policies and the house rules.
• A 6% lodging tax (Ottawa County 3% + City of Port Clinton 3%) is added to the rent and the cleaning fee on direct bookings.

The house is also listed on Airbnb and Vrbo. Bookings made there follow that site’s cancellation policy.