What does your city require before you sell your house?

Sewer lateral certificates, point-of-sale inspections, Truth-in-Housing reports and dye tests, city by city. Find the rule, the fee, the deadline and who to call.

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900 municipalities tracked in 7 states · 635 require something at sale · checked November 2026

CaliforniaCalifornia cities and sanitary districts mostly regulate sewer laterals at sale. Others require a city presale records report.54 municipalities OhioNortheast Ohio suburbs, especially in Cuyahoga County, run city point-of-sale housing inspections with escrow rules for unfixed violations.85 municipalities MinnesotaMinneapolis, Saint Paul and a set of Twin Cities suburbs require Truth-in-Sale of Housing evaluations or point-of-sale sewer inspections.39 municipalities PennsylvaniaPittsburgh-area municipalities require sewer dye tests and occupancy inspections. Philadelphia suburbs require resale use and occupancy certificates.353 municipalities New JerseyEvery New Jersey sale needs a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certificate. Many towns add a resale certificate of occupancy with its own inspection.95 municipalities IllinoisDozens of Chicago suburbs require a village inspection before they issue transfer stamps, and many charge their own transfer tax. Metro East cities near St. Louis inspect at sale too.175 municipalities MissouriMost St. Louis County municipalities and the City of St. Louis require an occupancy inspection before a home is sold or reoccupied.99 municipalities

Rules that surprise sellers

South San Francisco, CA$10,500 depositto close before the sewer lateral is certified.Shaker Heights, OH150% escrowof the repair estimate for violations left at closing.Minneapolis, MNReport before showingsfrom a city-licensed evaluator, valid two years.Fox Chapel Borough, PA$350 dye test feewith a plumber from the borough's approved list.San Bruno, CAHomes 50+ years oldneed a sewer lateral certificate before transfer.Cleveland Heights, OHBefore you signa purchase agreement, the certificate must exist.

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See every city's fee, ranked from highest to lowest · Escrow and fee calculators · What changed in 2025 and 2026

Why this matters

Hundreds of US cities and sewer districts require an inspection, test or certificate before a house can change hands. There is no national list. Rules differ street by street, change every year, and are buried in municipal codes. Missing one can delay closing by weeks. A failed sewer lateral alone can cost $8,000 to $25,000 to replace.

Guides

Sewer lateral inspections before you sell in CaliforniaWhich Bay Area and Santa Cruz cities require a sewer lateral certificate before a home sale, what the test involves, what repairs cost, and how time extensions work.
Point-of-sale inspections in Northeast OhioWhich Cleveland-area cities require a point-of-sale inspection, what the fees and escrow rules are, and what happens when violations are not fixed before closing.
Truth in Sale of Housing and Time-of-Sale rules in MinnesotaWhich Minnesota cities require a Truth-in-Sale of Housing, Time-of-Sale or point-of-sale sewer inspection, who does it, how long it lasts, and what must be repaired.
Sewer dye tests before selling in Allegheny CountyWhich Allegheny County municipalities require a sewer dye test or lateral camera inspection before a home sale, what the fees are, and why a failed test matters.
Resale use and occupancy certificates in PennsylvaniaHow resale use and occupancy certificates work in Philadelphia suburbs, what MCOCA means for sellers with violations, and which towns require nothing at all.
California city presale reportsWhich California cities require a presale building records report, what it costs, and what the Los Angeles 9A and San Francisco 3R reports show buyers.
Your options when a point-of-sale inspection finds expensive repairsWhat to do when a city point-of-sale inspection, sewer lateral test or dye test turns up expensive repairs: fix it, escrow it, pass it to the buyer, or sell as-is.
What is a point-of-sale inspection?A point-of-sale inspection is a city-required check before a home changes hands. Learn which states and cities require one, what is inspected, and who pays.
Point-of-sale inspection checklist: what inspectors flag mostThe items city inspectors flag most often at point-of-sale, occupancy and Truth-in-Housing inspections, and how to fix them before the inspector arrives.
Sewer lateral repair and replacement costWhat sewer lateral inspection, repair, lining and full replacement typically cost, what drives the price, and how sellers handle it under point-of-sale rules.
Who pays for point-of-sale inspections and repairs?Buyer or seller: who pays for point-of-sale inspections, sewer lateral repairs and code violations, and how escrows, credits and buyer assumption agreements work.
The New Jersey smoke and CO certificate, and town resale COsHow the New Jersey smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certificate works at resale, the state fee tiers, and which South and Central Jersey towns add a resale CO.
Occupancy inspections when selling in St. Louis CountyWhich St. Louis County municipalities require an occupancy inspection before a home sale, what inspectors check, and how to avoid a closing delay.
Transfer stamps and village inspections in the Chicago areaWhich Chicago suburbs require a village inspection before issuing transfer stamps, what the inspections cost, and how municipal transfer taxes work.
Massachusetts: the smoke and CO certificate and Title 5 septic inspectionMassachusetts sellers need a fire department smoke and carbon monoxide certificate, and homes on septic need a Title 5 inspection. How both work.
Point-of-sale rule changes in 2025 and 2026New, repealed and changed point-of-sale requirements in 2025 and 2026, from the new Oro Loma sewer lateral rule to the Chester City repeal and New Jersey fee changes.

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