Detroit certificate of occupancy to sell a home
No. Detroit does not require a city inspection or pre-sale inspection (voluntary) to sell an owner-occupied home. Mandatory pre-sale inspection of one- and two-family dwellings was repealed in Nov 2014; the city's pre-sale inspection is voluntary (prepaid, $352). Council requested a Feb 2026 report on reinstating a requirement.
Verified against Legislative Policy Division report: Home pre-sale inspections (Nov 13, 2024) on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) before you list, sign or close; this page is general information from a licensed broker, not legal advice, and Match Realty is not responsible for decisions made in reliance on it.
The Detroit rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Not required |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Pre-Sale Inspection (voluntary) |
| When it applies | Mandatory pre-sale inspection of one- and two-family dwellings was repealed in Nov 2014; the city's pre-sale inspection is voluntary (prepaid, $352). Council requested a Feb 2026 report on reinstating a requirement. |
| Fee | $352 per voluntary pre-sale inspection (BSEED, 2024) |
| Who orders it | Either party |
| Department | Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) |
Detroit requirements (official) · City website
“The city of Detroit's presale inspection policy is voluntary.” — Detroit, Legislative Policy Division report: Home pre-sale inspections (Nov 13, 2024)
What this means for your closing
Nothing is owed to the city for an ordinary resale, so the only inspection in play is the buyer's own. The seller still has Michigan's statutory disclosure duty, and any open building permit should be closed out before listing: it is the one thing a title company or lender in Detroit will still ask about.
The tax bill changes hands too: after a sale the taxable value uncaps, so the buyer's bill is not the seller's. See Detroit property taxes for the 2025 millage and the uncapped bill on a $350,000 home. For the state transfer tax owed at closing, use the Michigan transfer tax calculator.
Nearby in Wayne County
- Allen Park Required to sell
- Belleville Required to sell
- Brownstown Township Limited cases
- Dearborn Required to sell
- Ecorse Required to sell
- Flat Rock Required to sell
- Gibraltar Required to sell
- Grosse Ile Township Limited cases
- Grosse Pointe Required to sell
- Grosse Pointe Farms Required to sell
- Grosse Pointe Park Required to sell
- Hamtramck Limited cases
All Wayne County municipalities are on the C of O hub.
Common questions
Do I need a certificate of occupancy to sell a house in Detroit?
No. Detroit does not inspect or certify an ordinary residential resale. Mandatory pre-sale inspection of one- and two-family dwellings was repealed in Nov 2014; the city's pre-sale inspection is voluntary (prepaid, $352). Council requested a Feb 2026 report on reinstating a requirement.
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Detroit?
It is the same thing as the pre-sale inspection (voluntary) requirement: a city inspector checks the home against the property-maintenance code before the sale closes or the new owner moves in, and the city issues a certificate (or a temporary one with repairs escrowed) when it passes. Michigan has no statewide rule; each city or township sets its own, which is why Detroit's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Who schedules the Detroit inspection, and how far ahead?
Either party orders it from the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED). Order it the week the listing goes live: a failed inspection with a two-week requeue is what blows a 30-day close.
Is this Detroit information current?
It was read from Detroit's own published requirements on October 27, 2026, and that source page is re-checked automatically every week. Cities change fees and forms without notice, so confirm with the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) before you rely on it.
Point-of-sale and certificate-of-occupancy rules are local ordinances. Match Realty LLC compiles them from each municipality's own publications and does not guarantee completeness or accuracy. Always verify with the municipality. This page is general information from a licensed broker, not legal advice.