Ecorse certificate of occupancy to sell a home
Yes. Ecorse requires a city inspection and a certificate of approval (sale of property) before a home sale can close or the buyer can move in. Sale of any building; a resale inspection and Certificate of Approval under Ordinance Sec. 7-1, with As-Is affidavit/escrow option for buyers.
Verified against Building - City of Ecorse on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Building Department 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 Ecorse rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Required to sell |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Certificate of Approval (Sale of Property) |
| When it applies | Sale of any building; a resale inspection and Certificate of Approval under Ordinance Sec. 7-1, with As-Is affidavit/escrow option for buyers. |
| Fee | $180 first unit + $140 each additional unit (due with application); $75 lockout/re-inspection |
| Who orders it | Either party |
| Buyer can assume repairs? | Buyer may sign an As-Is Affidavit for Purchase agreeing to correct listed violations within 180 days and deposit an escrow amount set by the Building Official (forfeited if repairs not completed) |
| Department | Building Department |
| Phone | 313-386-3636 |
Ecorse requirements (official) · Application / form · City website
“provides support for City ordinances regarding the sale of all buildings, rental of buildings” — Ecorse, Building - City of Ecorse
What this means for your closing
Build the inspection into the listing timeline, not the closing week. Order it from the Building Department as soon as the home is listed, fix the usual items before the inspector arrives (handrails, smoke and CO alarms, GFCI outlets, address numbers, sidewalk slabs, peeling exterior paint), and ask whether a buyer can assume repairs under a bond or escrow if something cannot be fixed before closing.
The tax bill changes hands too: after a sale the taxable value uncaps, so the buyer's bill is not the seller's. See Ecorse 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
- Detroit Not required
- 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 Ecorse?
Yes. Ecorse requires a city inspection and a certificate of approval (sale of property) on a residential sale — $180 first unit + $140 each additional unit (due with application); $75 lockout/re-inspection. Sale of any building; a resale inspection and Certificate of Approval under Ordinance Sec. 7-1, with As-Is affidavit/escrow option for buyers.
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Ecorse?
It is the same thing as the certificate of approval (sale of property) 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 Ecorse's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Who schedules the Ecorse inspection, and how far ahead?
Either party orders it from the Building Department. Order it the week the listing goes live: a failed inspection with a two-week requeue is what blows a 30-day close.
Can the buyer take on the repairs in Ecorse?
Buyer may sign an As-Is Affidavit for Purchase agreeing to correct listed violations within 180 days and deposit an escrow amount set by the Building Official (forfeited if repairs not completed) Confirm the current terms with the city before writing it into the purchase agreement.
Is this Ecorse information current?
It was read from Ecorse'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 Building Department 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.