Highland Township certificate of occupancy to sell a home
No. Highland Township does not require a city inspection or certificate of occupancy to sell an owner-occupied home. Certificate of Occupancy is issued for new construction after final inspections; no resale or transfer trigger in the township building booklet.
Verified against Highland Township Building Information Booklet on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Highland Township 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 Highland Township rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Not required |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Certificate of Occupancy |
| When it applies | Certificate of Occupancy is issued for new construction after final inspections; no resale or transfer trigger in the township building booklet. |
| Buyer can assume repairs? | Temporary Certificate of Occupancy available on request for near-complete new construction (not a resale mechanism) |
| Department | Highland Township Building Department |
| Phone | (248) 887-3791 ext. 8 |
Highland Township requirements (official) · City website
“It is necessary to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy prior to occupying or using your new construction.” — Highland Township, Highland Township Building Information Booklet
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 Highland Township 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 Highland Township 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 Oakland County
- Auburn Hills Not required
- Berkley Limited cases
- Bloomfield Hills Not required
- Bloomfield Township Not required
- Clawson Limited cases
- Commerce Township Not required
- Farmington Limited cases
- Farmington Hills Limited cases
- Fenton Limited cases
- Ferndale Limited cases
- Hazel Park Limited cases
- Huntington Woods Limited cases
All Oakland County municipalities are on the C of O hub.
Common questions
Do I need a certificate of occupancy to sell a house in Highland Township?
No. Highland Township does not inspect or certify an ordinary residential resale. Certificate of Occupancy is issued for new construction after final inspections; no resale or transfer trigger in the township building booklet.
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Highland Township?
It is the same thing as the certificate of occupancy 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 Highland Township's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Can the buyer take on the repairs in Highland Township?
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy available on request for near-complete new construction (not a resale mechanism) Confirm the current terms with the city before writing it into the purchase agreement.
Is this Highland Township information current?
It was read from Highland Township'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 Highland Township 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.