Lenox Township certificate of occupancy to sell a home
Only in some cases. Lenox Township does not inspect an ordinary owner-occupied resale, but it does require a certificate of occupancy (vacant building re-occupancy) in these situations: Vacant/abandoned buildings only: owner must register, obtain a Safety and Maintenance Inspection, and a vacant building may not be re-occupied until the Building Official issues a certificate of occupancy; no inspection trigger on an ordinary owner-occupied sale.
Verified against Lenox Township Codified Ordinances, Chapter 304 - General Requirement Vacant Property Registration and Maintenance on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Lenox 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 Lenox Township rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Limited cases |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Certificate of Occupancy (vacant building re-occupancy) |
| When it applies | Vacant/abandoned buildings only: owner must register, obtain a Safety and Maintenance Inspection, and a vacant building may not be re-occupied until the Building Official issues a certificate of occupancy; no inspection trigger on an ordinary owner-occupied sale. |
| Fee | Set by Township Board resolution (not stated in ordinance); $200 fine for first failure to inspect/register |
| Lead time | Vacant property must be registered within 30 days of vacancy; inspection immediately and annually until C of O issued |
| Who orders it | Seller |
| Buyer can assume repairs? | Ordinance references a 'new owner affidavit' with its own fee; vacant building still cannot be occupied until C of O issued |
| Department | Lenox Township Building Department |
| Phone | 586-727-2085 (Kurt Sengstock, Building Official, ext. 123; Kimberly Grewe, Manager, ext. 111) |
Lenox Township requirements (official) · City website
“shall not be occupied until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Official” — Lenox Township, Lenox Township Codified Ordinances, Chapter 304 - General Requirement Vacant Property Registration and Maintenance
What this means for your closing
For a typical owner-occupied sale nothing is owed to the city. If the home falls into one of the cases above, treat it like a required city: order the inspection the week of listing and ask about temporary certificates and repair escrows.
The tax bill changes hands too: after a sale the taxable value uncaps, so the buyer's bill is not the seller's. See Lenox 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 Macomb County
- Eastpointe Limited cases
- Macomb Township Limited cases
- Mount Clemens Limited cases
- Roseville Limited cases
- Saint Clair Shores Limited cases
- Shelby Township Limited cases
- Sterling Heights Limited cases
- Utica Limited cases
- Warren Limited cases
All Macomb County municipalities are on the C of O hub.
Common questions
Do I need a certificate of occupancy to sell a house in Lenox Township?
Not for an ordinary owner-occupied resale. Lenox Township requires a certificate of occupancy (vacant building re-occupancy) only when: Vacant/abandoned buildings only: owner must register, obtain a Safety and Maintenance Inspection, and a vacant building may not be re-occupied until the Building Official issues a certificate of occupancy; no inspection trigger on an ordinary owner-occupied sale..
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Lenox Township?
It is the same thing as the certificate of occupancy (vacant building re-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 Lenox Township's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Who schedules the Lenox Township inspection, and how far ahead?
The seller orders it from the Lenox Township Building Department; Vacant property must be registered within 30 days of vacancy; inspection immediately and annually until C of O issued. 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 Lenox Township?
Ordinance references a 'new owner affidavit' with its own fee; vacant building still cannot be occupied until C of O issued Confirm the current terms with the city before writing it into the purchase agreement.
Is this Lenox Township information current?
It was read from Lenox 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 Lenox 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.