Madison Heights certificate of occupancy to sell a home
No. Madison Heights does not require a city inspection or certificate of occupancy to sell an owner-occupied home. Not required for change of ownership or tenancy of an existing residential dwelling; required for new construction/additions, commercial change of use/ownership, and change of ownership of multi-family property.
Verified against City of Madison Heights Community & Economic Development Department - Certificate of Occupancy Application on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Community & Economic Development 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 Madison Heights rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Not required |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Certificate of Occupancy |
| When it applies | Not required for change of ownership or tenancy of an existing residential dwelling; required for new construction/additions, commercial change of use/ownership, and change of ownership of multi-family property. |
| Fee | $210 permanent C of O; $325 temporary; $40 change of property owner only (commercial/multi-family) |
| Department | Community & Economic Development Department |
| Phone | (248) 583-0831 |
Madison Heights requirements (official) · Application / form · City website
“A Certificate of Occupancy is not required for the change of ownership or tenancy of an existing residential dwelling unit.” — Madison Heights, City of Madison Heights Community & Economic Development Department - Certificate of Occupancy Application
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 Madison Heights 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 Madison Heights 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
- Highland Township Not required
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 Madison Heights?
No. Madison Heights does not inspect or certify an ordinary residential resale. Not required for change of ownership or tenancy of an existing residential dwelling; required for new construction/additions, commercial change of use/ownership, and change of ownership of multi-family property.
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Madison Heights?
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 Madison Heights's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Is this Madison Heights information current?
It was read from Madison Heights'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 Community & Economic Development 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.