Oak Park certificate of occupancy to sell a home
Only in some cases. Oak Park does not inspect an ordinary owner-occupied resale, but it does require a certificate of compliance (rentals); certificate of occupancy (request form) in these situations: Rental properties only: registration plus inspection and Certificate of Compliance every two years or at change of tenancy; no sale/transfer inspection for owner-occupied homes found.
Verified against City of Oak Park Residential Rental Property Registration Form on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Municipal Services - Building Division 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 Oak Park rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Limited cases |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Certificate of Compliance (rentals); Certificate of Occupancy (request form) |
| When it applies | Rental properties only: registration plus inspection and Certificate of Compliance every two years or at change of tenancy; no sale/transfer inspection for owner-occupied homes found. |
| Fee | Rental: $80 registration (2-yr) + $150 inspection single-family ($150 + $60/additional unit multi); C of O request $50 residential or reissuance, $75 commercial |
| Department | Municipal Services - Building Division |
| Phone | (248) 691-7450 |
Oak Park requirements (official) · Application / form · City website
“I agree to not occupy the property(s) without a valid certificate of compliance.” — Oak Park, City of Oak Park Residential Rental Property Registration Form
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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park?
Not for an ordinary owner-occupied resale. Oak Park requires a certificate of compliance (rentals); certificate of occupancy (request form) only when: Rental properties only: registration plus inspection and Certificate of Compliance every two years or at change of tenancy; no sale/transfer inspection for owner-occupied homes found..
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Oak Park?
It is the same thing as the certificate of compliance (rentals); certificate of occupancy (request form) 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 Oak Park's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Is this Oak Park information current?
It was read from Oak Park'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 Municipal Services - Building Division 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.