Pontiac certificate of occupancy to sell a home
Only in some cases. Pontiac does not inspect an ordinary owner-occupied resale, but it does require a re-occupancy certificate (re-occupancy inspection) in these situations: Vacant/registered-vacant properties only: a re-occupancy certificate from the Building Safety Division is required before a vacant property is re-occupied; no inspection required on ordinary sale/transfer of occupied homes.
Verified against Pontiac Code Ch. 22 Art. VIII - 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 Department of Building & Safety 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 Pontiac rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Limited cases |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Re-Occupancy Certificate (Re-Occupancy Inspection) |
| When it applies | Vacant/registered-vacant properties only: a re-occupancy certificate from the Building Safety Division is required before a vacant property is re-occupied; no inspection required on ordinary sale/transfer of occupied homes. |
| Fee | Re-Occupancy Inspection Application Fee $350 (form also cites $35 non-refundable processing fee) |
| Who orders it | Either party |
| Department | Department of Building & Safety |
| Phone | 248-758-2800 |
Pontiac requirements (official) · Application / form · City website
“A vacant property shall not be occupied until a re-occupancy certificate has been issued by the Building Safety Division” — Pontiac, Pontiac Code Ch. 22 Art. VIII - 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 Pontiac 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 Pontiac?
Not for an ordinary owner-occupied resale. Pontiac requires a re-occupancy certificate (re-occupancy inspection) only when: Vacant/registered-vacant properties only: a re-occupancy certificate from the Building Safety Division is required before a vacant property is re-occupied; no inspection required on ordinary sale/transfer of occupied homes..
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Pontiac?
It is the same thing as the re-occupancy certificate (re-occupancy inspection) 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 Pontiac's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Who schedules the Pontiac inspection, and how far ahead?
Either party orders it from the Department of Building & Safety. Order it the week the listing goes live: a failed inspection with a two-week requeue is what blows a 30-day close.
Is this Pontiac information current?
It was read from Pontiac'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 Department of Building & Safety 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.