Romulus certificate of occupancy to sell a home
Yes. Romulus requires a city inspection and a certificate of occupancy before a home sale can close or the buyer can move in. Re-occupancy inspections on all residential buildings; the Certificate of Occupancy application has a Purchaser Information section and provides a Letter to Close or temporary C.O. with cash bond, implying a C of O is needed when an existing home changes hands.
Verified against Application for Certificate of Occupancy - City of Romulus 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 Romulus rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Required to sell |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Certificate of Occupancy |
| When it applies | Re-occupancy inspections on all residential buildings; the Certificate of Occupancy application has a Purchaser Information section and provides a Letter to Close or temporary C.O. with cash bond, implying a C of O is needed when an existing home changes hands. |
| Lead time | Minimum 48 hours processing after final inspection approval |
| Who orders it | Either party |
| Buyer can assume repairs? | Letter to Close or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy; a cash bond is required for either (amount not published on the form) |
| Department | Department of Building & Safety |
| Phone | 734-942-7550 |
Romulus requirements (official) · Application / form
“A cash bond is required for temporary certificates of occupancy and letters to close.” — Romulus, Application for Certificate of Occupancy - City of Romulus
What this means for your closing
Build the inspection into the listing timeline, not the closing week. Order it from the Department of Building & Safety as soon as the home is listed, fix the usual items before the inspector arrives (handrails, smoke and CO alarms, GFCI outlets, address numbers, sidewalk slabs, peeling exterior paint), and ask whether a buyer can assume repairs under a bond or escrow if something cannot be fixed before closing.
The tax bill changes hands too: after a sale the taxable value uncaps, so the buyer's bill is not the seller's. See Romulus 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 Wayne County
- Allen Park Required to sell
- Belleville Required to sell
- Brownstown Township Limited cases
- Dearborn Required to sell
- Detroit Not required
- Ecorse Required to sell
- Flat Rock Required to sell
- Gibraltar Required to sell
- Grosse Ile Township Limited cases
- Grosse Pointe Required to sell
- Grosse Pointe Farms Required to sell
- Grosse Pointe Park Required to sell
All Wayne County municipalities are on the C of O hub.
Common questions
Do I need a certificate of occupancy to sell a house in Romulus?
Yes. Romulus requires a city inspection and a certificate of occupancy on a residential sale. Re-occupancy inspections on all residential buildings; the Certificate of Occupancy application has a Purchaser Information section and provides a Letter to Close or temporary C.O. with cash bond, implying a C of O is needed when an existing home changes hands.
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Romulus?
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 Romulus's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Who schedules the Romulus inspection, and how far ahead?
Either party orders it from the Department of Building & Safety; Minimum 48 hours processing after final inspection approval. 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 Romulus?
Letter to Close or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy; a cash bond is required for either (amount not published on the form) Confirm the current terms with the city before writing it into the purchase agreement.
Is this Romulus information current?
It was read from Romulus'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.