Sterling Heights certificate of occupancy to sell a home
Only in some cases. Sterling Heights does not inspect an ordinary owner-occupied resale, but it does require a certificate of occupancy (commercial); residential special inspection (voluntary) in these situations: Certificate of Occupancy required only for businesses (change of ownership, change of use, or moving into the city); a residential 'special inspection' is available on application but is not stated to be required for a sale.
Verified against Certificate of Occupancy Requirements | Sterling Heights, MI on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Building Department, 40555 Utica Road 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 Sterling Heights rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Limited cases |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Certificate of Occupancy (commercial); Residential Special Inspection (voluntary) |
| When it applies | Certificate of Occupancy required only for businesses (change of ownership, change of use, or moving into the city); a residential 'special inspection' is available on application but is not stated to be required for a sale. |
| Fee | Residential special inspection fees listed as $64 / $124 / $320 / $620 (tiers not labeled on page) |
| Department | Building Department, 40555 Utica Road |
| Phone | 586-446-2360 |
Sterling Heights requirements (official) · Application / form · City website
“The following situations require a new Certificate of Occupancy: change of ownership, change of use” — Sterling Heights, Certificate of Occupancy Requirements | Sterling Heights, MI
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 Sterling 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 Macomb County
- Eastpointe Limited cases
- Lenox Township Limited cases
- Macomb Township Limited cases
- Mount Clemens Limited cases
- Roseville Limited cases
- Saint Clair Shores Limited cases
- Shelby Township 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 Sterling Heights?
Not for an ordinary owner-occupied resale. Sterling Heights requires a certificate of occupancy (commercial); residential special inspection (voluntary) only when: Certificate of Occupancy required only for businesses (change of ownership, change of use, or moving into the city); a residential 'special inspection' is available on application but is not stated to be required for a sale..
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Sterling Heights?
It is the same thing as the certificate of occupancy (commercial); residential special inspection (voluntary) 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 Sterling Heights's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Is this Sterling Heights information current?
It was read from Sterling 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 Building Department, 40555 Utica Road 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.