Trenton certificate of occupancy to sell a home
Yes. Trenton requires a city inspection and a certificate of review (sale of home - inspection upon transfer) before a home sale can close or the buyer can move in. All sales of one- and two-family residential homes (inspection upon transfer).
Verified against Sale of Home - Inspection Upon Transfer (Residential Property) - City of Trenton on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Department of Engineering & Building 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 Trenton rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Required to sell |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Certificate of Review (Sale of Home - Inspection Upon Transfer) |
| When it applies | All sales of one- and two-family residential homes (inspection upon transfer). |
| Fee | $210 |
| Lead time | Inspections Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00 AM-1:00 PM; report sent within 2 business days |
| Who orders it | Seller |
| Buyer can assume repairs? | Buyer may assume responsibility under a signed Housing Agreement (seller must first supply an approved furnace heat-exchanger test); seed mentions a $100 letter - not verified |
| Department | Department of Engineering & Building |
| Phone | 734-675-8251 |
Trenton requirements (official) · Application / form · City website
“A home inspection is required prior to the sale of the home.” — Trenton, Sale of Home - Inspection Upon Transfer (Residential Property) - City of Trenton
What this means for your closing
Build the inspection into the listing timeline, not the closing week. Order it from the Department of Engineering & Building 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 Trenton 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 Trenton?
Yes. Trenton requires a city inspection and a certificate of review (sale of home - inspection upon transfer) on a residential sale — $210. All sales of one- and two-family residential homes (inspection upon transfer).
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Trenton?
It is the same thing as the certificate of review (sale of home - inspection upon transfer) 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 Trenton's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Who schedules the Trenton inspection, and how far ahead?
The seller orders it from the Department of Engineering & Building; Inspections Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00 AM-1:00 PM; report sent within 2 business days. 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 Trenton?
Buyer may assume responsibility under a signed Housing Agreement (seller must first supply an approved furnace heat-exchanger test); seed mentions a $100 letter - not verified Confirm the current terms with the city before writing it into the purchase agreement.
Is this Trenton information current?
It was read from Trenton'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 Engineering & Building 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.