Utica certificate of occupancy to sell a home
Only in some cases. Utica does not inspect an ordinary owner-occupied resale, but it does require a landlord license in these situations: Rentals only: all non-owner-occupied dwellings need a landlord license (renewed by June 30) with a Building Inspector inspection; a Change of Occupancy/Use application exists for commercial uses; no inspection on owner-occupied resale.
Verified against Landlord Information - City of Utica Building Department on October 27, 2026. Fees, forms and timelines are set by the city and change without notice. Confirm with the Building Department, 7550 Auburn 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 Utica rule at a glance
| Required to sell? | Limited cases |
|---|---|
| What the city calls it | Landlord License |
| When it applies | Rentals only: all non-owner-occupied dwellings need a landlord license (renewed by June 30) with a Building Inspector inspection; a Change of Occupancy/Use application exists for commercial uses; no inspection on owner-occupied resale. |
| Fee | $150 first rental unit; $60 each additional unit (effective 1/1/2024) |
| Lead time | Rental inspection appointments Mon-Thu 12-4 PM; all applications and inspections due by June 30 |
| Department | Building Department, 7550 Auburn Road |
| Phone | 586-739-1600 ext. 107 |
Utica requirements (official) · Application / form · City website
“This requirement applies to all non-owner-occupied dwellings.” — Utica, Landlord Information - City of Utica Building Department
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 Utica 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
- Sterling Heights 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 Utica?
Not for an ordinary owner-occupied resale. Utica requires a landlord license only when: Rentals only: all non-owner-occupied dwellings need a landlord license (renewed by June 30) with a Building Inspector inspection; a Change of Occupancy/Use application exists for commercial uses; no inspection on owner-occupied resale..
What is a point-of-sale (pre-sale) inspection in Utica?
It is the same thing as the landlord license 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 Utica's answer differs from its neighbours'.
Who schedules the Utica inspection, and how far ahead?
Usually the seller orders it from the Building Department, 7550 Auburn Road; Rental inspection appointments Mon-Thu 12-4 PM; all applications and inspections due by June 30. 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 Utica information current?
It was read from Utica'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, 7550 Auburn 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.