Selling a house in Fairview Heights, IL: what the city requires
St. Clair County, Illinois · Last checked November 2026
Fairview Heights, Illinois requires a residential occupancy inspection before a home is sold or reoccupied.
What Fairview Heights requires
Residential occupancy inspection at sale
- Who does it
- City building or code inspector.
- Deadline
- The village will not issue transfer stamps or a compliance certificate until it is done, and the deed cannot be recorded without them.
- Residential occupancy inspection when a home is sold or reoccupied.
Housing in Fairview Heights
- Median year homes were built
- 1972
- Median home value
- $177,700
- Owner-occupied homes
- 5,024 of 7,221 (70%)
- Total housing units
- 8,179
Homes here are typically from 1972 or later, so inspections tend to focus on safety items like smoke and CO alarms, GFCI outlets and handrails.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Fairview Heights city, Illinois.
Need this done in Fairview Heights?
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How the st. louis-area occupancy inspection process works
Most municipalities in St. Louis County, and the City of St. Louis, inspect a home before it is sold or reoccupied. The new owner needs the occupancy permit, and failed items must be fixed or formally assumed by the buyer.
- Call the city building or code office to schedule. In spring, waits can run several weeks.
- Prepare for common items: smoke and CO detectors, GFCI outlets near water, handrails, trip hazards, gutters and downspouts, house numbers, and peeling paint.
- Fix the items on the report and pass a reinspection, or ask whether the buyer can assume them with an escrow or a signed agreement.
- The occupancy permit is issued to the new owner before move-in.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Municipal inspection fee | About $50 to $150 |
| Typical repair list | $200 to $3,000 |
Read the full st. louis-area occupancy inspection guide
If the house fails
You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.
Frequently asked questions
What does Fairview Heights require before I sell my house?
Fairview Heights, Illinois requires a residential occupancy inspection before a home is sold or reoccupied.
What if my house fails?
You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.
Who pays, the buyer or the seller?
The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.
How old are the homes in Fairview Heights?
The median home in Fairview Heights was built in 1972, and the median home value is $177,700, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Metro East (St. Louis area, Illinois)
- Alton Required at sale
- Belleville Required at sale
- Edwardsville Required at sale
- Granite City Required at sale
- O'Fallon Required at sale
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Sources
- St. Louis Area Occupancy Permit & Inspection Requirements by Municipality (updated April 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25035, B25077, B25003, B25001)
Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.