Selling a house in Granite City, IL: what the city requires
Madison County, Illinois · Last checked November 2026
Granite City, Illinois requires a residential occupancy inspection before a home is sold or reoccupied.
What Granite City 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 Granite City
- Median year homes were built
- 1957
- Median home value
- $100,200
- Owner-occupied homes
- 7,733 of 10,803 (72%)
- Total housing units
- 12,095
With half the homes built by 1957, inspectors here commonly flag older wiring, missing GFCI outlets, handrails, and worn exteriors. Fix the cheap items before the inspection.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Granite City township, Madison County, Illinois.
Need this done in Granite City?
Get quotes from a local contractor for occupancy inspection repairs, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.
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 Granite City require before I sell my house?
Granite City, 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 Granite City?
The median home in Granite City was built in 1957, and the median home value is $100,200, 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
- Fairview Heights Required at sale
- O'Fallon Required at sale
Cite, link or embed this page
Agents, title companies and journalists are welcome to link to this page:
Or embed a small summary box on your website or listing page:
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.