Selling a house in Hickory Hills, IL: what the city requires
Cook County, Illinois · Last checked November 2026
Hickory Hills requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. Sewer inspection required.
What Hickory Hills requires
Village inspection before transfer stamps
- Who does it
- Village or city building department. The seller schedules it.
- Deadline
- The village will not issue transfer stamps or a compliance certificate until it is done, and the deed cannot be recorded without them.
- Sewer inspection required.
Who to call
Village of Hickory Hills
(708) 598-4800
Official page
Housing in Hickory Hills
- Median year homes were built
- 1970
- Median home value
- $288,000
- Owner-occupied homes
- 4,005 of 5,630 (71%)
- Total housing units
- 5,748
Homes here are typically from 1970 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 Hickory Hills city, Illinois.
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How the illinois transfer stamp and village inspection process works
Many Chicago-area villages will not sell you the municipal transfer stamp needed to record the deed until the seller pays final water bills and, in a long list of towns, passes a village inspection. Some inspect the whole house, others only the sewer, sump pump or sidewalk.
- Check the village website or call the clerk as soon as you list. Some villages want the inspection before you put up a sign or hold an open house.
- Pay the inspection fee and schedule it, often 2 to 4 weeks before closing.
- Fix the items on the report and pass a reinspection, or ask whether the buyer can sign an as-is or compliance agreement, sometimes with an escrow or bond.
- Order the final water reading, pay village debts, and buy the transfer stamp before closing.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Village inspection fee | $0 to $350 |
| Municipal transfer tax | Up to $10 per $1,000 of price in some towns |
| Typical repair list | $200 to $5,000 |
Read the full illinois transfer stamp and village inspection guide
Other towns with the same requirement: Sewer lateral video or dye test · Municipal transfer tax
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 Hickory Hills require before I sell my house?
Hickory Hills requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. Sewer inspection required.
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 Hickory Hills?
The median home in Hickory Hills was built in 1970, and the median home value is $288,000, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Chicago area
- Glencoe Required at sale
- Glenview No point-of-sale rule
- Glenwood Required at sale
- Hanover Park No point-of-sale rule
- Harvey Required at sale
- Hazel Crest Required at sale
- Hillside Required at sale
- Hometown Required at sale
- Homewood Required in some cases
- Justice Required at sale
- Lansing No point-of-sale rule
- Lemont No point-of-sale rule
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Sources
- First American / Saturn Title, Illinois transfer stamp requirement listing (rev. Nov. 25, 2024)
- 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.