Selling a house in North Chicago, IL: what the city requires
Lake County, Illinois · Last checked November 2026
North Chicago requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. $50 Inspection. Transfer tax: $5.00 per $1,000.
What North Chicago requires
Village inspection before transfer stamps
- Who does it
- Village or city building department. The seller schedules it.
- Cost
- $50 for a single-family home, per the title-company list.
- Deadline
- The village will not issue transfer stamps or a compliance certificate until it is done, and the deed cannot be recorded without them.
- $50 Inspection.
- Inspection required.
- Provide original deed, copy of survey, certificate of compliance to obtain stamp.
- A pplication for Certificate of Compliance (online).
Municipal transfer stamp (tax)
- Cost
- $5.00 per $1,000..
Who to call
Village of North Chicago
847-596-8600
Official page
Housing in North Chicago
- Median year homes were built
- 1973
- Median home value
- $159,600
- Owner-occupied homes
- 2,292 of 7,036 (33%)
- Total housing units
- 7,894
Homes here are typically from 1973 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 North Chicago city, Illinois.
Need this done in North Chicago?
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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: 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 North Chicago require before I sell my house?
North Chicago requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. $50 Inspection. Transfer tax: $5.00 per $1,000.
How much does the village inspection before transfer stamps cost in North Chicago?
$50 for a single-family home, per the title-company list. Typical related costs: 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.
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 North Chicago?
The median home in North Chicago was built in 1973, and the median home value is $159,600, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Chicago area
- Addison Required at sale
- Algonquin No point-of-sale rule
- Lake Zurich No point-of-sale rule
- Lakemoor No point-of-sale rule
- Libertyville No point-of-sale rule
- Lincolnshire No point-of-sale rule
- Mettawa No point-of-sale rule
- Mundelein No point-of-sale rule
- Volo No point-of-sale rule
- Wauconda No point-of-sale rule
- Waukegan Required at sale
- Zion 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.