Selling a house in Riverside, IL: what the city requires
Cook County, Illinois · Last checked November 2026
Riverside requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. Stamp cost is the inspection cost, based on property type.
What Riverside requires
Village inspection before transfer stamps
- Who does it
- Village or city building department. The seller schedules it.
- Cost
- $325 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.
- Stamp cost is the inspection cost, based on property type.
- $325 Inspection SFR and Duplex plus $25 per unit thereafter.
- $500 Inspection commercial.
- Certificate of Compliance letter required and must be obtained at Village Building Department.
Who to call
Village of Riverside
708-447-2700
Official page
Housing in Riverside
- Median year homes were built
- 1945
- Median home value
- $415,100
- Owner-occupied homes
- 5,019 of 6,348 (79%)
- Total housing units
- 6,859
With half the homes built by 1945, 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 Riverside township, Cook County, 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: 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 Riverside require before I sell my house?
Riverside requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. Stamp cost is the inspection cost, based on property type.
How much does the village inspection before transfer stamps cost in Riverside?
$325 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 Riverside?
The median home in Riverside was built in 1945, and the median home value is $415,100, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Chicago area
- Park Ridge Required in some cases
- Posen Required at sale
- Richton Park Required at sale
- River Forest Required at sale
- River Grove Required at sale
- Riverdale Required at sale
- Robbins Required at sale
- Rosemont No point-of-sale rule
- Sauk Village Required at sale
- Schaumburg No point-of-sale rule
- Schiller Park No point-of-sale rule
- Skokie Required in some cases
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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.