Selling a house in Cleveland Heights, OH: what the city requires
Cuyahoga County, Ohio · Last checked November 2026
Cleveland Heights sellers must get a Certificate of Inspection before signing a purchase agreement. Uncorrected Class A violations need an escrow of 125% of the repair cost, at least $1,000.
What Cleveland Heights requires
Point-of-sale inspection
- Who does it
- City building or housing inspector
- What is checked
- Interior and exterior, including single and two-family homes, condos and apartments.
- Cost
- $200 for the first unit, $50 for each additional unit.
- Valid for
- 1 year.
- Deadline
- Before you enter into an agreement to sell. The buyer signs an acknowledgement that goes into escrow.
- If not done by closing
- 125% of the estimated repair cost, minimum $1,000, for Class A violations not fixed before transfer.
- A rehab or 203(k) loan that covers all Class A items can be accepted instead of escrow.
- Violating Chapter 1329 is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Who to call
Cleveland Heights Inspectional Services
(216) 291-5900
Official page
Housing in Cleveland Heights
- Median year homes were built
- 1939 or earlier
- Median home value
- $192,100
- Owner-occupied homes
- 11,239 of 19,323 (58%)
- Total housing units
- 21,420
With half the homes built before 1940, 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 Cleveland Heights city, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
Need this done in Cleveland Heights?
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How the point-of-sale inspection process works
A point-of-sale (POS) inspection is a city housing inspection done before a home changes hands. The inspector lists code violations. They must be fixed before transfer, or the buyer takes them on with money held in escrow.
- Apply to the city building or housing department and pay the inspection fee. Do this before you list, because some cities require the certificate before you sign a purchase agreement.
- An inspector visits. Depending on the city, this covers the exterior only or the interior too.
- You receive a certificate of inspection listing violations. Show it to buyers.
- Fix the violations and pass a re-inspection to get a certificate of compliance.
- Or the buyer signs an assumption form, and repair money (often 100% to 150% of a contractor estimate) is held in escrow until the city signs off.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| City inspection fee | $25 to $300 |
| Escrow for unfixed violations | 100% to 150% of the repair estimate |
Read the full point-of-sale 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 Cleveland Heights require before I sell my house?
Cleveland Heights sellers must get a Certificate of Inspection before signing a purchase agreement. Uncorrected Class A violations need an escrow of 125% of the repair cost, at least $1,000.
How much does the point-of-sale inspection cost in Cleveland Heights?
$200 for the first unit, $50 for each additional unit. Typical related costs: city inspection fee $25 to $300; escrow for unfixed violations 100% to 150% of the repair estimate.
How long is it valid?
1 year.
What if the repairs are not finished before closing?
125% of the estimated repair cost, minimum $1,000, for Class A violations not fixed before transfer.
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 Cleveland Heights?
The median home in Cleveland Heights was built in 1939 or earlier, and the median home value is $192,100, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Greater Cleveland & Northeast Ohio
- Broadview Heights Required in some cases
- Brook Park Required at sale
- Brooklyn No point-of-sale rule
- Brooklyn Heights Required at sale
- Chagrin Falls No point-of-sale rule
- Cleveland Required in some cases
- Cuyahoga Heights Required at sale
- East Cleveland Required at sale
- Euclid Required at sale
- Fairview Park No point-of-sale rule
- Garfield Heights Required at sale
- Gates Mills Required at sale
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Sources
- City of Cleveland Heights, Point-of-Sale Fact Sheet
- Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors, Point of Sale & Rental Information (rev. April 2025)
- 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.