Selling a house in Cleveland, OH: what the city requires
Cuyahoga County, Ohio · Last checked November 2026
Cleveland has no general point-of-sale inspection. Every sale needs a Certificate of Disclosure, and vacant one to three unit homes get an exterior inspection.
What Cleveland requires
Certificate of Disclosure (all sales)
- Who does it
- City of Cleveland Building & Housing
- Cost
- $60.
Exterior inspection (vacant 1-3 unit homes)
- Who does it
- City building or housing inspector
- What is checked
- Exterior only.
- Cost
- $70 per unit.
Who to call
Cleveland Building & Housing
(216) 664-2651
Official page
Housing in Cleveland
- Median year homes were built
- 1941
- Median home value
- $102,000
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70,804 of 169,683 (42%)
- Total housing units
- 201,141
With half the homes built by 1941, 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 city, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
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How the city presale report process works
Some California cities require a presale records report before escrow closes. It tells the buyer what the city has on file: legal use, permits, open violations, and sometimes items found on an inspection.
- Order the report from the city as soon as you list. Processing can take days to weeks.
- Read it for unpermitted work or open violations. These are the items that slow a sale.
- Give the report to the buyer before the deadline in the city ordinance, usually before close of escrow.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| City report fee | $0 to $1,050, depending on the city |
Read the full city presale report guide
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 require before I sell my house?
Cleveland has no general point-of-sale inspection. Every sale needs a Certificate of Disclosure, and vacant one to three unit homes get an exterior inspection.
How much does the certificate of disclosure cost in Cleveland?
$60. Typical related costs: city report fee $0 to $1,050, depending on the city.
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 Cleveland?
The median home in Cleveland was built in 1941, and the median home value is $102,000, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Greater Cleveland & Northeast Ohio
- Brecksville Required in some cases
- 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 Heights Required at sale
- 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
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Sources
- Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors, Point of Sale & Rental Information (rev. April 2025)
- LP Property Group, Northeast Ohio cities with and without point-of-sale inspections (phone survey 2024-2025)
- 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.