Selling a house in Garfield Heights, OH: what the city requires
Cuyahoga County, Ohio · Last checked November 2026
Garfield Heights requires an exterior point-of-sale inspection. Buyers sign a notarized acknowledgement, and a second affidavit if they assume violations.
What Garfield Heights requires
Point-of-sale inspection
- Who does it
- City building or housing inspector
- What is checked
- Exterior only. Interior is optional.
- Cost
- $200 residential.
- If not done by closing
- Buyer may assume violations with a notarized affidavit.
Who to call
Garfield Heights Building Department
(216) 475-3835
Official page
Housing in Garfield Heights
- Median year homes were built
- 1955
- Median home value
- $109,900
- Owner-occupied homes
- 6,993 of 11,946 (59%)
- Total housing units
- 13,000
With half the homes built by 1955, 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 Garfield Heights city, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
Need this done in Garfield 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 Garfield Heights require before I sell my house?
Garfield Heights requires an exterior point-of-sale inspection. Buyers sign a notarized acknowledgement, and a second affidavit if they assume violations.
How much does the point-of-sale inspection cost in Garfield Heights?
$200 residential. Typical related costs: city inspection fee $25 to $300; escrow for unfixed violations 100% to 150% of the repair estimate.
What if the repairs are not finished before closing?
Buyer may assume violations with a notarized affidavit.
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 Garfield Heights?
The median home in Garfield Heights was built in 1955, and the median home value is $109,900, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Greater Cleveland & Northeast Ohio
- Cleveland Required in some cases
- 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
- Gates Mills Required at sale
- Glenwillow No point-of-sale rule
- Highland Heights No point-of-sale rule
- Highland Hills Required at sale
- Hunting Valley Required at sale
- Independence No point-of-sale rule
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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.