Selling a house in Northfield, OH: what the city requires
Summit County, Ohio · Last checked November 2026
Northfield Village requires an exterior point-of-sale inspection, applied for online only.
What Northfield requires
Point-of-sale inspection
- Who does it
- City building or housing inspector
- What is checked
- Exterior only.
- Cost
- $100.
- Valid for
- 12 months.
- No paper applications. Apply through the village MyGov portal.
Who to call
Northfield Village Building Department
(330) 468-4363
Official page
Housing in Northfield
- Median year homes were built
- 1966
- Median home value
- $166,700
- Owner-occupied homes
- 1,127 of 1,557 (72%)
- Total housing units
- 1,575
Homes here are typically from 1966 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 Northfield village, Summit County, Ohio.
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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 Northfield require before I sell my house?
Northfield Village requires an exterior point-of-sale inspection, applied for online only.
How much does the point-of-sale inspection cost in Northfield?
$100. 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?
12 months.
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 Northfield?
The median home in Northfield was built in 1966, and the median home value is $166,700, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Greater Cleveland & Northeast Ohio
- Avon No point-of-sale rule
- Avon Lake No point-of-sale rule
- Coventry Township Required in some cases
- Cuyahoga Falls No point-of-sale rule
- Fairlawn No point-of-sale rule
- Green No point-of-sale rule
- Hudson No point-of-sale rule
- Macedonia Required at sale
- Norton No point-of-sale rule
- Stow No point-of-sale rule
- Tallmadge No point-of-sale rule
- Twinsburg 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.