Selling a house in Richmond Heights, OH: what the city requires
Cuyahoga County, Ohio · Last checked November 2026
Richmond Heights requires an exterior inspection at sale, and older homes need a county dye test first. Repairs do not have to be done before transfer.
What Richmond Heights requires
Exterior Maintenance Inspection Program
- Who does it
- City building or housing inspector
- What is checked
- Exterior only, no condos. Dye test for homes built before 1993 that have not had one in 5 years.
- Cost
- No city fee.
- If not done by closing
- Repairs are not required before transfer. The buyer signs an affidavit acknowledging the results.
Who to call
Richmond Heights Building Department
(216) 383-6312
Official page
Housing in Richmond Heights
- Median year homes were built
- 1967
- Median home value
- $208,800
- Owner-occupied homes
- 3,237 of 4,910 (66%)
- Total housing units
- 5,542
Homes here are typically from 1967 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 Richmond Heights city, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
Need this done in Richmond 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
Other towns with the same requirement: Sewer lateral video or dye test
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 Richmond Heights require before I sell my house?
Richmond Heights requires an exterior inspection at sale, and older homes need a county dye test first. Repairs do not have to be done before transfer.
How much does the exterior maintenance inspection program cost in Richmond Heights?
No city fee. 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?
Repairs are not required before transfer. The buyer signs an affidavit acknowledging the results.
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 Richmond Heights?
The median home in Richmond Heights was built in 1967, and the median home value is $208,800, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Greater Cleveland & Northeast Ohio
- Olmsted Falls No point-of-sale rule
- Olmsted Township No point-of-sale rule
- Orange Required at sale
- Parma No point-of-sale rule
- Parma Heights No point-of-sale rule
- Pepper Pike No point-of-sale rule
- Rocky River No point-of-sale rule
- Seven Hills Required in some cases
- Shaker Heights Required at sale
- Solon No point-of-sale rule
- South Euclid Required in some cases
- Strongsville 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.