Selling a house in Shaker Heights, OH: what the city requires
Cuyahoga County, Ohio · Last checked November 2026
Shaker Heights requires an interior and exterior point-of-sale inspection. Violations not fixed by closing must be covered by an escrow of 150% of a registered contractor's estimate.
What Shaker Heights requires
Point-of-sale inspection
- Who does it
- City building or housing inspector
- What is checked
- Interior and exterior.
- Cost
- $200 single-family or two-family, $150 condominium, $200 first apartment unit plus $50 each additional.
- Valid for
- 1 year.
- Deadline
- A Transfer Release Letter from the Housing Commissioner is needed before title transfers.
- If not done by closing
- 150% of the repair estimate from a contractor registered with the city, held by the title company until the city releases it.
- Under $5,000 in escrow, nothing is released until all violations are fixed. Larger escrows can get partial releases.
- Re-inspections cost $25 after the first two.
Who to call
Shaker Heights Building & Housing
(216) 491-1471
Official page
Housing in Shaker Heights
- Median year homes were built
- 1945
- Median home value
- $303,200
- Owner-occupied homes
- 7,725 of 12,806 (60%)
- Total housing units
- 13,947
With half the homes built by 1945, 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 Shaker Heights city, Cuyahoga 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 Shaker Heights require before I sell my house?
Shaker Heights requires an interior and exterior point-of-sale inspection. Violations not fixed by closing must be covered by an escrow of 150% of a registered contractor's estimate.
How much does the point-of-sale inspection cost in Shaker Heights?
$200 single-family or two-family, $150 condominium, $200 first apartment unit plus $50 each additional. 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?
150% of the repair estimate from a contractor registered with the city, held by the title company until the city releases it.
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 Shaker Heights?
The median home in Shaker Heights was built in 1945, and the median home value is $303,200, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Greater Cleveland & Northeast Ohio
- Parma No point-of-sale rule
- Parma Heights No point-of-sale rule
- Pepper Pike No point-of-sale rule
- Richmond Heights Required at sale
- Rocky River No point-of-sale rule
- Seven Hills Required in some cases
- Solon No point-of-sale rule
- South Euclid Required in some cases
- Strongsville No point-of-sale rule
- University Heights Required at sale
- Valley View No point-of-sale rule
- Walton Hills No point-of-sale rule
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Sources
- City of Shaker Heights, Point of Sale Procedure
- 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.