Selling a house in Falls Township, PA: what the city requires
Bucks County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026
Falls Township requires a four certifications before settlement. Heater, chimney, sewer, and electric certifications required at sale.
What Falls Township requires
Four certifications
- Who does it
- Municipal code office. The seller applies.
- Cost
- Contractor-set
- Heater, chimney, sewer, and electric certifications required at sale.
Housing in Falls Township
- Median year homes were built
- 1962
- Median home value
- $361,900
- Owner-occupied homes
- 9,628 of 13,214 (73%)
- Total housing units
- 13,622
Homes here are typically from 1962 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 Falls township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Need this done in Falls Township?
Get quotes from a local contractor for U&O repairs, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.
How the resale use & occupancy (u&o) process works
About half of the municipalities in suburban Philadelphia require a resale use and occupancy certificate or similar sign-off before settlement. Pennsylvania's MCOCA law limits how a town can use violations to block a sale.
- Apply as soon as you list. Many towns ask for 14 to 60 days of lead time, and some double the fee for late applications.
- Pass the inspection to get a full certificate.
- If there are minor violations, the town must issue a temporary certificate. The buyer then usually has 12 months to fix them.
- If there are substantial violations, the buyer can still close with a temporary access certificate but cannot move in until the work is done.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Municipal fee | $0 to $300 |
Read the full resale use & occupancy (u&o) guide
Other towns with the same requirement: Chimney and heater certification
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 Falls Township require before I sell my house?
Falls Township requires a four certifications before settlement. Heater, chimney, sewer, and electric certifications required at sale.
How much does the four certifications cost in Falls Township?
Contractor-set Typical related costs: municipal fee $0 to $300.
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 Falls Township?
The median home in Falls Township was built in 1962, and the median home value is $361,900, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Philadelphia & suburbs
- Chalfont Borough Required at sale
- Doylestown Borough Required at sale
- Doylestown Township No point-of-sale rule
- Dublin Borough Required at sale
- Durham Township Required at sale
- East Rockhill Township Required at sale
- Haycock Township No point-of-sale rule
- Hilltown Township No point-of-sale rule
- Hulmeville Borough No point-of-sale rule
- Ivyland Borough Required at sale
- Langhorne Borough Required at sale
- Langhorne Manor Borough Required at sale
Cite, link or embed this page
Agents, title companies and journalists are welcome to link to this page:
Or embed a small summary box on your website or listing page:
Sources
- Greater Philadelphia Home Sale Fee Index (Aug. 2026 edition)
- Suburban Realtors Alliance, Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act (MCOCA)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25035, B25077, B25003, B25001)
- Falls Township home sale guide, Greater Philadelphia Home Sale Fee Index
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.