Selling a house in Lower Merion Township, PA: what the city requires
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026
Lower Merion Township requires a resale certification before settlement. Published fee: $80 to $145. Sidewalks and curbs in repair. Plan 30 to 60 days.
What Lower Merion Township requires
Resale certification
- Who does it
- Municipal code office. The seller applies.
- Cost
- $80 to $145
- Sidewalks and curbs in repair. Plan 30 to 60 days.
Housing in Lower Merion Township
- Median year homes were built
- 1955
- Median home value
- $810,400
- Owner-occupied homes
- 17,988 of 24,077 (75%)
- Total housing units
- 25,357
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 Lower Merion township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Need this done in Lower Merion 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: Sidewalk, curb and apron inspection
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 Lower Merion Township require before I sell my house?
Lower Merion Township requires a resale certification before settlement. Published fee: $80 to $145. Sidewalks and curbs in repair. Plan 30 to 60 days.
How much does the resale certification cost in Lower Merion Township?
$80 to $145 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 Lower Merion Township?
The median home in Lower Merion Township was built in 1955, and the median home value is $810,400, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Philadelphia & suburbs
- Horsham Township Required at sale
- Jenkintown Borough Required at sale
- Lansdale Borough No point-of-sale rule
- Limerick Township No point-of-sale rule
- Lower Frederick Township Required at sale
- Lower Gwynedd Township No point-of-sale rule
- Lower Moreland Township (Huntingdon Valley) No point-of-sale rule
- Lower Pottsgrove Township Required at sale
- Lower Providence Township Required at sale
- Lower Salford Township (Harleysville) No point-of-sale rule
- Marlborough Township Required at sale
- Montgomery Township (Montgomeryville) No point-of-sale rule
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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)
- Lower Merion 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.