City Home Rules

Selling a house in Middletown Township (Lima), PA: what the city requires

Delaware County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026

Required at sale

Middletown Township (Lima) requires a sewer certification before settlement. Published fee: $200. No U&O. MTSA lateral certification applies to sales, transfers, and even refinances.

What Middletown Township (Lima) requires

Sewer certification

Who does it
Municipal code office. The seller applies.
Cost
$200

Housing in Middletown Township (Lima)

Median year homes were built
1977
Median home value
$500,600
Owner-occupied homes
4,288 of 5,752 (75%)
Total housing units
6,080

Homes here are typically from 1977 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 Middletown township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Need this done in Middletown Township (Lima)?

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.

What do you need?

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.

  1. 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.
  2. Pass the inspection to get a full certificate.
  3. If there are minor violations, the town must issue a temporary certificate. The buyer then usually has 12 months to fix them.
  4. If there are substantial violations, the buyer can still close with a temporary access certificate but cannot move in until the work is done.
Typical cost ranges (estimates, not quotes)
ItemTypical range
Municipal fee$0 to $300

Read the full resale use & occupancy (u&o) 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 Middletown Township (Lima) require before I sell my house?

Middletown Township (Lima) requires a sewer certification before settlement. Published fee: $200. No U&O. MTSA lateral certification applies to sales, transfers, and even refinances.

How much does the sewer certification cost in Middletown Township (Lima)?

$200 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 Middletown Township (Lima)?

The median home in Middletown Township (Lima) was built in 1977, and the median home value is $500,600, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.

Nearby: Philadelphia & suburbs

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Sources

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.