City Home Rules

Selling a house in Upper Southampton Township, PA: what the city requires

Bucks County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026

Required at sale

Upper Southampton Township requires a real estate certificate before settlement. Application exists but the fee schedule is a scanned PDF. Confirm by phone.

What Upper Southampton Township requires

Real estate certificate

Who does it
Municipal code office. The seller applies.
Cost
Not published online. Ask the municipality.

Housing in Upper Southampton Township

Median year homes were built
1966
Median home value
$439,200
Owner-occupied homes
5,428 of 6,128 (89%)
Total housing units
6,359

Homes here are typically from 1966 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 Upper Southampton township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Need this done in Upper Southampton 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.

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

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 Upper Southampton Township require before I sell my house?

Upper Southampton Township requires a real estate certificate before settlement. Application exists but the fee schedule is a scanned PDF. Confirm by phone.

How much does the real estate certificate cost in Upper Southampton Township?

Not published online. Ask the municipality. 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 Upper Southampton Township?

The median home in Upper Southampton Township was built in 1966, and the median home value is $439,200, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.

Nearby: Philadelphia & suburbs

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

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.