June 05, 2008

Cities in Ohio That Require Point Of Sale Inspections
The following is a list of cities in the Cleveland, Ohio area that require a city point of sale inspection before title transfer and purchase. Not all cities in the Cleveland area require a city point of sale inspection but the following cities list requirements and prices for completion. If you have any questions regarding Cleveland area city point of sale inspections, please contact us. Updates are posted when cities change their fees, procedures, etc. POS stands for point of sale.

Bedford

Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: Varies from $50 for single-family dwelling plus $25 for each additional rental unit; Commercial buildings are minimum of $75 and maximum of $200
Certificate Expiration: 1 Year
Re-inspection Fee: Same as original Fees
Escrow: An amount not less than $100 and equal to 150% of the estimated cost of repairs for outstanding violations. Estimate must be provided by a company registered with the City of Bedford.

Bedford Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: Fifty dollars ($50.00) for exterior and interior inspections or thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for exterior only inspections.
Certificate Expiration: N/A
Re-inspection Fee: An additional fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be paid for inspection of the
premises upon the third inspection by the Building Commissioner or his assistant and for each inspection required thereafter to verify that violations of the Housing Code have been properly corrected.

Berea
Interior POS: No
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $75
Certificate Expiration: 1 year
Re-inspection Fee: Same as original Fees
Notes: At the request of the owner of the property or his agent, the City may issue a letter or other document signed and dated by a Building Department Official stating that some, but not all, of the violations listed on a specific Certificate of Exterior Inspection have been completed to the City’s satisfaction.

Bratenahl
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $25
Certificate Expiration: Time limit for correction of minor repairs is agreed upon with owner or his agent or prospective occupant and Commissioner of Buildings. Time limit for corrections of issues that are a hazard to health, safety or welfare of occupants is determined solely by Commisioner of Buildings.
Re-inspection Fee: $35 for second inspection and $50 for each after.

Broadview Heights
*New* February, 2009 - Broadview Heights is now requiring that all rental properties be inspected once every three years. There is a $50 fee. The inspectors are following the 2003 & 2006 Property Maintenance code are are primarily looking for use of GFCI outlets and smoke detectors inside and outside of the bedrooms (preferably hard-wired). For more information, please call the building department at 440-526-6864.

Brooklyn Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $50
Certificate Expiration: 1 Year
Re-inspection Fee: $10 for any subsequent inspections requested by the same owner within 12 months from the date of issuance of the original certificate of inspection.

Brook Park
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Notes: A Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued, without charge to an applicant, after any building has received its final inspection as defined by the City Building Code, if such building is found to have been constructed or altered in accordance with the plans and specifications therefore, the provisions of the Ohio and City Building Codes, all other applicable City ordinances and the rules and regulations of the Department of Public Service.

*New* Brook Park City Council voted to amend their inspection law and now requires a $50 fee for re-occupancy inspections on all single family homes and $25 for all other residential structures. The building department will enforce these fees starting February 2, 2009. Additionally, an application form will now need to be completed in order to schedule inspections. Copies of the form are available from the City of Brook Park Building Department, 5990 Smith Road.

Cleveland Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $150 first unit, $50 each additional unit.
Certificate Expiration: 1 year
Re-inspection Fee:
Escrow: If all Class A violations are not corrected, seller must escrow not less than $1,000 and equal to 125% of the estimated cost of repairs.
Ongoing POS: The exteriors of all owner-occupied single-family homes are inspected on a street-by-street basis on a five-year rotation.

East Cleveland
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $50
Certificate Expiration: N/A
Re-inspection Fee: N/A
Notes: Properties can be sold “AS IS” but the following conditions MUST be met prior to issuing of Certificate of Inspection. 1. Submit original notarized Affidavit to Building/Housing Department 2. Submit copy of Purchase Agreement to Building/Housing Department 3. Only the Building/Housing Department’s can grant compliance time frame for notarized Affidavit (NINETY (90) DAYS COMPLIANCE) prior to issuing of Certificate of Inspection.

Euclid
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: Single Family $225; Two Family $260; Three Family $295; Multi-Family $225 per building + $35 per suite. One suite per building not charged.
Certificate Expiration: 1 Year
Re-inspection Fee: $112.50
Escrow: 50% of the estimated costs of repair.
Notes: Assumption of Class A violations and assumption of Class B violations shall require the payment of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) by the purchaser at the time the affidavit is presented to the Housing Manager.

Garfield Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $75
Certificate Expiration: 1 year
Re-inspection Fee: $25 after two re-inspections
Escrow: 150% of the estimated repairs being assumed.

Gates Mills
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: N/A
Certificate Expiration: 90 Days
Re-inspection Fee: N/A
Ongoing POS: Every septic tank shall be inspected at least once every three years by a licensed company engaged in the business of cleaning and servicing septic systems. It shall be the duty of the owner of the property whereon such septic tanks are located to keep such septic tanks in proper working condition at all times and to notify the Building Inspector, at least once in every three years, by certificate from the inspecting company, that such system is in proper operating order.

Highland Hills
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $25
Certificate Expiration: 1 Year; In the case of resale of the same property (“premises”) within the one year period of validity of the Certificate
Re-inspection Fee: None
Escrow: Attached to the Certificate of Inspection shall be a written agreement signed by the seller and purchaser identifying the party who will be responsible to correct all violations listed with the Certificate of Inspection and, not withstanding any outstanding or new mortgage indebtedness or lien upon the premises, providing that all necessary funds shall be deposited or retained in escrow sufficient to pay for the costs to correct all violations, which funds may be released totally or partially, as the work progresses, upon the authority of the CBO so long as funds are retained to complete unfinished work. In lieu of said funds, being retained in escrow, a payment or performance bond may be approved by the Law Director.
Notes: All violations shall be corrected within thirty (30) calendar days of the issuance of the Certificate of Inspection as required herein, unless an extension is granted. (ii) If the transferor does not correct the violations contained in the Certificate of Inspection prior to the transfer of title, then the purchaser or transferee of the property shall be required to correct the violations contained in the Certificate of Inspection within the time allotted by operation of these Ordinances or within any extension of time permitted

Hunting Valley
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: N/A
Certificate Expiration: 1 Year
Re-inspection Fee: N/A

Lakewood
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $50
Certificate Expiration: N/A
Re-inspection Fee: N/A
Notes: Repairs are the responsibility of the seller of the property. If the buyer wishes to assume some (or all) of the violations, then he/she will need to come to the Lakewood Building Department (with his/her valid driver's license) to sign a notarized Affidavit stating that they will be legally responsible for the repairs. There is no cost for this affidavit.
Ongoing POS: An Annual Inspection is required by law for non-owner occupied properties and to be done every three years. Annual inspections are done (most of the time) on a per-street basis.

Maple Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: Single-family $ 75; Single condominium $50; Two-family dwelling $85; Three-family
dwelling $95
Certificate Expiration: Six Months
Re-inspection Fee: $25
Escrow: 150% of the estimated cost of repairs
Notes: Any prospective Buyer of a residence who intends to assume some or all of the violations listed on the Certificate of Inspection must deposit 150% of the estimated total cost of all required repairs into an escrow account and written confirmation of such escrow account shall be provided to the Building Department before the Building Department will issue a Certificate of Occupancy. Funds may only be released from this account by written approval of the Building Commissioner. Written estimates of the total cost must be submitted from a minimum of two contractors registered to perform work in the City of Maple Heights.

Mayfield Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $50
Certificate Expiration: Six Months
Re-inspection Fee: N/A
Escrow: Escrow funds are required when violations remain at the time of title transfer. Funds must be set aside to assure that violations are corrected at a later date. The amount listed on the front page of the inspection report is the amount required to be held as “escrow.” This amount is determined by the housing inspector. This amount does not guarantee to be the cost to cover repairs.
Notes: If the buyer agrees to assume some or all of the violations, they will need to fill out a notarized statement of assumption and an escrow account will need to be created.

Newburg Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $40 Single Family, $50 Two-Family
Certificate Expiration: 12 months for owner occupied property; 6 months for non-owner occupied property.
Re-inspection Fee: $15
Notes: The owner of the property to repair, improve or demolish the structures or premises concerned within ninety days of the date of issuance of the Certificate.

*New* Orange Village passed a new point-of-sale ordinance on December 10, 2008. The new legislation (Ordinance No. 2008-22) passed by a 4 to 2 margin and requires an inspection of properties smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, household sewage treatment systems and private water systems (septic tanks).

These inspections apply to all transfers except for the following: (1) the individual transfer of any dwelling or dwelling unit through inheritance or gift where no bona fide sale is intended; and (2) the transfer of any new dwelling or dwelling units which are required to obtain a certificate of occupancy from the Village. The ordinance does apply to a dwelling unit that is sold at a Sheriff's sale or court ordered auction.

Oakwood
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $20 Single Family; $20 plus $5 per unit for multi-family
Certificate Expiration: 90 Days
Re-inspection Fee: N/A

Shaker Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: A fee of $100.00 for the first dwelling unit and $25.00 for each additional unit.
Certificate Expiration: 1 Year
Re-inspection Fee: $25 after first two requested re-inspections
Escrow: 150% of the estimated cost of repairs
Notes: Funds held in escrow shall be disbursed only upon written authorization from the City. If the amount held is less than $5,000, no funds shall be released until all violations are corrected. If the amount is $5,000 but less than $20,000, the City may authorize one (1) partial release of funds from escrow if it is determined that substantial progress has been made in correcting the violations and that sufficient funds remain in escrow to correct all remaining violations. If the amount is $20,000 but less than $40,000, two (2) partial releases may be approved. If the amount is $40,000 but less than $60,000, three (3) partial releases may be approved. On escrow accounts equal to or exceeding $60,000, four (4) partial releases may be authorized. The purchaser is responsible for correcting all violations remaining at transfer of title within ninety (90) days unless, for good cause, an extension of time is approved by the Housing Inspection
Department.

South Euclid
Interior POS: No
Exterior POS: Yes
Note: Not an active law yet (April 2008). May be overturned or modified.

University Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $75 single family; $125.00 two family
Certificate Expiration: 1 Year
Re-inspection Fee: N/A
Notes: The buyer(s) must sign an “assumption form”, and funds must be escrowed to cover the cost of correction of any outstanding violations. Upon receipt of the signed assumption form and a letter of verification from the escrow company stating the amount of funds held for violation correction, the building department will issue a “transfer release” (usually to the escrow company) stating that our requirements are met and releasing the property for transfer. Ordinance states that violations must be corrected within 30 (thirty) days of the date of the report. However, the building department grants requests for extensions on a “progress-made” basis.
Ongoing POS: The Building Department requires an exterior housing inspection, once every three years, for one and two family homes.

Warrensville Heights
Interior POS: Yes
Exterior POS: Yes
Inspection Fee: $50 Single Family; $30 per multifamily unit; $90 commercial structures
Certificate Expiration: 1 Year
Re-inspection Fee: No Fee Within 1 Year
Escrow: 150% of the estimated cost of repairs
Notes: Code violations noted on the certificate, except in a case of danger to the public health or safety, to be corrected by the owner of the property within sixty (60) days of the issuance of the certificate unless, for good cause, the Building Commissioner has extended that time for compliance. If the owner of a property does not correct the violations enumerated in the certificate of inspection prior to the time the title is transferred to the purchaser, then the purchaser of that property shall be required to correct the violations contained in the certificate of inspection within the time allotted in the notice given to the prior owner or within the extended time permitted by the Building Commissioner

Contact us if you're thinking of buying or selling a home. Email, text or call 216-323-4620

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

this is awesome information!

February 09, 2010  

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