Rules by state
Illinois
Illinois handles resale inspections mostly at the municipal level, not through one statewide program. In the official Illinois REALTORS® municipal-inspections handout updated May 2024, some Illinois municipalities require a pre-closing inspection, some require a change-of-occupancy or resale certificate, some focus on sewer/water signoffs, and some list no home inspection requirement.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Official resources in Illinois
Illinois REALTORS® — Municipal Inspections Handout (updated May 2024)
Statewide association chart residents can use to see municipality-by-municipality resale, occupancy, rental, sewer, water, and related local inspection requirements.
Village of Villa Park — Utilities / Selling Your Property and Compliance Inspection
Official village page showing a sewer/stormwater-related inspection tied to sale or transfer of title.
Key facts for Illinois
- I found no single statewide Illinois point-of-sale or resale-inspection program; requirements vary by municipality. Source: Illinois REALTORS® May 2024 handout; Illinois Constitution Art. VII §6.
- Illinois home-rule municipalities may regulate for public health, safety, morals, and welfare. Source: Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6.
- Illinois Municipal Code 65 ILCS 5/11-13-15 lets municipalities prevent occupancy or abate violations of ordinances adopted under municipal zoning/building authority. Source: ILGA.
- Illinois REALTORS® lists Addison as requiring a home inspection before closing, plus a sewer inspection and final water bill payment. Source: Illinois REALTORS® May 2024 handout.
- Illinois REALTORS® lists Aurora and Joliet as having no home inspection requirement, while still listing water or sums-due items. Source: Illinois REALTORS® May 2024 handout.
- Villa Park requires a Certificate of Compliance at sale or transfer, specifically to verify no illegal stormwater connections to the sanitary sewer system. Source: Village of Villa Park.
Cities with sale-triggered rules in Illinois
| City | program | type | fee | valid | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton Madison | Occupancy permit inspection | U&O certificate | — | until next change of ownership or occupancy, unless revoked | Upon application for an occupancy permit, the city performs a basic inspection and may require an advanced inspection based on listed risk factors. |
| Calumet City Cook | Point-of-sale inspection / Certificate of Compliance | interior+exterior | $150 single-family; $25 each additional multifamily unit | 180 days | The point-of-sale packet says liens, tickets and violations must be paid before transfer of the property. |
| Chicago Heights Cook | For Sale Inspection | interior+exterior | — | — | The city provides a specific for-sale inspection form for residential transfers. |
| Dolton Cook | Home sale inspection | interior+exterior | — | — | The Village states that before selling a home, ordinance requires the house to be inspected. |
| Forest Park Cook | Transfer of Ownership inspection / Certificate of Compliance | interior+exterior | — | — | If violations remain at closing, the buyer and seller may sign a village agreement giving the buyer 3 months after transfer to correct them. |
| Glendale Heights DuPage | Real-Estate Transfer Inspection / Certificate of Inspection | interior+exterior | — | — | The Village says real-estate transfer inspections are required to identify code noncompliance before transfer. |
| Olympia Fields Cook | Point of Sale inspection | interior+exterior | — | — | The village states that when selling your home, the homeowner is required to arrange for an inspection by the Village prior to the sale. |
| Richton Park Cook | Change of occupancy inspection | U&O certificate | — | — | The village says staff inspect existing structures at change of occupancy as part of code enforcement. |
| University Park Cook/Will | Point of sale inspection and certificate of occupancy | interior+exterior | — | — | The municipal code requires a point-of-sale inspection and certificate of occupancy for dwelling units covered by the chapter. |
What to do next
- Before listing or closing, check both your municipality’s code and the Illinois REALTORS® handout entry for your town; Illinois rules are highly local and can differ block-by-block or by property type.
- Ask the local building or public works department whether the town offers a temporary or conditional certificate, repair escrow, or buyer-assumption affidavit; I found those options in some municipal ordinances, not as a statewide rule.
- Have your closing attorney or title company confirm timing requirements early; official local rules I found include examples like 21 days before transfer (Markham) and sale-triggered sewer/compliance signoffs (Villa Park).
Helpful guides
- What is a point-of-sale inspection?
- Point-of-sale inspection vs. a buyer's home inspection
- Minnesota Truth-in-Sale-of-Housing (TISH) evaluations explained
- Ohio point-of-sale inspections: how the Cleveland-area programs work
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