{"id":"do-i-need-a-presale-certificate-to-sell-my-house-in-pasadena","url":"https://realestateworks.com/journal/do-i-need-a-presale-certificate-to-sell-my-house-in-pasadena","json":"https://realestateworks.com/api/catalog/do-i-need-a-presale-certificate-to-sell-my-house-in-pasadena","title":"Do I need a presale certificate to sell my house in Pasadena?","excerpt":"Yes, if it is a single-family house, condominium, townhouse or duplex: the City of Pasadena requires a presale certificate any time one is sold, and the owner obtains it before close of escrow. An eligible home self-certifies for a Certificate of Completion, while a home with an open code case or unpermitted work needs a City inspection instead.","category":"selling","publishedAt":"2026-10-28","updatedAt":"2026-10-29T04:41:07.414Z","author":"Sidney Manzo","license":"CA DRE #01108914","cities":["Pasadena"],"topics":["Selling","City requirements"],"audience":"sellers","intent":"inform","sourceQuestion":"Do I need a presale certificate to sell my house in Pasadena?","sourceUrls":["https://www.cityofpasadena.net/planning/code-compliance/presale-program/","https://egov1.cityofpasadena.net/PscpWeb/","https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-notices/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2019-02-04-ORDINANCE-7337.pdf"],"seo":{"title":"Do I Need a Pasadena Presale Certificate?","description":"Pasadena requires a presale certificate to sell a house, condo, townhouse or duplex. See what blocks self-certification, the fees and how long it lasts.","image":"/images/hubs/pasadena-craftsman-home-3200.webp","imageAlt":"Front walk and porch of a single-family house on a tree-lined Pasadena street"},"faqs":[{"q":"Can I order a Pasadena presale inspection before I list?","a":"Yes. Pasadena Municipal Code section 14.17.160 lets an owner voluntarily request an inspection at any time, and the City's Presale Self-Certification Program page offers that option. An early inspection makes sense when you already know about an older addition, a garage conversion or a large shed, because those can make the home ineligible for self-certification anyway. You learn what the City finds before buyers do, and you have time to correct items or plan for them in your pricing. Start with the City's address lookup, which shows the Assessor's square footage and any open code cases for your property."},{"q":"What happens if the City inspection finds violations?","a":"The City gives you a housing inspection report listing them. Under Pasadena Municipal Code section 14.17.090 you can correct the items and schedule a re-inspection, which carries an additional fee, or sign a Transfer of Responsibility with the buyer. With a Transfer of Responsibility, Pasadena Municipal Code section 14.17.110 makes the buyer responsible for correcting the violations within 12 months and requires the buyer's consent to a City inspection within 18 months. Buyers weigh that work when they write an offer, so it can become part of the price negotiation. Ask your escrow officer or a California attorney how any agreed credit will be handled."},{"q":"Does my presale certificate carry over to a new buyer?","a":"Not automatically. Pasadena Municipal Code section 14.17.100 says a certificate is void six months after the date on it, after a change in ownership, after a change to a nonresidential use, or if it is used by anyone other than the owner and buyer listed on it. If your first escrow cancels and a different buyer steps in, contact the City's Presale Program before the new escrow closes and ask what it needs for the new buyer. The same applies if a long escrow or a slow market pushes closing past the six-month mark. Rules as of October 28, 2026."},{"q":"Where do I apply for a Pasadena presale certificate?","a":"The City of Pasadena takes applications online through its Presale Self-Certification Program site or in person at the Permit Center, 175 North Garfield Avenue. The program can be reached at (626) 744-7144 or PresaleProgram@cityofpasadena.net. Before you apply, enter your address in the City of Pasadena's lookup to see the recorded square footage and any open code cases, since either one can decide whether you self-certify or need an inspection. Have your permit history handy as well, because unpermitted additions, conversions and accessory structures over 120 square feet are among the conditions that send a home to inspection."},{"q":"Who pays the Pasadena presale fees, the seller or the buyer?","a":"Pasadena Municipal Code section 14.17.120 makes the owner responsible for completing and submitting the application, and section 14.17.040 says the application is filed with a fee. The City's lookup site notes that the sidewalk assessment fee can be paid through escrow, with a conditional Certificate of Completion issued in the meantime. How any other costs or repair credits are split between you and the buyer comes from your purchase contract, not from the City. Costs vary by property and transaction; your escrow estimate shows the actual numbers, so review it with your escrow officer before you sign."}],"body":"Sidney Manzo, CA DRE #01108914, can review this property. A request does not create a listing agreement.\n\nPasadena presale fact Detail Who needs it Any sale of a single-family house, condominium, townhouse or duplex (PMC 14.17.030) When The owner obtains it before close of escrow, per the City Self-certify fee Certificate of Completion, in person: $29.00 plus processing fees, per the City Inspection fee Certificate of Inspection, in person: $184.00 plus processing fees, per the City How long it lasts Void six months after the date on the certificate (PMC 14.17.100)\n\nWhat keeps a Pasadena home from self-certifying? Under the Pasadena Municipal Code, an open code case, unpermitted work, a fire-safety gap or extra living area sends a home to a City inspection. Pasadena Municipal Code section 14.17.050 lists what makes a property ineligible for a Certificate of Completion: unpermitted additions, unpermitted conversions, unpermitted accessory structures over 120 square feet, non-compliance with fire protection, detection and exiting requirements, any open code compliance case, or actual living area 10% or more above the square footage recorded with the Los Angeles County Assessor. The City's Presale Self-Certification Program lookup shows your property's Assessor square footage and open code cases, so you can see which path applies before you list.\n\nWhat does a Pasadena presale certificate cost? The City of Pasadena's Presale Program page lists $29.00 plus processing fees for a Certificate of Completion and $184.00 plus processing fees for a Certificate of Inspection, both for in-person applications. If an inspection finds deficiencies and you correct them, the City says a re-inspection carries an additional fee. The City's lookup site adds that a Certificate of Completion also requires payment of the sidewalk assessment fee, which can be paid through escrow. Fees change with the City's fee schedule, so confirm the current amounts with the Presale Program when you apply.\n\nHow long is a Pasadena presale certificate good for? Six months from the date on the certificate, under Pasadena Municipal Code section 14.17.100. The same section voids a certificate after a change in ownership, after a change to a nonresidential use, or if it is used by anyone other than the owner and buyer named on it. Under Pasadena Municipal Code section 14.17.040, the owner and the buyer both sign the Certificate of Completion application, so self-certification is completed once you have a buyer. Rules as of October 28, 2026.\n\nWhen should I start the presale process? Check your address before you list, and order any needed inspection early. Look up your address on the City of Pasadena's presale site for square footage and open code cases. Compare the recorded square footage with your actual living area and your permit history. If the home is not eligible to self-certify, request the City inspection before you go on the market. Decide whether to correct any items or offer a Transfer of Responsibility, and price the home with that in mind. Once you have a buyer, complete the application with the buyer's signature and pay the fees. Sidney Manzo can review the City's record for your address with you and fit the certificate into your listing timeline. For the full selling process, see how to sell a house in Pasadena and the Pasadena city guide , or book a time to talk with Sidney ."}