What we do with an Allentown house that has code violations
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can start with the address, the city notice, and what you know about the property's condition.
Tell us whether the property is occupied or vacant, whether a presale inspection has happened, and whether you have open permits or municipal-charge notices. That gives the review a useful starting point without turning your first call into a repair project.
Have a citation, failed inspection, or vacant-property question? Call 888-274-5006 and show us what Codes gave you. We'll talk through the item with you.
Allentown's presale inspection and Certificate of Compliance
For a commercial or residential sale in the City of Allentown, the current city instructions require a safety and maintenance inspection before the sale. Apply for the presale permit; a passing inspection produces a Certificate of Compliance, the document showing that the inspection passed. If the inspection lists violations, the city says the seller fixes them unless the buyer agrees to do so using the city's Acceptance Form, the city form documenting that agreement. The Buyer's Information Report is submitted within three days of settlement.
The exact application, forms, and parcel requirements are on the City of Allentown pre-sale inspection page. A cash or as-is agreement does not automatically bypass this process.
What happens to open violations and liens at closing
A code violation and a lien are not the same record. The title or closing professional checks recorded liens and municipal claims (city charges), while Allentown Codes addresses the inspection and acceptance records.
If a payoff, release, or Acceptance Form is required, the written terms and closing documents should show how that item is addressed. A buyer's agreement to handle a violation does not replace the city's paperwork or the Buyer's Information Report.
Have the notice and any city correspondence available. Ask the Bureau of Building Standards and Safety about the actual cited items, and ask the title or closing professional how recorded charges will appear in the settlement documents.
Vacancy and historic-district facts that can change the repair plan
If the building is vacant
Allentown's current vacant-property registry covers a building unoccupied for more than 90 consecutive days or determined vacant by the enforcement officer. Registration is due within 15 calendar days after the applicable threshold or notice, with annual renewal until the property is lawfully occupied, sold, or removed from the registry. Property-maintenance duties continue. Check the city's vacant-property registration information and ask Building Standards about the actual address.
If exterior work is planned
The city names Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds, and West Park as local historic districts. Exterior work visible from a public right-of-way may need a Certificate of Appropriateness, the city's approval for exterior changes: routine maintenance may need no review, minor changes may receive staff review, and more substantive work may go to the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB). Do not assume an address is in a district; check the actual property and proposed work on the city's Certificate of Appropriateness information.
For an actual proposed exterior repair, the city's Historic Office can be reached at 610-437-7613 at City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street, 4th Floor.
What to expect when you ask us to review the property
- 1
Share the address and actual notices
Tell us about the citation, failed inspection, open permit, vacancy, or repair issue and share the records you have.
- 2
Review the house and the city issue
We look at the property in its current condition and sort the known city, permit, occupancy, and title questions that affect the next step.
- 3
Put the offer and terms in writing
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
- 4
Coordinate city and closing requirements
The written terms identify who will handle each item, and the closing professional explains the documents and payoffs shown in the settlement paperwork. See the presale section and closing section above for the city requirements.
Compare the numbers before you decide
Code work, municipal charges, and carrying costs can change what you keep. Use the Allentown home-sale net proceeds calculator to compare editable assumptions.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address and the city notice. Start with the condition, inspection status, and timing.
Allentown Code Violations: Questions Sellers Ask
Can I sell my Allentown house with code violations?
Yes. We can review a house with code violations. Start with the actual notice and address; the Allentown process is explained in the presale section above.
Do I have to repair the house before asking for a cash review?
No. You can ask us to review the house in its current condition without finishing a repair project first. Bring the notice and records you have so the actual property can be discussed.
How do code issues affect closing?
Read the closing section above for the records and written terms that need attention. Bring the city correspondence and any municipal-charge information to the title or closing professional.
Who should I call about an Allentown citation?
Use the Bureau of Building Standards and Safety contact in the local-help section below and give the city the actual address and notice. We can also review the property details with you.
What should I have ready when I call about a citation?
Start with the property address, city notices, permit or inspection records, occupancy or vacancy status, and any records of municipal charges. We can begin with what you have, then the city and title or closing professionals can identify the remaining requirements.
What if the building is vacant?
Start with the vacancy section above and the official registration information linked there. The actual address and status determine which city questions to ask.
Can exterior work on an Allentown house need historic review?
Read the historic-work section above and use the official Certificate of Appropriateness information before choosing an exterior repair. The actual address and proposed work determine the next question.
Resources for Allentown Sellers
Local help for an Allentown property
City of Allentown — Bureau of Building Standards and Safety
City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA. Presale inspections and rental registration: 610-437-7694; building permits and trade inspections: 610-437-7592; Community Housing: 610-437-7696.
Building Standards and Safety — official city pageThis office serves the City of Allentown. Bethlehem, Whitehall Township, Salisbury Township, and Emmaus Borough are separate municipalities; an Allentown postal address alone does not decide which inspection office applies.