The Suburban Realtors Alliance (SRA) is urging Warrington Township to revise its procedures for issuing Use and Occupancy (U&O) certificates during property sales. In a formal letter to township officials, the SRA expressed concern over the municipality’s practice of withholding U&O certificates due to previously unpermitted work, such as HVAC or water heater installations.
According to the Pennsylvania Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act (MCOCA), municipalities are required to issue one of three types of certificates following inspection: a full certificate, a temporary certificate, or a temporary access certificate. The law does not allow municipalities to deny all certificates solely based on unpermitted past work discovered during the U&O inspection process.
The SRA requested that Warrington Township provide written justification and documentation to sellers whenever serious code violations require temporary access designation, ensuring transparency and compliance with state law.
This issue highlights the importance for homeowners and buyers to understand municipal inspection requirements and state regulations when transferring property.
Source: Suburban Realtors Alliance, July 2025
