Minnesota point-of-sale sewer and sump pump inspections
Updated November 2026
Minnesota cities that require a sewer line or sump pump inspection before a home sale, from Duluth and Austin to West St. Paul, with fees, validity and escrow rules.
Separate from Truth-in-Housing evaluations, a growing number of Minnesota cities require the private sewer line, sump pump and foundation drains to be checked before a home is sold. The goal is to stop clean water, called inflow and infiltration (I&I), from overloading treatment plants. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency encourages these programs, and the League of Minnesota Cities publishes a model ordinance that many towns adapt.
How the rules differ
| City | What is checked | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Duluth | Sump pump and foundation drains | $115 certificate fee; 90 days to disconnect drains; grants up to $1,400 |
| Austin | Sewer service and sump pump | New March 1, 2026; certificate lasts 10 years |
| Silver Lake | Televised sewer service | Escrow of 1.5 times the estimate; 5-year certificate |
| Tyler | Sewer lateral and sump | Certificate needed before listing; clay or Orangeburg pipe fails |
| Montrose | Sewer camera certification | Adopted September 2025; valid 5 years |
| West St. Paul | Sewer inspection | Compliance letter; 10 years if no full replacement needed |
| Pipestone | Sewer and sump | Ordinance 111; certificate before sale, gift or transfer |
| Vernon Center | Sewer lateral video plus water system | Contractor licensed for both water and sewer |
Golden Valley, Mounds View, Orono, Saint Anthony Village, Tonka Bay, Columbia Heights and Maple Lake also require sewer inspections at sale. See the full list below.
What usually fails
- Sump pumps or foundation drains piped into the sanitary sewer.
- Cracked or root-filled clay laterals, and old Orangeburg fiber pipe.
- Missing or broken cleanouts.
Plan ahead
Book the camera inspection as soon as you list. If the line needs work, get two quotes and ask the city whether it allows an escrow so the sale can close on time.
Step by step
- Hire a sewer contractor to televise the line.
- File the inspection with the city.
- Repair defects the city flags, or arrange for the buyer to take them on if the city allows it.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Sewer camera inspection | $200 to $500 |
| Sewer line repair | $3,000 to $20,000 |
Cities with this requirement
| City | What is required | Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AustinMower County | Point-of-sale inflow and infiltration compliance | $150 | Required at sale |
| Columbia HeightsAnoka County | Time-of-Sale inspection + Sewer line inspection at sale | $160 | Required at sale |
| DuluthSt. Louis County | Point of Sale Certificate of Compliance | $115 | Required at sale |
| Golden ValleyHennepin County | Point-of-sale sewer inspection | Required at sale | |
| Maple LakeWright County | Point-of-sale sewer inspection | Required at sale | |
| MontroseWright County | Point-of-sale sewer camera certification | Required at sale | |
| Mounds ViewRamsey County | Point-of-sale sewer inspection | Required at sale | |
| OronoHennepin County | Point-of-sale sewer inspection | Required at sale | |
| PipestonePipestone County | Sewer and sump compliance certificate | Required at sale | |
| Saint Anthony VillageHennepin County | Point-of-sale sewer inspection | Required at sale | |
| Silver LakeMcLeod County | Sewer Service Compliance Inspection | Required at sale | |
| Tonka BayHennepin County | Point-of-sale sewer inspection | Required at sale | |
| TylerLincoln County | Inflow and infiltration certificate of compliance | Required at sale | |
| Vernon CenterBlue Earth County | Point-of-sale water and sewer lateral inspection | Required at sale | |
| West St. PaulDakota County | Point-of-sale sewer inspection | Required at sale |
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