Selling a house in Austin, MN: what the city requires
Mower County, Minnesota · Last checked November 2026
Since March 1, 2026, every property sold in Austin needs a sewer service inspection and a sump pump inspection. A passing certificate lasts 10 years.
What Austin requires
Point-of-sale inflow and infiltration compliance (City Code 3.30, Subd. 14)
- Who does it
- Contractor televises the sewer service and files the city forms. Sump pump inspected separately.
- What is checked
- Sewer line breaks, structural failures, blockages and clear-water connections, plus the sump pump discharge.
- Cost
- The city estimates $150 to $300 to televise a sewer connection. Repairs are extra.
- Valid for
- 10 years after the sewer line and sump pump pass. New homes get a 10-year certificate.
- Applies to
- Any property transfer, effective March 1, 2026.
Who to call
Austin Public Works
Official page
Housing in Austin
- Median year homes were built
- 1957
- Median home value
- $163,900
- Owner-occupied homes
- 7,230 of 10,110 (72%)
- Total housing units
- 10,909
Half the homes here were built in 1957 or earlier, so many sewer laterals are 69+ years old and made of clay or cast iron. Older laterals are the ones most likely to fail a test, so budget for a camera inspection before you list.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Austin city, Mower County, Minnesota.
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How the point-of-sale sewer inspection process works
Some Minnesota cities require a camera inspection of the private sewer line at sale, to find cracks, roots and illegal connections such as sump pumps that drain into the sanitary sewer.
- 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 |
Read the full point-of-sale sewer inspection guide
Other towns with the same requirement: Sump pump inspection · Sewer lateral video or dye test
If the house fails
You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.
Frequently asked questions
What does Austin require before I sell my house?
Since March 1, 2026, every property sold in Austin needs a sewer service inspection and a sump pump inspection. A passing certificate lasts 10 years.
How much does the point-of-sale inflow and infiltration compliance cost in Austin?
The city estimates $150 to $300 to televise a sewer connection. Repairs are extra. Typical related costs: sewer camera inspection $200 to $500; sewer line repair $3,000 to $20,000.
How long is it valid?
10 years after the sewer line and sump pump pass. New homes get a 10-year certificate.
What if my house fails?
You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.
Who pays, the buyer or the seller?
The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.
How old are the homes in Austin?
The median home in Austin was built in 1957, and the median home value is $163,900, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Greater Minnesota
- Duluth Required at sale
- Montrose Required at sale
- Pipestone Required at sale
- Silver Lake Required at sale
- Tyler Required at sale
- Vernon Center Required at sale
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Sources
- City of Austin, MN, Point of Sale Requirements and FAQ (effective March 1, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25035, B25077, B25003, B25001)
Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.