Selling a house in Columbia Heights, MN: what the city requires
Anoka County, Minnesota · Last checked November 2026
Columbia Heights requires a city Time-of-Sale inspection plus a sewer line inspection. The program took effect May 22, 2024.
What Columbia Heights requires
Time-of-Sale inspection
- Who does it
- City of Columbia Heights inspector.
- Cost
- A $160 city application fee is reported by a third-party guide.
- Applies to
- Single-family, duplex, triplex, condos, townhouses and mobile homes.
Sewer line inspection at sale
- Who does it
- Licensed sewer contractor with a camera.
Who to call
City of Columbia Heights
763-706-3670
Official page
Housing in Columbia Heights
- Median year homes were built
- 1963
- Median home value
- $277,600
- Owner-occupied homes
- 5,854 of 8,877 (66%)
- Total housing units
- 9,321
Half the homes here were built in 1963 or earlier, so many sewer laterals are 63+ 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 Columbia Heights city, Anoka County, Minnesota.
Need this done in Columbia Heights?
Get quotes from a local licensed TISH evaluator, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.
How the truth-in-sale of housing / time-of-sale process works
Several Twin Cities suburbs require a housing evaluation before a home is marketed. Some use city-licensed private evaluators. Others send a city inspector. The report is shown to buyers, and some items must be repaired.
- Hire a licensed evaluator, or schedule the city inspection, before you list.
- Display the report at showings and give it to buyers.
- Fix required items, which are usually safety hazards.
- If repairs are not done by closing, the buyer usually signs a form accepting responsibility and finishes them within a set time.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Evaluation or city inspection | $150 to $400 |
Read the full truth-in-sale of housing / time-of-sale guide
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
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 Columbia Heights require before I sell my house?
Columbia Heights requires a city Time-of-Sale inspection plus a sewer line inspection. The program took effect May 22, 2024.
How much does the time-of-sale inspection cost in Columbia Heights?
A $160 city application fee is reported by a third-party guide. Typical related costs: evaluation or city inspection $150 to $400.
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 Columbia Heights?
The median home in Columbia Heights was built in 1963, and the median home value is $277,600, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Twin Cities
- Apple Valley No point-of-sale rule
- Blaine No point-of-sale rule
- Bloomington Required at sale
- Brooklyn Center No point-of-sale rule
- Brooklyn Park No point-of-sale rule
- Burnsville No point-of-sale rule
- Coon Rapids No point-of-sale rule
- Crystal No point-of-sale rule
- Eagan No point-of-sale rule
- Eden Prairie No point-of-sale rule
- Edina No point-of-sale rule
- Fridley No point-of-sale rule
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Sources
- Structure Tech, Minnesota cities requiring Truth-in-Housing / Time-of-Sale (reviewed Feb. 26, 2026)
- TruthInHousing.com, city requirement sources
- 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.