Selling a house in Orono, MN: what the city requires
Hennepin County, Minnesota · Last checked November 2026
Orono requires a point-of-sale sewer inspection before a home is sold. All dwellings, since January 1, 2021.
What Orono requires
Point-of-sale sewer inspection
- Who does it
- Licensed sewer contractor, usually with a camera, filed with the city.
- Applies to
- All dwellings, since January 1, 2021.
Housing in Orono
- Median year homes were built
- 1982
- Median home value
- $1,004,500
- Owner-occupied homes
- 2,773 of 3,052 (91%)
- Total housing units
- 3,416
The typical home here dates from 1982, so many laterals are newer plastic pipe. A test is still required, and root intrusion or a bad joint can still fail it.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Orono city, Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Need this done in Orono?
Get quotes from a local sewer televising contractor, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.
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: 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 Orono require before I sell my house?
Orono requires a point-of-sale sewer inspection before a home is sold. All dwellings, since January 1, 2021.
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 Orono?
The median home in Orono was built in 1982, and the median home value is $1,004,500, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Twin Cities
- Golden Valley Required at sale
- Hopkins No point-of-sale rule
- Maple Grove No point-of-sale rule
- Minneapolis Required at sale
- Minnetonka No point-of-sale rule
- New Hope Required at sale
- Osseo No point-of-sale rule
- Plymouth No point-of-sale rule
- Richfield Required at sale
- Robbinsdale No point-of-sale rule
- Saint Anthony Village Required at sale
- St. Louis Park Required at sale
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Sources
- Structure Tech, Minnesota cities requiring Truth-in-Housing / Time-of-Sale (reviewed Feb. 26, 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.