Selling a house in Pipestone, MN: what the city requires
Pipestone County, Minnesota · Last checked November 2026
Pipestone requires a sewer and sump pump inspection and a city compliance certificate before a property is sold, gifted or transferred, under Ordinance 111.
What Pipestone requires
Sewer and sump compliance certificate (Ordinance 111)
- Who does it
- Licensed plumber. The city has paid for the televised part of the inspection.
- What is checked
- Sewer service televising and sump pump connections.
- Deadline
- Before the property is sold, gifted or transferred.
Housing in Pipestone
- Median year homes were built
- 1955
- Median home value
- $114,100
- Owner-occupied homes
- 1,289 of 1,838 (70%)
- Total housing units
- 2,033
Half the homes here were built in 1955 or earlier, so many sewer laterals are 71+ 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 Pipestone city, Pipestone County, Minnesota.
Need this done in Pipestone?
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: 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 Pipestone require before I sell my house?
Pipestone requires a sewer and sump pump inspection and a city compliance certificate before a property is sold, gifted or transferred, under Ordinance 111.
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 Pipestone?
The median home in Pipestone was built in 1955, and the median home value is $114,100, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Greater Minnesota
- Austin Required at sale
- Duluth Required at sale
- Montrose Required at sale
- Silver Lake Required at sale
- Tyler Required at sale
- Vernon Center Required at sale
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Sources
- City of Pipestone, Sewer inspection notice (Ordinance 111)
- Pipestone County Star, Pipestone City Ordinance 111
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Addressing inflow and infiltration at point of sale (March 2023)
- 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.