Selling a house in Vernon Center, MN: what the city requires
Blue Earth County, Minnesota · Last checked November 2026
Vernon Center requires a point-of-sale water and sewer inspection by a contractor licensed for both, including a televised video of the sewer lateral given to the city.
What Vernon Center requires
Point-of-sale water and sewer lateral inspection
- Who does it
- Qualified contractor licensed for both water and sewer.
- What is checked
- Televised sewer lateral, roof drain and sump pump connections, water valves, shutoffs, backflow preventers and cross connections.
- Applies to
- Sale of a property. The city is under an MPCA schedule of compliance to cut inflow and infiltration.
Housing in Vernon Center
- Median year homes were built
- 1939 or earlier
- Median home value
- $143,300
- Owner-occupied homes
- 116 of 138 (84%)
- Total housing units
- 143
Half the homes here were built before 1940, so many sewer laterals are 88+ 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 Vernon Center city, Blue Earth County, Minnesota.
Need this done in Vernon Center?
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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 Vernon Center require before I sell my house?
Vernon Center requires a point-of-sale water and sewer inspection by a contractor licensed for both, including a televised video of the sewer lateral given to the city.
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 Vernon Center?
The median home in Vernon Center was built in 1939 or earlier, and the median home value is $143,300, 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
- Pipestone Required at sale
- Silver Lake Required at sale
- Tyler Required at sale
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Sources
- City of Vernon Center, Point of sale cover letter (water and sewer)
- 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.