Selling a house in Collier Township, PA: what the city requires
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026
Selling in Collier requires a sewer dye test with a lateral camera inspection before closing.
What Collier Township requires
Sewer dye test and sewer lateral camera inspection
- Who does it
- A licensed, registered plumber performs the test and completes the municipal form.
- Cost
- Plumber's charge plus any municipal fee.
- Deadline
- Must pass before the municipality releases the lien letter and tax certification needed for closing.
- Applies to
- Required for purchases and refinances.
Who to call
Collier Township
412-279-2525
Housing in Collier Township
- Median year homes were built
- 1998
- Median home value
- $342,900
- Owner-occupied homes
- 3,217 of 3,928 (82%)
- Total housing units
- 4,115
The typical home here dates from 1998, 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 Collier township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Need this done in Collier Township?
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How the sewer dye test process works
Most Allegheny County municipalities require a dye test before a sale. A plumber puts dye into downspouts, area drains and yard drains to prove that stormwater is not flowing into the sanitary sewer. Some also require a camera inspection of the lateral.
- Hire a licensed, Allegheny County registered plumber. Some municipalities require a plumber from their approved list, or do the test themselves.
- The plumber runs dye through downspouts and drains and completes the municipal form.
- If dye shows up in the sanitary line, the illegal connection must be fixed and the test redone.
- The municipality issues a certificate. It must be on file before the lien letter and tax certification are released for closing.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Municipal certificate fee | $20 to $350 |
| Downspout or drain disconnection | $300 to $3,000 |
| Lateral repair or replacement | $3,000 to $15,000 or more |
Read the full sewer dye test 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 Collier Township require before I sell my house?
Selling in Collier requires a sewer dye test with a lateral camera inspection before closing.
How much does the sewer dye test and sewer lateral camera inspection cost in Collier Township?
Plumber's charge plus any municipal fee. Typical related costs: municipal certificate fee $20 to $350; downspout or drain disconnection $300 to $3,000; lateral repair or replacement $3,000 to $15,000 or more.
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 Collier Township?
The median home in Collier Township was built in 1998, and the median home value is $342,900, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
- Carnegie Borough Required at sale
- Castle Shannon Borough Required at sale
- Chalfant Borough Required at sale
- Cheswick Borough Required at sale
- Churchill Borough Required at sale
- Clairton Required at sale
- Coraopolis Borough Required in some cases
- Crafton Borough Required at sale
- Crescent Township Required at sale
- Dormont Borough Required at sale
- Dravosburg Borough Required at sale
- Duquesne Required at sale
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Sources
- Pennsylvania Land Titles, Allegheny County Municipal Information: dye testing and occupancy (Feb. 2024)
- 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.