Selling a house in Forest Hills Borough, PA: what the city requires
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026
Selling in Forest Hills requires a sewer dye test before closing. The dye test certificate fee is $30.
What Forest Hills Borough requires
Sewer dye test
- Who does it
- A licensed, registered plumber performs the test and completes the municipal form.
- Cost
- $30 municipal fee, plus the plumber's charge.
- Deadline
- Must pass before the municipality releases the lien letter and tax certification needed for closing.
- Applies to
- Required for property sales.
Who to call
Forest Hills Borough
412-351-7330
Official page
Housing in Forest Hills Borough
- Median year homes were built
- 1949
- Median home value
- $200,700
- Owner-occupied homes
- 2,342 of 3,112 (75%)
- Total housing units
- 3,436
Half the homes here were built in 1949 or earlier, so many sewer laterals are 77+ 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 Forest Hills borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Need this done in Forest Hills Borough?
Get quotes from a local registered plumber for dye testing, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.
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 Forest Hills Borough require before I sell my house?
Selling in Forest Hills requires a sewer dye test before closing. The dye test certificate fee is $30.
How much does the sewer dye test cost in Forest Hills Borough?
$30 municipal fee, plus the plumber's charge. 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 Forest Hills Borough?
The median home in Forest Hills Borough was built in 1949, and the median home value is $200,700, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
- Elizabeth Borough Required at sale
- Elizabeth Township Required at sale
- Emsworth Borough Required at sale
- Etna Borough Required at sale
- Fawn Township Required at sale
- Findlay Township Required at sale
- Forward Township No point-of-sale rule
- Fox Chapel Borough Required at sale
- Franklin Park Borough Required at sale
- Frazer Township No point-of-sale rule
- Glassport Borough Required at sale
- Glen Osborne Borough 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.