Selling a house in Marshall Township, PA: what the city requires
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026
Selling in Marshall requires a sewer dye test before closing.
What Marshall Township requires
Sewer dye test
- 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 property sales.
- The process depends on which sewer authority serves the property.
Who to call
Marshall Township
724-935-3090
Official page
Housing in Marshall Township
- Median year homes were built
- 1998
- Median home value
- $509,900
- Owner-occupied homes
- 3,285 of 3,817 (86%)
- Total housing units
- 3,986
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 Marshall township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Need this done in Marshall 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 Marshall Township require before I sell my house?
Selling in Marshall requires a sewer dye test before closing.
How much does the sewer dye test cost in Marshall 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 Marshall Township?
The median home in Marshall Township was built in 1998, and the median home value is $509,900, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
- Kennedy Township Required in some cases
- Kilbuck Township Required at sale
- Leet Township Required at sale
- Leetsdale Borough Required at sale
- Liberty Borough Required at sale
- Lincoln Borough Required at sale
- McCandless Township Required at sale
- McDonald Borough Required at sale
- McKees Rocks Borough Required at sale
- McKeesport Required at sale
- Millvale Borough Required in some cases
- Monroeville 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.