City Home Rules

Selling a house in McDonald Borough, PA: what the city requires

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026

Required at sale

Selling in McDonald requires a sewer dye test before closing.

What McDonald Borough requires

Sewer dye test

Who does it
The municipality or its sewer authority performs or witnesses the test.
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.

Who to call

McDonald Borough
724-926-2750
Official page

Housing in McDonald Borough

Median year homes were built
1939 or earlier
Median home value
$98,700
Owner-occupied homes
188 of 211 (89%)
Total housing units
288

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 McDonald borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Need this done in McDonald 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.

What do you need?

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.

  1. Hire a licensed, Allegheny County registered plumber. Some municipalities require a plumber from their approved list, or do the test themselves.
  2. The plumber runs dye through downspouts and drains and completes the municipal form.
  3. If dye shows up in the sanitary line, the illegal connection must be fixed and the test redone.
  4. The municipality issues a certificate. It must be on file before the lien letter and tax certification are released for closing.
Typical cost ranges (estimates, not quotes)
ItemTypical 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 McDonald Borough require before I sell my house?

Selling in McDonald requires a sewer dye test before closing.

How much does the sewer dye test cost in McDonald Borough?

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 McDonald Borough?

The median home in McDonald Borough was built in 1939 or earlier, and the median home value is $98,700, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.

Nearby: Pittsburgh & Allegheny County

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Sources

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.