Selling a house in Pittsburgh, PA: what the city requires
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026
Selling in Pittsburgh requires a dye test for some properties before closing.
What Pittsburgh requires
Sewer dye test (some properties)
- Who does it
- A licensed, registered plumber performs the test and completes the municipal form.
- Cost
- Plumber's charge plus any municipal fee.
- Valid for
- 3 year
- Deadline
- Must pass before the municipality releases the lien letter and tax certification needed for closing.
- Applies to
- Required for property sales.
- The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority decides whether a property needs a test.
Who to call
Pittsburgh
(412) 350-4100
Official page
Housing in Pittsburgh
- Median year homes were built
- 1942
- Median home value
- $205,800
- Owner-occupied homes
- 65,856 of 138,188 (48%)
- Total housing units
- 161,908
Half the homes here were built in 1942 or earlier, so many sewer laterals are 84+ 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 Pittsburgh city, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Need this done in Pittsburgh?
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 Pittsburgh require before I sell my house?
Selling in Pittsburgh requires a dye test for some properties before closing.
How much does the sewer dye test cost in Pittsburgh?
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.
How long is it valid?
3 year
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 Pittsburgh?
The median home in Pittsburgh was built in 1942, and the median home value is $205,800, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
- Oakmont Borough Required in some cases
- Ohio Township Required at sale
- Penn Hills Required at sale
- Pennsbury Village Borough No point-of-sale rule
- Pine Township Required in some cases
- Pitcairn Borough Required at sale
- Pleasant Hills Borough Required at sale
- Plum Borough Required at sale
- Port Vue Borough Required at sale
- Rankin Borough Required at sale
- Reserve Township Required at sale
- Richland Township 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.