Selling a house in Sewickley Hills Borough, PA: what the city requires
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania · Last checked November 2026
Selling in Sewickley Hills requires a sewer dye test before closing. The dye test certificate fee is $30.
What Sewickley Hills Borough requires
Sewer dye test
- Who does it
- The municipality or its sewer authority performs or witnesses the test.
- 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
Sewickley Hills Borough
412-741-4891
Official page
Housing in Sewickley Hills Borough
- Median year homes were built
- 1982
- Median home value
- $486,400
- Owner-occupied homes
- 262 of 264 (99%)
- Total housing units
- 288
The typical home here dates from 1982, 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 Sewickley Hills borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Need this done in Sewickley Hills Borough?
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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 Sewickley Hills Borough require before I sell my house?
Selling in Sewickley Hills requires a sewer dye test before closing. The dye test certificate fee is $30.
How much does the sewer dye test cost in Sewickley 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 Sewickley Hills Borough?
The median home in Sewickley Hills Borough was built in 1982, and the median home value is $486,400, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
- Robinson Township Required at sale
- Ross Township Required at sale
- Rosslyn Farms Borough Required at sale
- Scott Township Required at sale
- Sewickley Borough Required at sale
- Sewickley Heights Borough Required at sale
- Shaler Township Required at sale
- Sharpsburg Borough Required at sale
- South Fayette Township Required at sale
- South Park Required at sale
- South Versailles Township Required at sale
- Springdale 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.