Sump pump discharge rules in Duluth, MN

Minnesota · Last checked November 2026

Key facts

At sale

A point-of-sale inspection and a $115 certificate.

Fix time

90 days after a Notice to Correct.

Grant

Up to $1,400 for a working sump pump or gravity system.

How it works

Almost every city bans sump pump water from the sanitary sewer, because clean water overloads treatment plants and backs sewage into basements. Where you can send it instead varies: some cities ban street and curb outlets, some allow them in summer only, and some require a storm sewer connection.

1. Make sure the pump does not drain into a floor drain, laundry tub or sanitary line.
2. Route the discharge to your yard, far enough from the foundation and the sidewalk that it soaks in.
3. Do not run hoses across the sidewalk or drill the curb unless the city allows it in writing.
4. Ask the city about a storm sewer connection permit if your yard cannot absorb the water.

What it costs

Rerouting a discharge line or adding a buried outlet is often a few hundred dollars. A storm sewer connection or a new sump system costs more and usually needs a permit.

Other Duluth home rules

• What Duluth requires before you sell a house

More in Minnesota and nearby

• Buffalo Allowed with conditions
• Otsego Allowed with conditions
• West Fargo Street discharge limited by season
• Franklin Township Allowed with conditions
• Urbana Allowed with conditions
• Sugar Grove Street discharge limited by season