Duluth's point-of-sale sewer inspection.
Selling a home in Duluth? City code requires a building sewer inspection tied to the sale. Here is what it covers, what it doesn't, and how to keep it from delaying your closing.
- The seller must notify the City and arrange an inspection once a purchase agreement is signed and accepted, or at least 30 days before the title transfers.
- The inspection checks whether the home needs a sump pump, building sewer trap removal, or a footing drain disconnect.
- Required work must be done within 90 days of the inspection. After that, a monthly surcharge can be added to the sewer bill.
- The City offers grants of up to $2,150 toward qualifying corrective work.
On this page
Why Duluth does this
Rain and groundwater that get into the sanitary sewer (called inflow and infiltration, or I&I) overload the system. City code prohibits connecting downspouts, rain leaders, foundation drains, and area-way drains to a building sewer that ties into the public sanitary sewer (Duluth City Code Sec. 43-31). The point-of-sale inspection is how the City catches those connections when a home changes hands.
When it's triggered
Under Duluth City Code Sec. 43-33.4, when a legally binding offer to purchase is signed and accepted, or at least 30 days before a transfer of title, contract for deed, or contract for sale, the seller must notify the City of the proposed closing date and arrange the inspection.
What gets inspected
The code describes the inspection as determining whether the property needs a sump pump, building sewer trap removal, and a footing drain disconnect to comply with the sewer chapter. In other words, it's about clear water getting into the sanitary line from inside and around the house.
What it is not: it is not a camera inspection of the sewer line running from the house to the street. A passing certificate says nothing about whether that line is cracked, root-filled, or sagging. My advice: buyers of older homes should consider a separate sewer scope during the inspection period.
Repairs, deadlines, and the surcharge
- 90 days to fix. Required work must be completed within 90 days of the inspection (Sec. 43-33.4).
- Monthly surcharge. If a building stays out of compliance for more than 90 days, a surcharge set by the Duluth Public Utilities Commission is added to the property's wastewater bill each month until it's fixed (Sec. 43-12.1). The amount is set by resolution, so ask the City for the current figure.
- Certificate life. A certificate is valid for the sale it was issued for and for any other sale within one year (Sec. 43-33.4).
Help paying for it
The City's sanitary sewer program offers grants of up to $2,150 toward qualifying corrective work. Grant rules apply, so confirm eligibility with the City before work starts.
How to request the inspection
Requests go through the City's ePlace online portal. Questions go to Duluth Utility Operations at (218) 730-4130.
My advice for each side
- Sellers: request the inspection when you list, not when an offer arrives. If work is needed, you'll know the cost before you negotiate, and you won't be racing a closing date.
- Buyers: ask whether the inspection is done and whether a certificate was issued. If work is still open at closing, the purchase agreement should say who pays and when.
Sources
- Duluth City Code, Chapter 43: Sewers and Sewage Disposal (Secs. 43-12.1, 43-31, 43-33.1, 43-33.4)
- City of Duluth, Sanitary Sewer: I&I program, grants, and contacts
- City of Duluth, I/I Grant Program Guidelines (Resolution 18-0287)
Reviewed September 2026. General information only, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements and fees with the City of Duluth.