Point-of-Sale Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Inspection Ordinance
Submit the City of Austin Sump Pump Inspection Report digitally. Required under the Point-of-Sale I&I Ordinance for all property sales since March 1, 2026.
Complete all 11 questions from the official City of Austin Sump Pump Inspection Report below.
Provide a link to your date-stamped sewer line video recording (YouTube, Drive, Vimeo, or Dropbox).
Pay $3.99 to submit. A PDF is generated and emailed to the city, you, and the property owner.
Complete all sections below. This digital form matches the city's official 2-page inspection form.
Austin, Minnesota sits along the Cedar River in Mower County. With an aging infrastructure and history of severe flooding, the city adopted a Point-of-Sale I&I Inspection Ordinance to protect its sanitary sewer system.
Most pre-1970 homes have clay sewer pipes that crack, separate at joints, and allow groundwater infiltration into the sanitary sewer system.
The 2004 flood caused over $12 million in damage. Cedar River crested 7 feet above flood stage, overwhelming the sewer system with infiltration.
Austin maintains over 117,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer lines. Reducing I&I through property inspections protects this critical infrastructure.
Mature trees throughout Austin's established neighborhoods are the #1 cause of sewer line blockages. Video inspection reveals root intrusion before it causes backups.
Sewer line replacement costs homeowners $5,000 to $25,000. Early detection through I&I inspection prevents catastrophic failures and basement flooding.
The American Society of Civil Engineers gives Minnesota wastewater infrastructure a D+ grade. Austin's proactive ordinance helps improve this rating locally.
The City of Austin adopted a Point-of-Sale Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Inspection Ordinance on April 19, 2025. Originally set to take effect July 1, 2025, the City Council voted 5-1 to delay implementation to March 1, 2026. The ordinance requires a Certificate of I/I Compliance for all properties connected to the public sewer at point of sale. A licensed plumber inspects sump pumps, roof drains, seepage collection systems, and sewer connections, then submits the official Sump Pump Inspection Report to the city.
Any property being sold within Austin city limits must have a licensed plumber perform the I&I inspection. The plumber fills out the city's official Sump Pump Inspection Report, signs it, and submits it along with video evidence to City Hall. Property owners can also hire WHKS & Co. (the city's engineering consultant) or any licensed plumber to perform the inspection.
Digital submission is $3.99 per report. For $8.99, your submission is saved to your plumber dashboard so you can download PDFs and resend emails for any past inspection.
After payment, a professional PDF matching the city's official form is generated and emailed directly to the City of Austin Public Works Department, to you (the plumber), and optionally to the property owner.
Yes. The ordinance requires date-stamped sewer line video. You can provide a YouTube, Google Drive, Vimeo, or Dropbox link to your video recording.
A passing sump pump inspection certification is valid for 10 years in Austin MN, per the city ordinance.
If improper connections are found (such as a sump pump discharging into the sanitary sewer), the inspector issues a Violation Notice with a remediation deadline. Corrections must be completed before closing, or funds can be placed in escrow to cover repairs after closing. Non-compliance results in a $100/month surcharge on the property's utility bill. Repair costs typically range from under $100 for minor fixes to $2,000+ for major work like new sump pit installation.
No. This is an independent digital submission tool provided by InspectorData.com. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Austin, MN. The official city form is used as the basis for our digital version.
The city's free inspection program (conducted by WHKS & Co.) has no charge. If you hire a private licensed plumber, costs vary but are typically $75-$200 for the inspection itself. Digital submission through this tool is $3.99 per report, or $8.99 to also save it to your dashboard.
Properties that have not been inspected and passed receive a $100/month clear water surcharge on their utility bill. This surcharge continues until an inspection is completed and compliance is verified. Submitting your inspection report promptly avoids this recurring charge.
For the Point-of-Sale ordinance, a licensed plumber must perform and sign the inspection. The city's free program uses WHKS & Co. engineers. For property sales, you need a licensed plumber to complete the official Sump Pump Inspection Report form and submit it to City Hall.
The city divided Austin into six inspection areas: Southeast, Southcentral, Southwest, Northeast, Northcentral, and Northwest. All buildings with a sewer account are inspected regardless of whether a sump pump is present. The Point-of-Sale ordinance applies citywide to any property being sold.
A beaver system (also called a French drain or seepage collection system) collects groundwater from around your foundation and directs it to a sump pit. In Austin MN, the inspection checks whether this system properly discharges to a sump pit or is improperly connected to the sanitary sewer. Improper connections contribute to I&I problems during rain events.
When inflow and infiltration overloads Austin's sanitary sewer system during heavy rainfall, untreated wastewater can bypass into the Cedar River and other receiving streams. The 2004 flood caused over $12 million in damage when the Cedar River crested 7 feet above flood stage. The I&I inspection program directly protects water quality in the Cedar River watershed and Mower County.
Located in Mower County along the Cedar River. This digital submission tool serves all licensed plumbers performing Point-of-Sale I&I inspections within Austin city limits.