The Ordinance at a Glance
Adopted
April 19, 2025 by Austin City Council
Effective Date
March 1, 2026 (delayed from July 1, 2025)
Council Vote to Delay
5-1 (Jeff Austin sole dissent; Jason Baskin absent)
Applies To
All properties connected to public sewer at point of sale
Who Inspects
Licensed plumber required for Point-of-Sale
Non-Compliance
$100/month clear water surcharge on utility bill
Why Austin Adopted This Ordinance
Austin, Minnesota (population ~25,000) sits along the Cedar River in Mower County. The city's sanitary sewer system was built primarily in the 1940s-1960s, with a median home construction year of 1957. During heavy rainfall, clear water from sump pumps, roof drains, and cracked pipes floods into sanitary sewer lines, causing flows to jump to eight times the normal rate.
This inflow and infiltration (I&I) has caused:
- Basement sewage backups in hundreds of Austin homes
- Untreated wastewater bypassing into the Cedar River
- Over $12 million in flood damage (2004 event)
- Increased taxpayer costs for wastewater treatment capacity
- Strain on Austin's 117,000+ linear feet of sanitary sewer lines
The Point-of-Sale ordinance ensures that sewer compliance is verified every time a property changes hands, gradually improving the entire system over time.
What You Need to Do
If You're Selling a Property
- Hire a licensed plumber to perform the I&I inspection
- The plumber completes the official Sump Pump Inspection Report
- The plumber records date-stamped sewer line video
- Submit the form and video to the City of Austin
- If violations exist: correct before closing or fund through escrow
- Obtain your Certificate of I/I Compliance
If You're a Licensed Plumber
- Perform the inspection per the city's 11-question form
- Mark PASS, FAIL, or CITY FOLLOW-UP
- If 6b, 7b, 8b, or 8c is checked, issue a Violation Notice with deadline
- Submit the signed form + video to City Hall (or submit digitally here)
If You're a Realtor
Advise your sellers to schedule the inspection early in the listing process. A passing inspection removes a potential deal-killer. If violations are found, sellers can either correct them before listing or disclose them with an escrow arrangement.
Common Violations and Repair Costs
| Violation | Typical Fix | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Sump pump flex hose to floor drain | Redirect to rigid pipe through exterior wall | $50 - $200 |
| Roof drain connected to sanitary sewer | Disconnect and redirect to grade or storm sewer | $100 - $500 |
| Beaver system draining to sanitary | Redirect to sump pit with proper pump | $500 - $1,500 |
| No sump pit where needed | Install new sump pit, pump, and discharge line | $750 - $2,000 |
| Improper exterior grading | Re-grade soil to slope away from foundation | $200 - $1,000 |
The Pushback and Delay
The ordinance faced significant pushback from Austin property owners and realtors. Concerns included:
- Lack of clarity in the ordinance language
- Inadequate public notification about the ordinance's adoption
- Potential financial burden on property owners at time of sale
- Impact on real estate transactions and closing timelines
- Questions about whether point-of-sale was the right mechanism
Council member Jeff Austin argued the ordinance "raised more questions than it answered" and advocated for full rescission rather than delay. Ultimately, the council voted 5-1 to postpone to March 1, 2026 to refine the ordinance.
Submit Your Inspection Report Digitally
Skip the trip to City Hall
Fill out the official 11-question form digitally, attach your sewer line video, and pay $3.99. A professional PDF is emailed to the City of Austin, to you, and to the property owner.
Submit Form Online — $3.99