(A) Scope and intent. The provisions of this section shall apply to all real estate which is connected to the city's sanitary sewer or located within the city. It is the intent of this section to identify and eliminate inflow and infiltration resulting from cracked and leaking pipes, foundation drain connections, roof drain connections, and sump pump connections.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following terms are defined as follows:
BUILDING OFFICIAL. The Building Official appointed by the City Council and/or the City Administrator or a City Administrator’s designee.
BUYER. Any person or entity who purchases a property or to whom title to a property is conveyed.
CITY COMPLIANCE FORM. The form provided to the seller evidencing compliance with this section.
CLOSING. The date in which the ownership of the property is transferred to the buyer.
PLUMBER’S POINT OF SALE CERTIFICATION. The certificate provided to the city evidencing inspection of sanitary sewer.
QUALIFIED PERSON. A person qualified to complete an inspection and plumber’s point of sale certification under division (D)(3) of this section.
SALE or SOLD. The transfer of title to a property.
SELLER. The current owner of real estate as identified in the property records on file at the St. Louis County Auditor's Office or by court order.
(C) Requirements.
(1) Sanitary sewer lines. All sanitary sewer lines serving property, from the house to the main line, shall be in a safe and functional condition and shall be free from all leaks, failures including but not limited to sags, partially collapsed sections or tree root intrusion.
(2) In addition, all sanitary sewer lines shall meet the standards and specifications established in § 53.03, Building Sewers and Connections.
(D) Point of sale certification required and monies escrowed for deficiencies.
(1) No property which is connected to the city's sanitary sewer shall be sold within the city unless the seller or buyer has provided a plumber’s point of sale certification to the Building Official at least two business days prior to closing. The plumber’s point of sale certification shall provide the city with the resources to provide the city compliance form evidencing that the property has been inspected and is in compliance with the requirements of this section. Compliance forms shall be valid for five years from the date of signature.
(2) The plumber’s point of sale certification shall be in the form provided by the city and requires one digital copy of the televising report to be provided to the city along with written report.
(3) The inspection and certification of sanitary sewer lines must be completed by a qualified person. A qualified person is a plumber licensed by the State of Minnesota or another sewer professional pre-approved by the city.
(4) The fee for inspection and preparation of the certification by the contractor shall be paid by the buyer or seller. There shall be no fee paid to the city.
(5) Any deficiencies discovered during the inspection shall be disclosed prior to closing and shall be corrected within 24 months from the closing. The seller shall provide proof to the city that funds were placed in an escrow account at closing to cover the required repairs. The amount to be escrowed shall be one and one-half times the amount of the quote for repairs.
(6) Properties found to be sharing a common sewer line during the inspection shall be remedied by providing at least two separate sewer laterals that connect to the city’s main trunk line. The cost shall be split evenly between the property’s owners that are connected to the common service.
(E) Exceptions. Compliance forms are not required for the following:
(1) A property where the compliance form has been issued by the city within five years prior to the sale of the dwelling unit.
(2) Property sold or transferred by a court ruling including wills, probate actions, divorce, and estate settlements.
(3) A property that is without building or contains no dwelling or other buildings with plumbing fixtures.
(4) Property which is sold to a foreclosing mortgagee which holds a mortgage on the dwelling unit.
(5) The transfer does not require the filing of a certificate of real estate value, as described in M.S. § 272.115, subdivision 1.
(F) Penalties.
(1) Criminal remedies. The failure of any seller or buyer to comply with the provisions of this section or to comply with an order issued by the city pursuant to this section shall be a misdemeanor.
(2) Civil remedies. In addition to the criminal remedies, this section may be enforced by injunction, action for abatement or other appropriate civil remedy.
(G) Warranty disclaimer by city. By enacting and undertaking to enforce this section, neither the city nor its council, agents or employees warrant or guarantee the safety, fitness or suitability to any property in the city.
(Ord. 101, passed 10-3-2023)