Baldwin Borough
- Dye test plus camera inspection of the sewer lateral
- Good for 5 years
- $35 Borough fee
Selling a home in the Pittsburgh area?
Get your dye test done before it holds up your closing.
Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, the City of Pittsburgh and many other towns require a dye test before a home sale closes. Some also require a camera inspection of the sewer line. We connect you with an Allegheny County licensed plumber who runs the test on your schedule.
- Plumbers licensed by the Allegheny County Health Department
- Scheduled around your closing date
- Repair quotes right away if a test fails
What your town requires
Every municipality sets its own rules. Here is what the most common towns ask for at sale.
Baldwin Township
- Dye test by a registered plumber
- Township employee must be onsite
- $35 per parcel
Bethel Park
- Dye test plus camera inspection of the sewer lateral
- Finish at least 21 days before closing
- Good for 2 years; $50 municipal fee
Brentwood
- Dye test plus camera inspection of the sewer lateral
- New test needed for each sale
- Apply at least 21 days before closing
Bridgeville
- Dye test of gutters and drains
- Needed for sale, transfer or refinance
- $25 Borough application fee
Castle Shannon
- Dye test done by Borough Public Works
- Good for 1 year
- $100 residential fee
Collier Township
- Dye test plus camera inspection of the sewer lateral
- Dye test good for 2 years, lateral for 5
- Apply at least 20 days before closing
Dormont
- Dye test by a registered plumber
- Good for 90 days from the test date
- $25 certificate fee
Green Tree
- Dye test plus camera inspection of the sewer lateral
- Apply at least 10 days before closing
- $110 Borough application fee
Jefferson Hills
- Dye test by a licensed plumber
- $35 Borough fee
- Apply at least 14 days before the sale
Mount Oliver
- Dye test by a registered master plumber
- Not needed if one was done in the last 5 years
- $65 Borough dye test report fee
Mt. Lebanon
- Dye test before sale; not needed to refinance
- Good for 3 years
- Form and $50 fee due 10 business days before closing
Peters Township
- Dye test done by the sewer authority
- Good for 1 year
- $275 test fee (PTSA)
Pleasant Hills
- Dye test plus camera inspection of the sewer lateral
- Borough staff must witness the camera test
- Apply at least 14 days before closing
Scott Township
- Dye test of downspouts and area drains
- Good for 2 years
- Needed for sale or refinance
South Fayette
- Authority does the dye test and camera inspection
- Camera inspection good for 3 years
- $225 for up to 100 feet of line
South Park Township
- Dye test witnessed by the Township
- Apply at least 5 days before transfer
- Plumber licensed by Allegheny County
Upper St. Clair
- Dye test plus sewer lateral inspection
- Dye test good for 1 year
- $50 Township fee; forms 14 days before closing
West Mifflin
- Dye test of downspouts and drains
- Apply at least 14 days before the sale
- $25 compliance form with a plumber's test
Whitehall
- Dye test by a licensed plumber
- Good for 5 years
- $25 Evidence of Compliance fee
City of Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh Water certificate before closing
- Dye test only in sanitary sewer areas
- Good for 3 years; $20 online application
Fox Chapel, Hampton, Avalon, Blawnox and Thornburg also require a test at sale. Pick "Another town" on the form and the plumber will confirm your town's rules.
How it works
Tell us the address and closing date
Online scheduling opens soon.
A licensed plumber calls you
They confirm what your town requires and book a time before your deadline.
Test, results and next steps
You get your results and know exactly what your town needs before closing.
What the plumber checks
- Every downspout
- Driveway, yard and area drains
- Roof drains that run inside the house
- Interior French drains and sumps
- The sewer lateral by camera, where your town requires it
Failed your dye test?
Most failures trace back to a downspout or drain tied into the sanitary line. A cracked or leaking sewer lateral is a bigger job that can cost thousands of dollars. Get a repair quote right away so it doesn't push back your closing.
Some towns let a sale close with money held in escrow for repairs. Ask your municipality whether yours does.
Get a repair quoteCommon fixes
- Disconnect downspouts from the sanitary line
- Disconnect driveway, yard or area drains
- Repair, reline or replace the sewer lateral
- Retest and file the passing result with your town
Questions sellers ask
What is a dye test?
A licensed plumber puts a nontoxic, water-soluble dye into your downspouts and drains, flushes them with water, and checks whether the dyed water shows up in the sanitary sewer. If it does, that drain is improperly connected and has to be rerouted.
Why do towns require it?
Rainwater that gets into sanitary sewers causes sewage overflows during heavy storms. Federal and state regulators directed municipalities to stop those overflows, and testing at the time of sale is one way towns find and fix improper connections.
What is a camera inspection?
Some towns, including Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, also require an inspection of the sewer lateral, the pipe from your house to the street. The plumber runs a camera through it to look for cracks, breaks and leaks.
Who can perform the test?
A plumber licensed by the Allegheny County Health Department. Some towns also send their own staff to watch the test.
How long is a passing test good for?
It depends on the town. Bethel Park certifications last 2 years and Mt. Lebanon's last 3 years.
Can the dye test be done when the home is listed?
In most towns, yes, and it's the safest move. Bethel Park accepts a test certified in the last 2 years, Mt. Lebanon's lasts 3 years and Baldwin Borough's 5. Dormont is the exception: its certificate lasts only 90 days. Each town page says how long a test counts and how to register with the town.
Who pays for it?
In most towns the seller arranges and pays for the test and any repairs.
What does it cost?
The plumber quotes the test when they call you. Your town may add its own processing fee; Bethel Park's is $50.
Do I need a dye test to refinance?
Usually not. Mt. Lebanon, for example, doesn't require one to refinance. A few towns, such as Scott Township, do.
Are you a plumbing company?
No. Pittsburgh Dye Test is a referral service. We connect you with an independent, licensed plumber who performs the test and any repairs. Using this site is free. You pay the plumber for the test and any repairs, and your town may charge its own fee.
For real estate agents
The town-by-town dye test checklist
What each town requires, how long a pass is valid, fees and deadlines. Keep it handy at every listing and send sellers here early. Booking is free for agents, and we never pay referral fees.