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Council approves changes to point-of-sale ordinance, removes roots as automatic sewer failure
Summary
Council approved amendments to the point-of-sale ordinance that narrow what counts as a noncompliant sewer inspection (removing roots/mineral deposits as automatic failures), clarifies when a licensed plumber is required, and sets a 10-year certificate of compliance with a 180-day correction window for sellers.
The Austin City Council on Jan. 19 approved revisions to the city’s point-of-sale ordinance that change inspection standards and timelines for residential sales.
Stephen presented the updates developed by the point-of-sale working group. Key revisions include: expanding and clarifying the definition of a home sale (language referencing Minnesota deed tax is incorporated), removing roots and mineral deposits as stand-alone sewer inspection failures (though inspectors will still note them for buyers and sellers), clarifying that a licensed plumber is not required for televising sanitary sewer service but remains required for sump-pump inspections, and combining sewer-service and sump-pump certificate durations into a 10-year compliance certificate (new homes receive a 10-year certificate upon issuance of a certificate of occupancy).
The ordinance also extends the seller correction period from 90 days to 180 days in cases where a homeowner submits an inspection to the city. Staff said the changes reflect working-group recommendations and aim to reduce unnecessary failures while preserving buyer disclosure.
Council moved to prepare, adopt and publish the ordinance; roll calls recorded passage at each step, and the ordinance was adopted with council votes recorded as passing 6–0 on the record in the meeting.
