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If you are selling property in the City of Pittsburgh, start the dye-test compliance process before closing details become urgent. Every seller must request an Evidence of Compliance Certificate from Pittsburgh Water, but not every property will need an actual dye test. Pittsburgh Water reviews the location first and decides whether testing is required. Because that review can take time, and a failed test can lead to corrective work and a second test, this is a task to begin early rather than leave for closing week.
What Pittsburgh’s requirement actually means
The City’s requirement focuses on stormwater connections to sanitary sewers. A sanitary sewer is intended to carry wastewater. Gutters, driveway drains, yard drains, and similar stormwater collection points can create problems when they send rainwater into that system.
Before a City of Pittsburgh property is sold, an Evidence of Compliance Certificate application must be submitted to Pittsburgh Water. The agency reviews the property’s sewer area and determines the next step. Its online map may help with early planning, but Pittsburgh Water says the map is only a guideline and does not decide whether a test is required.
The key distinction: every City of Pittsburgh sale needs the certificate process, while the actual dye test depends on Pittsburgh Water’s review of the property.
How the dye-test process works
The process is sequential, so a delay at the beginning can affect later closing preparations. As of September 2026, Pittsburgh Water describes these steps:
- Submit the Evidence of Compliance Certificate application through Pittsburgh Water’s online permitting portal. The owner, real estate agent, or title company may submit it, but duplicate requests should be avoided.
- Wait for Pittsburgh Water to determine whether the property is in an area served by a sanitary sewer. The agency says it replies within 10 business days after receiving the application.
- If a test is required, hire a certified plumber or general contractor to perform it and submit the official results form.
- Wait for Pittsburgh Water to review the results. The agency says it replies to a results form within 10 business days.
- If an improper connection is found, wait for Pittsburgh Water’s review before taking action. A certified plumber or general contractor can complete the correction, followed by another dye test and results submission.
- After Pittsburgh Water confirms that no illegal connection remains, it provides the Evidence of Compliance Certificate through the online portal.
The current application fee is $20, and applications are online only. Fees and procedures can change, so confirm the current instructions on Pittsburgh Water’s website before submitting.
Possible outcomes after the initial review
| Finding | What happens next |
|---|---|
| Combined sewer area | No dye test is required; Pittsburgh Water issues the certificate after reviewing the application. |
| Sanitary sewer area | A certified plumber or general contractor performs the test and reports the results. |
| Test passes | No corrective work is needed; Pittsburgh Water issues the certificate. |
| Test identifies an improper connection | Corrective work and a subsequent test are required before the certificate is issued. |
Pittsburgh Water states that Evidence of Compliance Certificates are valid for three years. If testing was completed within that period, the seller still submits an application so the agency can check its records and provide the existing certificate when appropriate.
What a dye test checks
During a dye test, a contractor places non-staining, water-soluble dye into a drain or downspout and flushes it with water. The sewer infrastructure is then checked for traces of that dye. The result helps show whether stormwater is reaching a sanitary sewer through an improper connection.
This is not the same as a general home inspection, sewer-camera inspection, or broad assessment of a property’s plumbing condition. A buyer may still request other inspections under the purchase agreement. Sellers should keep those separate scopes clear when comparing contractor quotes and closing requirements.
Plan the timing around closing
A property that does not need a test may move through the certificate process relatively simply. A property that needs testing has more steps: contractor scheduling, testing, agency review, and potentially corrective work plus retesting. Pittsburgh Water notes that the overall timeline depends on those factors.
The final water bill is a related but separate closing task. For sales involving a Pittsburgh Water billing account, the utility’s current final bill instructions say to submit the application no less than 10 working days before closing. The form asks for account or parcel information and a water-meter reading. If the closing date changes or the sale is canceled, notify Pittsburgh Water so it can update the request.
A practical seller checklist
- Confirm that the property is inside the City of Pittsburgh and identify the correct parcel number, ward, block, and lot through the Allegheny County property portal.
- Ask the closing or title professional who will submit the certificate application so the parties do not create duplicate requests.
- Submit the application early enough to allow for Pittsburgh Water’s review and the possibility of contractor work.
- If testing is required, use a certified plumber or general contractor and make sure the official results form reaches Pittsburgh Water.
- Do not begin corrective work until Pittsburgh Water has reviewed the failed test and identified what must be addressed.
- Keep the certificate, test results, contractor paperwork, and correspondence together for the closing file.
- Submit the separate final bill application with the required account or property information and meter reading.
- Tell Pittsburgh Water promptly if the closing date changes.
How this fits an as-is sale
Selling a property as-is generally means the seller is not agreeing to make ordinary repairs requested by a buyer. It does not automatically remove government, utility, title, or closing requirements. For a City of Pittsburgh sale, the certificate process still applies, and Pittsburgh Water states that an improper stormwater connection must be corrected before the property can be sold.
If the property needs work, discuss the dye-test result with the title company, a qualified contractor, and a Pennsylvania real estate attorney when appropriate. Written contract terms should clearly reflect who will coordinate permissible work and how the closing schedule will respond. Do not assume that an as-is clause, a cash buyer, or a quick closing eliminates the certificate requirement.
Bottom line
For a Pittsburgh home sale, begin by applying for the Evidence of Compliance Certificate. Pittsburgh Water, not the online map or the seller, determines whether an actual dye test is needed. Starting early gives you room for the agency review, contractor availability, possible corrective work, and the separate final-bill request.
This article provides general information, not legal, financial, or contracting advice. Requirements and timelines can change or depend on the property, so confirm current instructions with Pittsburgh Water and your closing professionals.
If you want to compare an as-is cash offer with your other selling options, you can request a no-obligation property review from 3Rivers Homebuyers.
Official resources
