Private sewer lateral assessment program

Learn more about the private sewer lateral assessment program

What is a private sewer lateral?

The sanitary lateral delivers wastewater from the property to the city's main line. The property owner is responsible for maintaining private sewer laterals so that sewage can flow through the sanitary lateral (also called a sanitary service) to the main sanitary sewer pipe. Please note that part of your sanitary lateral is in the Public Right of Way (ROW), as it extends all the way to the sanitary main. Visit this link for more information on home sewer maintenance.

When a failure or blockage of a private sanitary lateral occurs, the property owner should call a licensed plumber or drain cleaning service to fix the problem with the sanitary lateral. When a repair or replacement is needed, the city has an assessment program that helps property owners pay for the cost if they are not able to pay. This cost must be paid back over time as part of the property taxes. Please read below for more information about this program.

Eligibility requirements

Completed Sewer Service Line Repair Agreement. Forms must be notarized.

Property must be in the City of Minneapolis
Use a City of Minneapolis Target Market Program contractor. At least three bids required from this vendor list. See the list here. Vendors will be paid directly by the city.
Upload the following documents in the online application. These documents can be scanned or a photo taken that gets uploaded. If you are unable to provide electronic documents you can receive and submit a paper application.
- Three bids at time of application. Bids must be received before applying.
- Proof of ownership at time of application. This can be a mortgage statement or Hennepin County Tax statement.
- Completed Sewer Service Line Repair Agreement. Forms must be notarized.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants will need to resubmit if application is deemed incomplete.

Assessment details

Program is governed by city ordinance 511.380-Assessment for repairs to sanitary service laterals.
The program year runs from July 1^st to June 30^th. The assessment will occur in November and will be on your property taxes the next year.
- Example: Repair work done on September 5, 2024 will be sent for assessment in November 2025. It will start to be part of your property tax bill in 2026.
If the cost for the repair is paid back to the city before November 15^th, the city will not assess the property. Partial payments are allowed with the remaining balanced assessed. To pay off the cost before assessment contact 612-673-2401 or email PWspecialassessments@minneapolismn.gov.
A $50 administrative fee will be charged for all repair costs that get assessed. This fee will be included in the total assessment amount.
The interest rate for assessment is determined each year when assessments are approved by the city council. As an example, the 2024 interest rates were 3.90% (5 years), 4.10% (10 years), 4.30% (15 years), 4.50% (20 years).
The assessment period (5, 10, 15 or 20 years) can be determined by the property owner at the time of application based on the following guidelines:

	Payment Terms Available
Repair Cost:	5 Years	10 Years	15 Years	20 Years
Up to $10,000	Yes	Yes	No	No
Between $10,001 and $15,000	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Greater than $15,000	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

You will need to provide the Property ID Number (P.I.D) for your property. This information can be located at this Hennepin County Property Information Search website.
Special Assessment Deferments
- The City may defer the payment of assessments for any homestead property owned by a person 65 years or older or retired due to a permanent and total disability for whom it would be a hardship to make the payments (City Council Resolutions 2015R-222). For further information on applying for deferment, call 612-673-2401 or email PWspecialassessments@minneapolismn.gov.
  - A deferment does not reduce or eliminate the amount owed, it only postpones payment.
  - During the deferment, simple interest will accumulate on the total principal amount of the assessment at the rate of interest adopted for the related capital improvement special assessment project.

Example assessment payments

Below is an example assessment payment:

$10,000 repair plus $50.00 Administrative Fee
5 Year Assessment Period
Interest rate 3.9%

	Payment Year
	Initial Assessment	1	2	3	4	5
Current Year Principal	-	$2,010.00	$2,010.00	$2,010.00	$2,010.00	$2,010.00
Current Year Interest (3.9%)	-	$391.95	$313.56	$235.17	$156.78	$78.39
Amount added to taxes	-	$2,401.95	$2,323.56	$2,245.17	$2,166.78	$2,088.39
Assessment Balance	$10,050.00	$8,040.00	$6,030.00	$4,020.00	$2,010.00	$0.00

Additional Information

For further information about this program, please call 612-673-2451 or email PWUtility.Connections@minneapolismn.gov
For questions on how the financing works, please contact 612-673-2401 or email PWspecialassessments@minneapolismn.gov
If you are unable to fill out the electronic application a packet can be mailed to you

Private sewer lateral assessment application

Click on the link to the right to see the application

Click here to apply

Request accessible format

If you need help with this information, please email 311, or call 311 or 612-673-3000.

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Utility Connections

Public Works

Email Utility Connections

Phone

612-673-2451

Fax

612-673-3446

Address

Minneapolis Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55415