Does a Pennsylvania township resale inspection require a sewer lateral camera test?

Perkiomen Township, Montgomery County, publishes a resale application for a certificate of occupancy. Its inspection page says the seller is responsible for hiring a plumber or plumbing company to camera the sewer lateral from the house to the sewer main for properties connected to public sewer. The plumber then completes an affidavit and gives it to the township. The form says a certificate of occupancy will not be issued without that affidavit.

The affidavit says the lateral was camera inspected and is free of plumbing deficiencies such as back pitch, breaks, cracks, infiltration, illegal connections, obstructions, roots or grease buildup, to the best of the plumber's knowledge. A false statement is made subject to the penalties for unsworn falsification to authorities under 18 Pa.C.S. section 4904. The form also asks for a scaled or dimensioned drawing of the lateral.

Pennsylvania does not run one statewide resale inspection. Each municipality writes its own code, so a camera test in one township may not exist in the next. The Perkiomen form is a single example from a form revised in January 2019. Fees, steps and the items checked can change. Call the code office in the township where the house sits.

If your township requires a lateral test, order it early. A failed lateral can mean digging, and the cost is yours to weigh against the sale. Ask your attorney whether the agreement of sale puts repairs on you or the buyer. This page is general information and not legal advice.

Some owners prefer not to pay for a camera test and repairs just to qualify for a township certificate. Kaizen Home Buyers buys houses for cash, as-is, with no repairs and no agent commission. We can make an offer within 24 hours and close in 14 to 30 days, or on the date you choose. Call 267-329-0084.