Guide And Requirements To I/I Inspections

The following is a guide and set of requirements property owners should consult to prepare for I/I inspections:

1. Property owners are encouraged to have their sewer service cleaned before the inspection.
2. An application may be submitted, and fee paid by check, via mail or in person at the Public Works Department in City Hall. Applications may also be submitted online, and the fee paid by credit card. The application fee is $250 for residential properties and $750 (per building) for commercial or multi-unit buildings.
3. Call 763-593-8030 between 8 am and 4 pm to schedule an inspection.  Provide permit number, if application was submitted online, and at least 24-hour advance notice.
4. The appointment will take approximately one and one-half hours for residential properties and a minimum of three hours for commercial or multi-unit properties.
5. A responsible adult must be present at all times during the inspection.
6. Before the inspection, the property owner must do the following:
   1. Locate the four-inch diameter vertical wastewater pipe that runs down through the basement from a bathroom above. This pipe will have an access point called a cleanout. Cleanouts are usually located on the pipe between approximately six inches and two feet from the basement floor.
   
   2. Make sure the cleanout cover is in working condition before the inspection can be performed. To ensure the cleanout cover is in working condition, the cover should be loosened and removed, then reinstalled so that a watertight seal is achieved.  If the property owner is unable to provide a working cleanout cover, he or she needs to hire a plumber to provide a working cleanout or remove the basement toilet. This work must be completed before the inspection.
   3. Make sure the floor area around the cleanout is clear (a five-foot radius at a minimum).
   4. If there is a cleanout cover located on the floor in the basement, this cover should be in working condition. The inspector may need to gain access to any cleanout covers located in the basement floor, but the inspection cannot be performed through this type of cleanout. Even if the property owner has a cleanout cover located in the floor that is easily accessible and used for sewer cleaning, the inspector must use the cleanout in the vertical four-inch diameter wastewater pipe.
   5. If you have a sump pump, make sure it is accessible for inspection.
   6. Make sure the sump pump discharge piping is visible.
7. If the property is not compliant after two inspections, an additional application fee ($250 for residential properties; $750 for commercial properties) will be charged.
8. Allow up to five working days for the City to review the inspection video and issue a compliance certificate.

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