City guide
What Newport asks of a seller before a sale closes — and what it doesn’t. Every line below cites the city, county or state page it came from, so you can check it yourself.
All sources last checked between 2026-08-18 and 2026-10-29. Newport is in Washington County, Minnesota.
This is a reference document, not legal advice, and city rules change. Confirm anything you are relying on with Newport before you act on it.
Required · Newport
Newport's seller page, Before You Sell Your Home, says a seller must complete three requirements before closing or transferring ownership. Properties connected to the city sanitary sewer must have the sewer lateral inspected and certified to meet city standards before the sale or transfer; the inspection is provided at no cost to the property owner and is requested through the city's online inspection request form, the page cites Section 34-16 of the City Code, and questions go to 651-259-2622 or UPermits@wspmn.gov. Any driveway or parking area connected to a paved public road that is unpaved or has deteriorated beyond its serviceable life must be paved with asphalt, concrete or another material approved by the city before the property is sold or ownership is transferred; the page refers to Sections 18-73 and 36-161 of the City Code. A final water meter reading costs $25; contact City Hall at 651-459-5677 at least two business days before the closing date to schedule it. The city's other seller page, Before You Sell Your House (https://www.newportmn.gov/news_detail_T8_R2.php), lists the same three items in different terms: it says to call City Hall at least 3 business days before closing for the $25 meter read, and it states the driveway rule as the first 40 feet of the driveway or the driveway area between the street and the garage, whichever is less, paved with concrete, asphalt or an acceptable surface that meets the city's public works design manual, except for properties whose main access is on a non-paved roadway. Both pages are live; confirm the notice period for the meter read and which driveway rule applies to the property with Newport City Hall before closing.
Source: https://www.newportmn.gov/news_detail_T8_R94.php · checked 2026-10-29
Not required · Newport
Newport's own seller page, Before You Sell Your House, lists three things to do before a sale: a sewer lateral inspection for any property connected to the city sanitary sewer, which the city performs at no cost to the resident; paving of the first 40 feet of the driveway or the driveway area between the street and the garage, whichever is less; and a water meter read on the day of sale. The page does not mention a Truth in Sale of Housing evaluation or report. The three requirements are covered in the point of sale inspection entry.
Source: https://www.newportmn.gov/news_detail_T8_R2.php · checked 2026-10-28
Not required · Newport
Newport's own seller page, Before You Sell Your House, lists three things to do before a sale: a sewer lateral inspection for any property connected to the city sanitary sewer, which the city performs at no cost to the resident; paving of the first 40 feet of the driveway or the driveway area between the street and the garage, whichever is less; and a water meter read on the day of sale. The page does not mention a certificate of occupancy or any city inspection certificate issued at resale. The three requirements are covered in the point of sale inspection entry.
Source: https://www.newportmn.gov/news_detail_T8_R2.php · checked 2026-10-29
Required in some cases · Newport
The City of Newport requires all rental properties to be registered, licensed, and inspected. Rental license requirements are based on the number of units in the property: properties with 1 to 4 units apply for a three-year rental license, and properties with 5 or more units apply for an annual rental license. All rental properties must be inspected at least once every three years and whenever ownership of the property changes, so the sale of a rental property brings an inspection. Completed applications are emailed to Jill Thiesfeld (jthiesfeld@newportmn.gov) or mailed to City of Newport, 2060 1st Avenue, Newport, MN 55055; the city accepts cash or check only, payable to the City of Newport.
Source: https://www.newportmn.gov/how_do_i/apply_for_obtain/rental_property_application.php · checked 2026-10-29
Required · Minnesota
Minnesota's seller disclosure law, Minn. Stat. 513.55, requires a seller of residential real property, before signing an agreement to sell or transfer, to make a written disclosure to the prospective buyer of all material facts of which the seller is aware that could adversely and significantly affect an ordinary buyer's use and enjoyment of the property or any intended use of the property the seller is aware of, made in good faith and based on the best of the seller's knowledge. The statute does not name special assessments; an assessment against the property is disclosed when it meets that test. The disclosure is made in writing before the agreement is signed; the statute does not require it to be part of the purchase agreement. Whether Newport has any requirement of its own for special assessments at a sale has not been established; confirm any levied or pending assessment against the property with the City before closing.
Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/513.55 · checked 2026-10-29
Required · Minnesota
Minnesota imposes a state deed tax on the deed that conveys the property. The rate is 0.0033 of the net consideration under Minn. Stat. 287.21, and the person who conveys the property is liable for it under Minn. Stat. 287.24. It is due when the deed is presented for recording, which for a Newport home is at Washington County. Washington County is at the state rate with no Environmental Response Fund tax; that additional 0.0001 applies only in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Washington County also collects a $5 conservation fee on the recording of a deed subject to the deed tax, which Minn. Stat. 40A.152 requires of every metropolitan county as defined in Minn. Stat. 473.121, subd. 4.
Source: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/deed-tax-rate · checked 2026-10-28
Required · Minnesota
Minn. Stat. 144.496, the Minnesota Radon Awareness Act, requires a seller of residential real property, before signing an agreement to sell or transfer, to disclose in writing to the buyer any knowledge the seller has of radon concentrations in the dwelling. The disclosure must include whether a radon test has occurred, the most current records and reports on radon concentrations in the dwelling, a description of any radon concentrations, mitigation or remediation, information on any installed mitigation system, and the statutory radon warning statement; the written disclosure and the warning statement are both required. The seller must also provide the buyer with the Minnesota Department of Health publication 'Radon in Real Estate Transactions.' The statute does not require the seller to test; it requires disclosure of what the seller knows. This is a statewide requirement. The duty does not apply to the transfers the statute lists, including a gratuitous transfer, a transfer by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure, a transfer to heirs or devisees of a decedent, and a transfer to a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild of the seller.
Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/144.496 · checked 2026-10-29
Required · Minnesota
Well disclosure required statewide under Minn. Stat. 103I.235. Before signing an agreement to sell or transfer real property, the seller must disclose in writing the status and location of all known wells. At recording, the deed must either carry a statement that there are no wells or be accompanied by a well disclosure certificate — a county recorder may not record the deed without one.
Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/103I.235 · checked 2026-08-18
Required in some cases · Minnesota
Minn. Stat. 116.48 subd. 6 requires an owner to record an affidavit with the county recorder or registrar of titles of the county where the property is located before transferring ownership of property the owner knows contains an underground or aboveground storage tank, or knows once contained a tank that had a release for which no corrective action was taken, or when the agency requires the affidavit as a condition of a corrective action under chapter 115C. The affidavit states the legal description of the property, a description and location of the tank and any known release, any restrictions on use of the property resulting from a release, and the owner's name. Before transferring property the owner knows contains a tank, the owner must also deliver to the purchaser a copy of the affidavit and any additional information needed to make it accurate as of the date of transfer. Under subd. 5 a person who sells property the seller knows contains a storage tank must also inform the purchaser in writing of the owner's tank notification requirements under that section. Failure to record the affidavit does not affect or prevent the transfer.
Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/116.48 · checked 2026-10-28
Mailing city can differ from the municipal jurisdiction — confirm the property is actually within these city limits (check the county parcel record) before relying on this checklist.
What every Minnesota seller has to sort out, wherever the home is: what to sort out before you list, the seller’s inspection checklist and all selling guides.
← Michael Affeldt, Realtor