Septic costs on HomeGuide's national pages start at $3,500 to $8,500 for an installed conventional system, and a replacement drain field is $3,000 to $15,000. Minneapolis and most first-ring suburbs are fully on city sewer, so septic work here is on the larger lots at the edges of Hennepin County.
All dollar amounts here are national ranges from HomeGuide, never our own prices for a Twin Cities job. Frost, glacial clay or sand, groundwater near the lakes, alley access and haul distance all move the real cost. The HomeGuide pages were checked in October 2026.
What does a new septic system cost near the Twin Cities?
A new septic system costs $3,500 to $8,500 conventional, $4,000 to $15,000 alternative and $15,000 to $50,000 or more engineered, according to HomeGuide. Just the 1,000-gallon tank runs $1,000 to $1,500. Minnesota calls these systems SSTS, subsurface sewage treatment systems.
What does replacing a drain field cost in Hennepin County?
Replacing a drain field costs $3,000 to $15,000, around a $7,900 national average, in HomeGuide's figures. Repairing or rejuvenating one costs $1,000 to $5,000, and a new tank with a new field $4,500 to $20,000.
What are the signs my drain field is failing?
A failing drain field shows wet or extra green ground over the trenches, sewage smell, slow drains, gurgling and backups. Start with a pumping and inspection; HomeGuide prices pumping at $300 to $700. Fields can also freeze in a cold, snowless Minnesota winter.
Do I need a perc test or soil evaluation for a Minnesota septic system?
Yes, a Minnesota septic system needs a soil evaluation before it is designed, and HomeGuide puts a perc test at $600 to $2,000. Minnesota uses a soil observation by a qualified professional to find the depth to saturated soil, which often decides whether a trench system or a mound is needed.
What does a mound septic system cost in Minnesota?
A mound septic system costs $25,000 to $50,000 or more on HomeGuide's septic page. Mounds are common in Minnesota where clay till or a high water table leaves too little good soil. Where a mound will not fit, an aerobic treatment unit at $20,000 to $40,000 or more is the other common route.
What does it cost to replace a collapsed or broken septic line in Hennepin County?
Replacing a collapsed or broken septic line between the house and the tank costs $40 to $180 a foot, or $1,600 to $7,200 on average, using HomeGuide's new sewer line figures. A camera finds the failed section so only that part is dug.
How big is the hole for a 1,000-gallon tank, and where is my tank lid?
The hole for a 1,000-gallon tank is dug wider than the tank on all sides, and the design sets the depth. HomeGuide has no figure for the hole itself. To find your tank lid, ask the county or city septic program for the permit records, then probe where they show the tank.
Can I connect to city sewer instead of replacing a failing septic?
You can connect to city sewer instead of replacing a failing septic where a public main is close enough and the city allows the connection. HomeGuide prices a septic-to-sewer switch at $3,000 to $15,000 and hookup fees at $1,000 to $15,000. The old tank is then abandoned under the local rules.
Who issues septic permits in Hennepin County?
Hennepin County runs the septic program for most of the county, including Bloomington, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park and Golden Valley. Ten cities run their own programs, among them Richfield and St. Louis Park. Septic designers and installers in Minnesota are licensed SSTS professionals. Our role is the excavation under the licensed installer's approved design, not the design itself.
Need a real price for your Twin Cities property? Call or text (612) 688-4650; we walk the site first and then send the scope and price in writing.