How Much Does Main Water Line Repair Cost in Minneapolis? [2025 Data]

Main water line repair costs in Minneapolis average $842, and most homeowners pay somewhere between $299 and $1,566 for the work. The type of damage to your main line and the length of the pipe that needs repairs will affect your costs the most. If your project requires excavation, the depth of the mains in the city will make for a much more expensive repair, reaching up to $842.

Main Water Line Repair Cost Factors

A few key factors influence the cost of main water line repair in Minneapolis, so be sure to consider all of the following to get an accurate estimate.

Linear Feet

You’ll pay between $100 and $200 per linear foot of main water line you need repaired, which means bigger projects that involve widespread damage along the lateral line will cost more than localized leaks. The average lot size in Minneapolis is 0.21 acres, so there’s quite a bit of space your water main will need to cross to get to your home. This means there’s a chance your price will climb much higher than the average.

Type of Damage

The type of damage to your water main will largely determine how many linear feet you need repaired, so it’s another crucial cost factor. Due to frost line depths of 7 feet—the second deepest in the country—water mains in Minneapolis aren’t as susceptible to soil movement from changes in water content. You’re unlikely to see breaks and leaks caused by shifting soils.

Instead, the most common cause of water main damage in Minneapolis is corrosion, thanks to the city’s soft water. Soft water pulls minerals away from the iron and steel water mains, gradually wearing them away. Corrosion requires wide-scale repairs or even a full replacement.

Luckily, water main relining is a popular repair option in Minneapolis. This involves cleaning and recoating the inside of the pipe without having to excavate much. This type of repair will cost an average of between $800 and $1,000. You can ask a local plumber if relining your water main is an option. 

Material

The material your water main is made of will affect the cost of the repair and the labor required to cut and connect new piping. Most water mains in Minneapolis are iron or steel, which are heavy and challenging to work with but cost far less than copper.

The table below includes material costs only, so be sure to account for labor costs, too, which make up a much larger percentage of your total.

Accessibility

Finally, you’ll need to consider how accessible your water main is. If you need to excavate to reach the buried line, your costs will increase significantly, sometimes tripling due to the more labor-intensive work.

The frost line is an average of 7 feet deep in Minneapolis, which is the second-deepest in the country. A deep frost line means water mains need to sit very low in the ground to avoid freezing, which makes excavation very expensive. Luckily, it’s often possible to reline the iron and steel water mains in Minneapolis, which means you’d need minimal excavation. If you have heavy corrosion that makes relining impractical, your costs will sit closer to $3,000.

Anything that makes excavation more challenging can also increase your costs. Sidewalks, walkways, and driveways can all hinder excavation and make the job more costly.

Plumber Costs

On average, the labor cost to hire a plumber in Minneapolis will be $760, which accounts for 90% of your total. That could be much higher if you need a water main line replacement and can’t simply reline your existing water main.

In addition to materials and labor, you’ll have to pay a permit fee to legalize the work. The plumber you hire will handle the paperwork, but you’ll see the permit fee on your estimate and invoice, and you’ll be responsible for paying it. The City of Minneapolis charges a flat fee of $36.70 for the first $500 worth of work plus $4.50 per $100 in additional work. Given the cost of main water line repair in Minneapolis, your permit fee will average $54.70.

Does Main Water Line Repair Increase Home Value?

Repairing your water main in Minneapolis should increase your home value a bit, especially if you choose to reline the pipe. Buyers should understand that relining will give them an additional 50 years of worry-free water service, on average, and many will pay more for that kind of peace of mind.

If you replace one of the city's older lead water mains, you may see an even higher bump in home value, especially if you choose a long-lasting material like PVC or ductile iron over galvanized steel.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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