Who is responsible for the sewer line: homeowner or city?

The pipe that carries wastewater from your house to the public sewer main is called the sewer lateral (or building sewer). Who maintains it is set locally, and many homeowners discover the answer only when the line backs up.

Where your responsibility usually stops

In many cities, the homeowner owns and maintains the lateral from the house to the connection with the main, even the part under the sidewalk or the street. In others, the owner is responsible up to the property line or to a cleanout at the curb, and the utility takes over beyond it. A few utilities share costs or offer repair programs.

To know your case:

• check your city or sewer utility's website for "sewer lateral" or "building sewer";
• call the utility and ask where the public portion starts;
• look at your homeowner's insurance: standard policies often exclude wear and tear of the line, but optional service line coverage exists.

Signs of a failing sewer line

• several drains backing up or gurgling at the same time;
• sewage odor in the yard or the basement;
• unusually green or soggy patches of lawn along the pipe route;
• repeated clogs that come back after cleaning;

Old clay, cast iron and Orangeburg pipes are prone to roots, cracks and collapse.

What to do first

1. Stop using water if sewage backs up into the house, and call a plumber or sewer contractor.
2. Have the line cleared and ask for a camera inspection: the video shows the location and the cause of the problem, and whether it is on your side or the utility's side.
3. If the problem is in the public portion, report it to the utility with the video.
4. If it is on your side, get two or three quotes based on the same video, and compare methods (spot repair, lining, bursting, replacement).

Leaking laterals also let groundwater and rainwater into the public system, which can contribute to sewer overflows. Some cities require a lateral inspection when a house is sold or renovated: ask your utility.

Describe what is happening in the form: sewer line contractors near you get back to you with a quote.