Who pays for the sewer lateral in Atascadero, CA

Who is responsible for which part

Atascadero puts the whole building sewer on the owner, the length under the street and the connection to the main included. Section 7-2.001 defines the building sewer as "that portion of any sewer beginning two feet from any building and extending to and including its connection to a public sewer", and provides that "Building sewers are considered privately-owned and maintained by the owner of the property or project it serves."

The property owner

The building sewer from two feet outside the building to and including its connection to the public sewer - which takes in the lateral, defined as "that portion of a building sewer lying within a public right-of-way or easement". Section 7-7.003 provides that "Installation, maintenance, and replacement of the building sewer shall be the responsibility of the connecting property owner."

What else is worth knowing

Sources

Checked 23 Sep 2026 (5 weeks ago)

What is required

• Before work on the pipePermit

  Who issues it:

  City of Atascadero - a building permit for the building sewer and an encroachment permit from the City for work in the right-of-way

  What it covers:

  constructing, altering or replacing any part of a building sewer, and any connection to a lateral or to the public main

  Atascadero Municipal Code section 7-4.001 provides that "It is unlawful for any person other than the City to make any connection with any public or building sewer, or to construct or alter any public or building sewer, within the City without first obtaining appropriate permits from the City for such work." Section 7-4.003 exempts "removing stoppages or repairing leaks in a building sewer, except when it is necessary to replace any part of such sewer or if such work occurs in the public right-of-way or a sewer easement."

  What to do: For a clog or a small leak on your lot, no sewer permit is required under this chapter. For a replacement, have the contractor obtain the building permit from the City first, and the encroachment permit too if the work reaches the right-of-way.

  Why this matters▸▾

  Clearing a blockage or fixing a leak on the lot needs no permit under this chapter, but replacing any part of the line does, and so does any work in the street. A replacement can need a permit for each connection it touches: section 7-4.006's building permit for a building sewer connected to a lateral, and section 7-4.007's encroachment permit for a connection to the public main in the right-of-way. A sewer connection inspection fee is payable before either is issued for connection work.

  Current wording dates from 2019 · Checked 23 Sep 2026 (5 weeks ago)

  Atascadero Municipal Code section 7-4.001, Permit required

  Also quoted:

  • Atascadero Municipal Code section 7-4.003, Application exemptions
  • Atascadero Municipal Code section 7-4.006, Building permit required
  • Atascadero Municipal Code section 7-4.007, Encroachment permit required

Who governs and serves this area

Jurisdiction

Atascadero (municipality)

Sewer service

No map of sewer providers is held here. BelowGrid cannot say which sewer provider serves an individual address.