Who pays for the sewer lateral in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Which part of the pipe is yours
Yours all the way to the main, including the fitting where it joins
Why, and what to doYours from the meter to your building
Why, and what to do
If something’s wrong
If a repair needs a permit or an inspection
No rule on file here is specific to a repair; that does not mean none exists.
Buying or selling?
Carmel Area Wastewater District requires the lateral to be inspected before a sale closes. Section 36.068 provides that "Property owners shall inspect and provide to the District a report of the results of the inspection of the laterals on their property prepared by a licensed plumber using closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection or other inspection or test method approved by the District Engineer", among other times "Prior to the close of escrow when the property is transferred via sale or other transfer of ownership by deed, instrument or writing".
Planning work?
No rule on file here is specific to remodelling or adding a unit; that does not mean none exists.
Who to call first about the sewer lateral
Carmel Area Wastewater District: official site(opens in a new tab)The documents this answer is built on
Who is responsible for which part
In Carmel-by-the-Sea the private lateral runs to and includes its connection at the District's main, and the owner maintains it. Carmel Area Wastewater District's code provides that "Building laterals shall be maintained by the owner of the property served."
- The property owner
- The private lateral: "That portion of a sewer lateral beginning two feet from the perimeter walls at the plumbing outlet of any building or industrial facility and running to and including the connection to the main sewer". The code adds: "All sewer laterals are not owned by the District."
What else is worth knowing
Sources
Carmel Area Wastewater District Code section 36.072What the rules say
These requirements are issued by Carmel Area Wastewater District, not by Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Most relevant if you are selling or buying
Carmel Area Wastewater District requires the lateral to be inspected before a sale closes. Section 36.068 provides that "Property owners shall inspect and provide to the District a report of the results of the inspection of the laterals on their property prepared by a licensed plumber using closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection or other inspection or test method approved by the District Engineer", among other times "Prior to the close of escrow when the property is transferred via sale or other transfer of ownership by deed, instrument or writing".
What to do: If you are selling, check whether the lateral was replaced in the last ten years; if not, book a CCTV inspection by a licensed plumber well before escrow is due to close, and send the report to the District.
Carmel Area Wastewater District Code section 36.068, Use of existing lateral sewersWhy this matters
A lateral found defective must be repaired under a District lateral repair permit, and a defective lateral may not be used. The same inspection is required for a remodel estimated at $50,000 or more. A lateral completely replaced under permit is exempt from the sale inspection for ten years.
What this page cannot tell you
- No assistance or grant programme has been reviewed for this jurisdiction yet.
Who governs and serves this area
- Jurisdiction
- Carmel-by-the-Sea (municipality)
- Sewer service
How this compares to neighbouring cities
5 of the 6 nearest cities draw the line somewhere else. Each authority publishes only its own rule.
Your other pipe: the water service line
The drinking water line coming into your property is a separate pipe, run by a separate authority, and who is responsible for it is decided separately. Your sewer lateral is yours to the main, fitting included; your water line stops being yours at the meter.
Who owns the water service line in Carmel-by-the-SeaNearby cities and further reading
Look up a specific address
This page describes what applies to properties in Carmel-by-the-Sea in general. To see which authorities serve one address, and what records exist for it, search for it.
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