Who pays for the sewer lateral in Fortuna, CA

Who is responsible for which part

Fortuna's code puts the building sewer, the part from the building to the property line, on the property owner, and does not say who maintains the lateral under the street. Section 13.28.080 provides that "Building sewers shall be maintained by the owner of the property served thereby", and section 13.24.040 defines the building sewer as the part of a sewer beginning at the building's plumbing or drainage outlet "and running to the property line or to a private sewage disposal system."

The property owner

The building sewer, from the plumbing or drainage outlet of the building to the property line, and its cleanouts, which section 13.28.050 requires to be "maintained watertight". Where a backflow prevention device is required, it sits on the building sewer between the building and the property line, is installed at the owner's cost, and "The maintenance of the backflow prevention device shall be the sole obligation of the owner".

What else is worth knowing

Sources

Checked 26 Sep 2026 (5 weeks ago)

What is required

• Before work on the pipePermit

  Who issues it:

  City of Fortuna

  What it covers:

  any work on any lateral or building sewer, and uncovering, connecting to or altering any public sewer; no sewer may be covered until inspected and passed

  Fortuna Municipal Code section 13.40.010 provides that "No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connection with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenances or perform any work on any lateral or building sewer without first obtaining a written permit from the city." Section 13.40.080 adds that "No sewer shall be covered at any point until it has been inspected and passed for acceptance."

  What to do: Before any work on a building sewer or lateral, get a written permit from the City of Fortuna, leave the pipe uncovered until the City's inspector has passed it, and give written notice at least 24 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays. For work in the street, ask which authority issues the excavation permit.

  Why this matters▸▾

  The permit reaches the building sewer on the lot and the lateral under the street alike. The person doing the work has to tell the City in writing that it is ready for inspection "not less than 24 hours, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays excluded, before the work is to be inspected", and make sure it will pass the City's tests first. Work that fails is condemned and the owner is told to repair it. Section 13.40.110 puts all costs of the permitted work, inspection included, on the owner. Section 13.40.120 requires a separate permit from the city, county or other body with jurisdiction to excavate in a public street for sewer work. Section 13.40.020 sends the application through the City's encroachment permit chapter, and the permit issues only if the "plans, specifications, drawings, descriptions, information, and insurance furnished by the applicant" comply; that chapter asks for evidence of liability insurance naming the City as additionally insured. For work in the right-of-way, section 12.08.030 lets the city engineer require a completion and maintenance bond for one year before the permit issues. Fees are set by resolution and the code gives no figure.

  Checked 26 Sep 2026 (5 weeks ago)

  Fortuna Municipal Code chapter 13.40, Permits and Fees

  Also quoted:

  • Fortuna Municipal Code chapter 12.08, Encroachment Permits and Construction and Repair of Streets and Sidewalks

Who governs and serves this area

Jurisdiction

Fortuna (municipality)

Sewer service

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