Who pays for the sewer lateral in La Palma, 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 do
If something’s wrong
If a repair needs a permit or an inspection
- Who issues it:
- City of La Palma, City Engineer
- What it covers:
- repairs to or replacement of the house sewer or connecting sewer that require excavation in the public right-of-way, and any installation of sewer laterals
La Palma Code of Ordinances section 34-17 provides: "Should repairs to or replacement of the house sewer or connecting sewer be needed, which will require excavation in the public right-of-way, the property owner or agent must first obtain an encroachment permit from the City of La Palma before the work can begin, in accordance with sections 34-7 through 34-16." Section 34-7 adds that "No person shall undertake the installation of sewer laterals and mains or any work in connection therewith unless a permit is obtained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter".
Who to call first about the sewer lateral
La Palma: official site(opens in a new tab)The documents this answer is built on
Who is responsible for which part
In La Palma the owner keeps the whole lateral, the fitting on the City's main included, and the City keeps the main. Section 34-17 of the City's code provides that "The property owner or agent is responsible for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of the connecting sewer and house sewer from the property owner's structure up to and including the point of connection (e.g., wyes, tees, saddles, manhole structures, etc.) to the main sewer line." It adds: "The City is responsible for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of the main sewer."
- The property owner
- The house sewer and the connecting sewer, from the building to the main, with the wye, tee, saddle or other fitting that joins them to it. Section 34-17 also provides: "The property owner or agent is responsible for all routine and emergency cleaning of the connecting sewer and house sewer lines." Where a repair or replacement means digging in the public right-of-way, the owner or agent must first obtain an encroachment permit from the City.
What else is worth knowing
Sources
La Palma Code of Ordinances section 34-17, Sewer maintenance, repair, design and restrictions of deposit into sewersWhat the rules say
Most relevant if you have received a notice from the city or district
No rule on file here is specific to a notice from the city or district; that does not mean none exists.
Also in force here
- Who issues it:
- City of La Palma, City Engineer
- What it covers:
- repairs to or replacement of the house sewer or connecting sewer that require excavation in the public right-of-way, and any installation of sewer laterals
La Palma Code of Ordinances section 34-17 provides: "Should repairs to or replacement of the house sewer or connecting sewer be needed, which will require excavation in the public right-of-way, the property owner or agent must first obtain an encroachment permit from the City of La Palma before the work can begin, in accordance with sections 34-7 through 34-16." Section 34-7 adds that "No person shall undertake the installation of sewer laterals and mains or any work in connection therewith unless a permit is obtained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter".
What to do: Before digging in the public right-of-way to repair or replace a house lateral, apply to the City of La Palma's Public Works Department for an encroachment and excavation permit through the City's online permitting portal, at least two working days ahead, and hire a contractor licensed by the State who holds a City business license.
La Palma Code of Ordinances section 34-17, Sewer maintenance, repair, design and restrictions of deposit into sewersWhy this matters
The application goes in writing to the City Engineer with a plat of the work, and must be filed "not less than 48 hours, two regular working days, before the work is proposed to be done." The applicant agrees to indemnify the City, pays an issuance fee set by Council resolution, and pays it on top of the fee and pavement breakage deposit for excavating in the public right-of-way. Whoever does the work must be licensed by the State for it, hold a current City business license and follow the City's standards. The City Engineer may cancel the permit if the work does not start within 60 days of issue.
What this page cannot tell you
- No assistance or grant programme has been reviewed for this jurisdiction yet.
- No sewer service territory has been mapped for this area, so BelowGrid cannot say who serves an individual address.
Who governs and serves this area
- Jurisdiction
- La Palma (municipality)
- Sewer service
- No map of sewer providers is held here. BelowGrid cannot say which sewer provider serves an individual address.
How this compares to neighbouring cities
7 of the 8 nearest cities draw the line somewhere else. Each authority publishes only its own rule.
Nearby cities and further reading
Look up a specific address
This page describes what applies to properties in La Palma in general. To see which authorities serve one address, and what records exist for it, search for it.
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