Who pays for the sewer lateral in Los Angeles County Sewer Maintenance Districts (unincorporated areas), CA
Which part of the pipe is yours
Yours all the way to the main under the road
Why, and what to do
If something’s wrong
Who to call first about the sewer lateral
If a repair needs a permit or an inspection
- Who issues it:
- Los Angeles County Public Works (the County Engineer)
- What it covers:
- constructing, using or altering any public sewer, main-line sewer, house lateral or similar appurtenance in the County
Los Angeles County Code section 20.32.010 provides that no person shall construct, use or alter any public sewer, main-line sewer or house lateral in the County "without first obtaining a sewer construction permit from the County Engineer." The lateral is the owner's to maintain, so replacing or altering it in unincorporated Los Angeles County needs this County permit first.
Who is responsible for which part
Who to call first
Los Angeles County Public Works
What happens: Public Works comes out to clean or repair the public sewer main
In unincorporated Los Angeles County the public sewers are maintained by the County's sewer maintenance districts, run by Los Angeles County Public Works, and the lateral is the owner's from the house to the main. Public Works says it plainly: "Homeowners are required to maintain the sewer line (also known as lateral) from their home to the main sewer line, typically located in the street or nearby easement." County Code section 20.24.080 provides that all house laterals "shall be maintained by the owner of the property served in a safe and sanitary condition".
- The property owner
- The whole lateral, from the building to the main sewer line, including the run under the street. Public Works states that "The private property owner is responsible for the entire length of the lateral, which includes that portion that may be located within the public right of way (under the asphalt and street landscaping)." County Code section 20.20.130 defines a house lateral as "that part of the sewer piping within the street or right-of-way which extends from the property or sewer right-of-way line to a construction with the main-line sewer", and section 20.24.080 puts all house laterals on "the owner of the property served".
What else is worth knowing
Sources
Los Angeles County Public Works, Sewer Maintenance - Customer InformationWhat the rules say
Most relevant if you are repairing or replacing the pipe
- Who issues it:
- Los Angeles County Public Works (the County Engineer)
- What it covers:
- constructing, using or altering any public sewer, main-line sewer, house lateral or similar appurtenance in the County
Los Angeles County Code section 20.32.010 provides that no person shall construct, use or alter any public sewer, main-line sewer or house lateral in the County "without first obtaining a sewer construction permit from the County Engineer." The lateral is the owner's to maintain, so replacing or altering it in unincorporated Los Angeles County needs this County permit first.
What to do: Before replacing or altering a house lateral, apply to Los Angeles County Public Works for a sewer construction permit, and if the work opens the street, get the road agency's permit first. Give the County at least 24 hours' notice before each inspection.
Los Angeles County Code chapter 20.32, Sanitary sewersWhy this matters
Work done without the permit carries an investigation fee on top of any penalty (section 20.32.122). Section 20.32.010 says the permit "shall expire if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within sixty (60) days from the date of issuance". Section 20.32.600 requires that "The permittee shall notify the county engineer at least 24 hours prior to the time any inspection is to be made." Where the work digs into a street under another agency's jurisdiction, section 20.32.060 has the County require that agency's permit first.
What this page cannot tell you
- No assistance or grant programme has been reviewed for this jurisdiction yet.
- BelowGrid holds no separate map of sewer providers here. This page gives Los Angeles County Sewer Maintenance Districts (unincorporated areas)'s own answer, for the area inside the boundary BelowGrid holds for it; look up an address to see whose answer applies there.
Who governs and serves this area
- Jurisdiction
- Los Angeles County Sewer Maintenance Districts (unincorporated areas) (special district)
- Sewer service
- No separate map of sewer providers is held here. This page gives Los Angeles County Sewer Maintenance Districts (unincorporated areas)’s own answer, for the area inside the boundary BelowGrid holds for it. Look up an address to see whose answer applies there, or check the name on your sewer bill.
How this compares to neighbouring districts
3 of the 4 nearest districts draw the line somewhere else. Each authority publishes only its own rule.
Nearby districts and further reading
Look up a specific address
This page describes what applies to properties in Los Angeles County Sewer Maintenance Districts (unincorporated areas) in general. To see which authorities serve one address, and what records exist for it, search for it.
Search for an address