Who pays for the sewer lateral in Millbrae, CA

Who is responsible for which part

The owner maintains the whole lateral as a general rule - but where a conforming cleanout exists near the curb or the main, the City maintains the section from that cleanout to the main.

Millbrae

The City states it "shall only maintain the sanitary sewer lateral from the cleanout wye, inclusive of the cleanout wye, to the city sanitary sewer main" where a cleanout is provided "either in the sidewalk, or within two and one-half feet of the face of curb or edge of pavement where there is no sidewalk, or in a side or rear yard within two and one-half feet of the city main". Where the cleanout sits outside those areas, the City states that "the property owner is responsible for maintaining the sanitary sewer lateral all the way to the city sanitary sewer main, including the wye connection at the main".

The property owner

As a general rule the whole of it: the City states the owner "at his/her expense shall maintain all sanitary sewer laterals, including, but not limited to, the building drain, sanitary sewer lateral to the cleanout wye connection or to the city sanitary sewer main as provided below, building cleanout, sidewalk cleanout frame and cover, backflow protection and backflow relief equipment". Whether the run from the cleanout to the main falls to the City turns on where the cleanout is - within two and a half feet of the curb, the edge of the pavement, or the main.

What decides which applies

a cleanout within two and a half feet of the curb, the edge of the pavement, or the city main

Checked 2026-09-04

What is required

• When you sellCertificate

  Millbrae Municipal Code 8.20.450 states that where a property includes buildings constructed more than twenty years before the transfer, the sanitary sewer lateral must be tested for inflow and infiltration and any repairs completed by the owner and approved by the City before title transfers. The City states it requires an in-line closed-circuit video inspection from the building to the City main, and issues a compliance certificate.

  What to do: Ask the City of Millbrae Public Works Department whether a compliance certificate is already on file for this property and what it currently requires, before arranging an inspection.

  Why this matters▸▾

  The code says "normally such testing need not be considered" for five years after a lateral passed a test, or twenty years after the City accepted a complete replacement - wording that is weaker than an exemption, and It is reported here as the code puts it. The City also states that a certificate may be revoked on a transfer of ownership, a remodel or a change of building use, so an existing certificate is not always the end of it. Separately, 8.20.450(C) ties this requirement to a consent decree the code says ended in November 2016 unless extended, after which implementation is at the City's discretion; the City continues to publish and operate the requirement.

  In force since 2011-04-21 · Checked 2026-09-01

  City of Millbrae Ordinance No. 738

  Also quoted:

  • City of Millbrae, Testing Sanitary Sewer Lateral Upon Transfer of Ownership

Who governs and serves this area

Jurisdiction

Millbrae (municipality)

Sewer service

Not mapped. No sewer service territory covering this area has been added, so BelowGrid cannot say who serves an individual address here.

Assistance programmes

• City of Millbrae sanitary sewer lateral rebate

  20% of the cost, up to $2,000, one per residence. Unlike the San Mateo and Morgan Hill programmes, this one is claimed after the work: the City requires evidence that it was completed within the previous 180 days. Funds are limited and issued first-come.

  The City requires one of: two or more laterals that were connected to each other having been separated, a lateral upgraded to the current Millbrae Municipal Code, a lateral at risk of overflowing or broken having been fixed, any upgrade to meet Municipal Code chapter 8.20, or a lateral that had no City clean-out in the sidewalk area. It also requires all of: evidence the work was completed within the previous 180 days, evidence of payment in full by paid-in-full receipt — the City states cleared cheques are not acceptable — and no rebate under this programme in the previous ten years.

  Apply on the official site