Who pays for the sewer lateral in Monterey, 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?
Monterey requires the lateral to be inspected before a home changes hands. Section 30-1.4 provides that "All residential uses shall, prior to the time of any transfer of ownership, have the sanitary sewer lateral inspected for any defects", submit the completed inspection form and fee to the City, and "if necessary, have the sewer lateral repaired or corrected to meet the City's standards and specifications unless exempted under this article."
Planning work?
Section 30-1.4 of the Monterey City Code also requires a lateral inspection "When constructing a new structure on property with an existing lateral, changing the use of a structure that requires a building permit, connecting a previously unconnected structure to an existing lateral, or constructing a major building remodel project".
Who to call first about the sewer lateral
Monterey: official site(opens in a new tab)The documents this answer is built on
Who is responsible for which part
Monterey puts the whole lateral on the owner, under the street and up to and including its connection to the main. Section 30-1.2 provides that "The property owner shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair, and proper operation of the sanitary sewer lateral and/or private sanitary sewer collection system, regardless of whether any part of the sanitary sewer lateral or private sanitary sewer collection system is located on private property or within the public right-of-way."
- The property owner
- The sanitary sewer lateral, which section 30-1 defines as "a pipe that conveys wastewater from a property building drain to a public sewer main, including the connection to the main". The owner keeps it free of roots and grease and its joints watertight.
What else is worth knowing
Sources
Monterey City Code section 30-1.2, Maintenance of sanitary sewer lateralsWhat is required
Monterey requires the lateral to be inspected before a home changes hands. Section 30-1.4 provides that "All residential uses shall, prior to the time of any transfer of ownership, have the sanitary sewer lateral inspected for any defects", submit the completed inspection form and fee to the City, and "if necessary, have the sewer lateral repaired or corrected to meet the City's standards and specifications unless exempted under this article."
What to do: If you are selling a Monterey home, check first whether an exemption applies; if not, book the lateral inspection before listing and submit the City's form and fee. If the buyer will take this on, file the signed transfer of responsibility form with the City before the sale.
Monterey City Code section 30-1.4, Sanitary sewer lateral inspection requirementsWhy this matters
The seller is responsible, but seller and buyer may agree before the sale to shift it: both sign the City's transfer of responsibility form, which the seller files with the City before the sale, and the buyer then has 90 calendar days after the transfer to inspect and meet the City's standards. The requirement covers residential uses only. If the form shows deficiencies, the City issues a notice to repair with a 30-day deadline, and a repaired or replaced lateral "shall not be covered or backfilled until it has been inspected by a representative of the City." A lateral completely replaced under City permits in the prior ten years, or inspected and found to meet City standards within the prior year, is exempt.
Section 30-1.4 of the Monterey City Code also requires a lateral inspection "When constructing a new structure on property with an existing lateral, changing the use of a structure that requires a building permit, connecting a previously unconnected structure to an existing lateral, or constructing a major building remodel project".
What to do: If your project adds bedrooms and the City estimates it at about $52,000 or more (the $50,000 figure after indexing), changes a structure's use under a building permit, or builds on or connects to an existing lateral, plan the lateral inspection into the permit timeline.
Monterey City Code section 30-1.4(c), Sanitary sewer lateral inspection requirementsWhy this matters
A major building remodel is "one that is estimated by the City to cost $50,000 or more and increases the total number of bedrooms"; the $50,000 figure rises by $1,000 on 1 January 2020 and every fifth year after. The completed inspection form goes to the City, and any repair follows the same notice-to-repair process as at sale.
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
- Monterey (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
All 5 of the 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 MontereyNearby cities and further reading
Look up a specific address
This page describes what applies to properties in Monterey in general. To see which authorities serve one address, and what records exist for it, search for it.
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