Who pays for the sewer lateral in Pacific Grove, CA
Which part of the pipe is yours
Yours all the way to the main under the road
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?
Pacific Grove requires the lateral to be inspected before a sale closes. Section 9.20.040 provides that "Property owners shall inspect, and provide to the city a report of the results of an inspection of, the laterals on their property prepared by a licensed plumber using closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection or other inspection or test method approved by the director of public works", among other times "Prior to the close of escrow when the property is transferred via sale or other transfer of ownership by deed, instrument or writing".
Planning work?
No rule on file here is specific to remodelling or adding a unit; that does not mean none exists.
Who to call first about the sewer lateral
Pacific Grove: official site(opens in a new tab)The documents this answer is built on
Who is responsible for which part
In Pacific Grove the lateral is the owner's property all the way to the main. Section 9.20.030 of the City's code provides that "All laterals from the building wall to the connection to the sewer main are the property of the owner of the connected building."
- The property owner
- The whole lateral, which owners must "at their own expense maintain the sewer lateral in a fully functioning condition". The code defines the lateral as "a privately owned pipeline connecting a building sewer to a sewer main."
What else is worth knowing
Sources
Pacific Grove Municipal Code section 9.20.030What is required
Pacific Grove requires the lateral to be inspected before a sale closes. Section 9.20.040 provides that "Property owners shall inspect, and provide to the city a report of the results of an inspection of, the laterals on their property prepared by a licensed plumber using closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection or other inspection or test method approved by the director of public works", among other times "Prior to the close of escrow when the property is transferred via sale or other transfer of ownership by deed, instrument or writing".
What to do: If you are selling, check whether the lateral was replaced in the last 10 years; if not, book a CCTV inspection by a licensed plumber well before escrow is due to close.
Pacific Grove Municipal Code section 9.20.040Why this matters
A lateral found defective must be repaired under a building permit (and an encroachment permit where needed), and a repaired lateral may not be covered until the City has inspected it. A lateral completely replaced under permit is exempt from the sale inspection for 10 years.
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
- Pacific Grove (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
1 of the 5 nearest cities draws 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; your water line stops being yours at the meter.
Who owns the water service line in Pacific GroveNearby cities and further reading
Look up a specific address
This page describes what applies to properties in Pacific Grove in general. To see which authorities serve one address, and what records exist for it, search for it.
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