Who pays for the sewer lateral in Pleasanton, CA

Who is responsible for which part

Pleasanton keeps the trunk sewers and gives the owner both lengths of pipe that reach it. Section 15.32.100 provides that "The city shall maintain all trunk sewers. Maintenance of side sewers and service laterals shall be the responsibility of the property owner served by such sewers." Section 15.08.480 defines the service lateral as "the pipe between the trunk line and the user's side sewer connection at the edge of the street or easement".

The property owner

The side sewer and the service lateral, from the building to the trunk line. The side sewer is "a pipe connecting to a service lateral from a house or other structure", and the service lateral carries on from the edge of the street or easement to the trunk line - the City's name for the main, "a main sewer line to which two or more service laterals are connected".

What else is worth knowing

Nothing conditions the split, and the naming is the thing to get right when you ring the City or read a quotation. Pleasanton calls the main a "trunk line" or "trunk sewer", the length under the street the "service lateral", and the length on your land the "side sewer" - all three words used for pipes other cities name differently. The City maintains only the trunk; both of the others are yours. Where several properties share a private system, section 15.32.100 puts it on "the owner of the private system".

Checked 2026-09-22

What is required

• When you askPermit

  Pleasanton names the repair in its own permit section. Section 15.32.020 provides that "Application for permission to construct, install, alter or repair a side sewer, service lateral or trunk sewer shall be made to the city", and that "No construction shall commence until city approval of the application and issuance of a permit for the construction has been obtained". Digging in the street needs a second permit: section 15.32.050 provides that "No excavation shall be made in any state highway, county road, city street, easement, or other public right-of-way within the city limits, unless and until an encroachment permit has been issued therefor".

  What to do: Apply to the City for the sewer permit before any work starts, and if the repair reaches the street or easement, apply for the encroachment permit too - it comes with a cash deposit or bond. If you plan to do the work on your own land yourself, confirm with the City that it is solely on private property and book the inspection; anything beyond the edge of the street needs a licensed contractor.

  Why this matters▸▾

  Two things make this different from most cities. The sewer permit reaches a repair in so many words - most sewer chapters are written for new connections and leave a repair to be argued - so there is no doubt that a lateral repair needs one. And the licensed-contractor rule depends on where the work is: section 15.32.030 makes it unlawful for anyone who is not a licensed contractor or master plumber "to install or construct any sewer", but adds that one "is not necessary for work done solely on private property", which remains "subject to inspection by city representatives". So a homeowner may relay the side sewer on their own land, and may not touch the service lateral under the street.

  In force since 1983-01-01 · Checked 2026-09-22

  Pleasanton Municipal Code section 15.32.020, Construction permit required

  Also quoted:

  • Pleasanton Municipal Code section 15.32.030, Contractor required
  • Pleasanton Municipal Code section 15.32.050, Road excavation permit

Who governs and serves this area

Jurisdiction

Pleasanton (municipality)

Sewer service

• Dublin San Ramon Services District
• Which provider serves a particular address depends on where it is. Look up an address to resolve it.