Who pays for the sewer lateral in Santa Barbara, 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 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?
No rule on file here is specific to selling or buying; that does not mean none exists.
Planning work?
Santa Barbara Municipal Code section 14.46.040(B) requires the owner of residential property to have the building sewer lateral inspected "Prior to the issuance of a City building permit for a residential building addition or new improvements on the real property in excess of 400 square feet of habitable space", and "Prior to the issuance of a City building permit for two or more new plumbing fixtures attached to the Building Sewer Lateral upon the residential Property."
Who to call first about the sewer lateral
Santa Barbara: official site(opens in a new tab)The documents this answer is built on
Who is responsible for which part
In Santa Barbara the building sewer lateral is the owner's responsibility all the way to the public sewer, including the fitting that joins it to the main. Section 14.46.020(A) of the City's code provides that "An Owner is responsible, at the Owner's cost, for all preventative and corrective maintenance activities for the building sewer lateral serving the Owner's premises, up to and including the sewer lateral connection to the public sewer, including periodic video inspection, testing, cleaning, repair and replacement."
- The property owner
- The building sewer lateral, which section 14.46.010 defines as the pipes and facilities connecting a premises to a public sewer, "including that portion extending into the public street or right-of-way and the point of connection to the public sewer", and the sewer lateral connection: "That portion of the Building Sewer Lateral that connects to the public sewer main, commonly using a tee, wye, or saddle."
What else is worth knowing
Sources
Santa Barbara Municipal Code chapter 14.46, Building Sewer InspectionsWhat the rules say
Most relevant if you are repairing or replacing the pipe
No rule on file here is specific to repairing or replacing the pipe; that does not mean none exists.
Also in force here
Santa Barbara Municipal Code section 14.46.040(B) requires the owner of residential property to have the building sewer lateral inspected "Prior to the issuance of a City building permit for a residential building addition or new improvements on the real property in excess of 400 square feet of habitable space", and "Prior to the issuance of a City building permit for two or more new plumbing fixtures attached to the Building Sewer Lateral upon the residential Property."
What to do: Before applying for a building permit for an addition of more than 400 square feet of habitable space, or for two or more new plumbing fixtures, find the records of when the lateral was last replaced or inspected. If neither is recent enough for an exception, plan a video inspection by a City-certified plumber into the permit timeline.
Santa Barbara Municipal Code section 14.46.040(B) and (D), Mandatory Building Sewer Lateral InspectionsWhy this matters
The inspection is a closed-circuit television inspection by a licensed plumber certified by the City, and deficiencies it finds lead to a notice to repair or replace with a deadline. New plumbing fixtures count only where the number of fixtures goes up. No inspection is needed if the lateral was installed or replaced within 20 years of the building permit application, or if an inspection showing it in good repair was done in the three years before. Commercial property, common interest developments and multi-unit rental developments also have a 15-year inspection schedule under section 14.46.040(C).
What this page cannot tell you
- No assistance or grant programme has been reviewed for this jurisdiction yet.
Who governs and serves this area
- Jurisdiction
- Santa Barbara (municipality)
- Sewer service
How this compares to neighbouring cities
2 of the 4 nearest cities draw the line somewhere else. Each authority publishes only its own rule.
Nearby cities and further reading
Look up a specific address
This page describes what applies to properties in Santa Barbara in general. To see which authorities serve one address, and what records exist for it, search for it.
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