| Repair | Who pays | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk Trash / Junk Removal | City | Sacramento gives residents 2 free Household Junk Pickup appointments a year plus 2 free e-waste/appliance appointments; extra pickups cost a $39.48 minimum fee. |
| Sewer Lateral | Property owner | Sacramento sewer lateral: owner owns the upper lateral (house side), SacSewer owns the lower lateral (main side); a loan program covers up to $15,000 of owner repairs. |
| Sidewalk Repair | Property owner | Sacramento makes the owner repair a damaged sidewalk, even when a City tree's roots did it. If the City does the work, you may pay in interest-free installments. |
| Tree Roots | Property owner | In Sacramento the owner must repair a tree-root-damaged sidewalk, and the duty stays with the owner regardless of whose tree caused it. |
| Water Service Line | Shared | Sacramento's code splits water line responsibility at the 'point of service,' generally the meter, the city covers one side, you cover the other. |
Bulk Trash / Junk Removal
City (Recycling & Solid Waste Division) gives residential customers 2 FREE "Household Junk Pickup" appointments per year (Feb-Oct) plus 2 separate free appliance/e-waste appointments per year; additional pickups cost a $39.48 minimum fee; excludes hazardous waste, electronics (separate program), explosives, construction debris ,and mounted tires.
All residential customers can schedule two appointments - between February and October - for the free pickup of acceptable bulky items, including excess yard waste (separated from junk).
Source: Household Junk Pickup
Sewer Lateral
Sacramento splits the pipe: your upper lateral to the house is yours, SacSewer's lower lateral to the main is theirs, and a loan program covers up to $15,000 of your side.
Property owners are responsible for the private sewer pipe serving your property, which is called an “upper lateral.” It connects your home to a “lower lateral” owned and managed by SacSewer.
Source: Upper Lateral Loan Program.
Sidewalk Repair
Sacramento: the abutting owner must repair a defective sidewalk, even when a City-owned tree's roots caused it. If the City does the work, the owner may qualify for interest-free installments.
An owner shall maintain and repair any defective sidewalk fronting such owner's lot, lots or portion of a lot. Where a defective sidewalk is caused in whole or in part by a tree root or roots, the owner shall nevertheless have the duty to repair the sidewalk.
Source: Sacramento City Code Ch. 12.32 (owner duty to repair; tree-root clause)
Tree Roots
Sacramento: the owner must repair a tree-root-damaged sidewalk, the duty stays with the owner regardless of whose tree caused it.
An owner shall maintain and repair any defective sidewalk fronting such owner's lot, lots or portion of a lot. Where a defective sidewalk is caused in whole or in part by a tree root or roots, the owner shall nevertheless have the duty to repair the sidewalk. The director may grant permission to cut the root(s)...
Source: Sacramento City Code § 12.32.020 (owner repairs tree-root sidewalk defects "nevertheless")
Water Service Line
Sacramento City Code § 13.04.080 limits the city's water-line responsibility to the 'point of service' (generally the meter); everything past that point is the customer's sole responsibility.
The city's responsibility to operate, maintain and repair public water mains shall extend only to the point of service. The operation, maintenance and repair of any private water line connected to the point of service shall be the customer's sole responsibility.
Source: Sacramento City Code § 13.04.080: No city responsibility beyond point of service: Indemnity
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