# Atlanta: Who Pays for the Sewer Lateral? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Atlanta says maintenance and repair of the entire sewer service lateral, from the structure to the City sewer, is the property owner's responsibility.

**Who pays:** owner

In Atlanta, the property owner is responsible for maintenance and repair of the entire sewer service lateral.

**Boundary:** The sewer service lateral is an extension of the house building sewer that connects the structure to the City sewer, and maintenance and repair of the entire sewer service lateral is the property owner's responsibility.

**Exceptions:** Atlanta's sewer code separately defines a "house connection" as the extension of the house building sewer from the property line to the city sewer lateral in a city street.

## Sources
- [What is a sewer service lateral?](https://www.atl311.com/en-us/knowledgearticle/?code=KB0013115) — "The service lateral is an extension of the house building sewer that connects the structure to the City sewer. The maintenance and repair of the entire sewer service lateral is the property owner's responsibility." (accessed 2026-10-09)
- [Code of Ordinances, Ch. 154, Art. IV (Sewer Construction and Assessments), definitions](https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORATGEVOII_CH154UT_ARTIVSECOAS) — "House building sewer means the portion of the sewer line connecting the building or house to the city sewer." (accessed 2026-10-09)
- [Code of Ordinances, Ch. 154, Art. IV (Sewer Construction and Assessments), definitions](https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORATGEVOII_CH154UT_ARTIVSECOAS) — "House connection means the extension of the house building sewer from the property line to the city sewer lateral in a city street." (accessed 2026-10-09)

_Last verified 2026-10-09. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/atlanta-ga-sewer-lateral/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._