# Sewer Lateral Repair in Baltimore, MD: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Baltimore the owner replaces, maintains and repairs the sewer lateral from the building to the public line. Fail to connect and the city liens the cost plus $50.

**Who pays:** owner

Baltimore says it plainly: "The City does not repair or maintain private sewer lines", the whole lateral to the public main is the homeowner’s.

**Boundary:** Owner replaces, maintains, and repairs the sewer lateral from the building to the public sewer line. If the owner fails to connect, the city does the work and liens the cost plus a $50 penalty.

**Property owner:** Baltimore DPW: "The City does not repair or maintain private sewer lines. Property owners are responsible for replacing, maintaining, and repairing sewer pipes in their buildings and within their property lines," and "Repairing broken laterals... is the homeowner’s responsibility."

**City / agency:** Under City Code Art. 25, 16-5/16-8, if an owner fails to connect after notice, the Director of Public Works performs the work and enters the expense as a charge "add a lump sum of $50 as a penalty"

## Sources
- [Baltimore DPW: Sanitary Sewer Consent Decree Program (owner owns/repairs lateral)](https://www.baltimorecity.gov/publicworks/sanitary-sewer-consent-decree-program) — "The City does not repair or maintain private sewer lines. Property owners are responsible for replacing, maintaining, and repairing sewer pipes in their buildings and within their property lines." (accessed 2026-09-07)
- [Baltimore City Code Art. 25, Subtitle 16, Sec. 16-5/16-8 (notice, city work, lien + $50)](https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/25/16-5) (accessed 2026-09-07)
- [Baltimore City Code, Art. 25, § 16-8](https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/25/16-8) — "to which he shall add a lump sum of $50 as a penalty upon the owner for failing to comply with this subtitle and to cover administrative or supervisory expenses" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Baltimore DPW: Sanitary Sewer Consent Decree Program (owner owns/repairs lateral)](https://www.baltimorecity.gov/publicworks/sanitary-sewer-consent-decree-program) — "Repairing broken laterals... is the homeowner’s responsibility." (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-07. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/baltimore-md-sewer-lateral/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._