If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Compare licensed plumbers on AngiGet more than one quote before a sewer, water-line, or drain repair.
See what a home warranty covers (Choice)Read the coverage and exclusions before you buy; not every repair qualifies.
Partner link. Who Pays the Repair? may earn a commission if you request a quote or sign up, at no cost to you. It never changes who we say pays.
Default rule and exceptions
Owner: house to property line. City (Private Drain Program): property line to main.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Owner responsible from house to property line. |
| City / public agency | Private Drain Program: city handles the public-way portion (property line to main). |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 2, 2026.
The property owner shall be responsible for repairs to the part of the building sewer located on private property. ... The department shall be responsible for repairs to the part of the building sewer located on public property
The City may now repair sewer drain tiles coming from private residences, of up to four units, that are broken under the public way. This is the area from the city sidewalk to the center of the street.
The City may now repair sewer drain tiles coming from private residences, of up to four units, that are broken under the public way. ... Tiles proven to be broken under the public way will be repaired by the City at no cost to the property owner when the following conditions are met
City rules rest on state law. Read Illinois's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sewer lateral in Chicago, IL?
Responsibility is shared. Owner responsible from house to property line.
Is there any cost help for sewer lateral in Chicago, IL?
Private Drain Program: DWM repairs qualifying breaks in the public way at no charge (residential up to 4 units; excludes new construction, rehabs, commercial/mixed-use). Process: 311 report, DWM verifies main, homeowner hires licensed contractor to rod/televise with DWM inspector attending (contractor schedules via 312.747.4591).
What is this based on for Chicago, IL?
This verdict is sourced to 11-16-020 Care of sewers, sewer structures and drains. and 3 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- 11-16-020 Care of sewers, sewer structures and drains.ordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- Private Drain Repair (Private Drain Program)official-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- Private Drain Repair Programofficial-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source? Tell us. Corrections that check out are applied, with the change shown in history. That is our standing policy.