# Water Service Line in Chicago, IL: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Chicago the water service line splits at the external shut-off valve under the parkway: the City owns main-to-valve, the homeowner owns valve-to-home. Cited to a City of Chicago release quoting the Municipal Code.

**Who pays:** shared

Chicago: split at the parkway shut-off valve, the City owns main-to-valve, and "from the external shut-off valve into the home... is the property and responsibility of homeowners."

**Boundary:** Split at the external shut-off valve (the b-box, usually under the parkway). Per the Municipal Code the City owns the service line from the main to that valve; the homeowner owns it from the valve into the home.

**Property owner:** City of Chicago: "From the external shut-off valve into the home, the service line is the property and responsibility of homeowners."

**City / agency:** City of Chicago: "the service line beginning at the water main to the external shut-off valve, usually located under the parkway, is owned and maintained by the City."

## Sources
- [Equity-Focused Lead Service Line Replacement (quoting the Municipal Code)](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2020/september/EquityFocusedLeadServiceReplacement.html) — "Per the Municipal Code, the service line beginning at the water main to the external shut-off valve, usually located under the parkway, is owned and maintained by the City. From the external shut-off valve into the home, the service line is the property and responsibility of homeowners." (accessed 2026-09-10)
- [Department of Water Management](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/water.html) (accessed 2026-09-10)

_Last verified 2026-09-10. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/chicago-il-water-service-line/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._