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.
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Default rule and exceptions
The City and County of Denver maintains only the public sewer mains. The private tap/service line from the building to the main is the property owner’s responsibility.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Denver DOTI Wastewater FAQ: "The City and County of Denver is only responsible for main public sewers. For information about your private tap/service line, we recommend you to hire a licensed plumbing company that provides such services." |
| City / public agency | City maintains and repairs public sewer mains; sanitary sewer billing handled through Denver Water. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Aug 23, 2026.
The City and County of Denver is only responsible for main public sewers. For information about your private tap/service line, we recommend you to hire a licensed plumbing company that provides such services.
only responsible for main public sewers
City rules rest on state law. Read Colorado's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sewer lateral in Denver, CO?
The property owner. Denver DOTI Wastewater FAQ: "The City and County of Denver is only responsible for main public sewers. For information about your private tap/service line, we recommend you to hire a licensed plumbing company that provides such services."
What does the city cover in Denver, CO?
City maintains and repairs public sewer mains; sanitary sewer billing handled through Denver Water.
What is this based on for Denver, CO?
This verdict is sourced to Denver sewer responsibility explainer and 3 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Denver sewer responsibility explainercontractor · research-cited · accessed 2026-08-19
- Denver DOTI: Wastewater Management FAQ (city responsible only for public mains)official · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- Denver DOTI: Wastewater Management FAQ (city responsible only for public mains)official · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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