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Default rule and exceptions
Under Fort Worth Code § 35-57.4(i), the city owns and maintains the water tap and service line from the main to the meter (though built at the owner's expense), while Code § 35-10 holds the property owner responsible for water loss or leakage in pipes or plumbing inside the discharge side of the meter or on their property.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| City of Fort Worth | Owns and maintains the water tap and service connection from the main to the meter, after the owner pays for its initial construction. |
| Property owner/customer | Responsible for all water loss or leakage in pipes or plumbing on the discharge side of the meter or on their property. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Oct 24, 2026.
The water tap and service line installation shall be constructed at the expense of the property owner/customer. The city shall then be the owner of the tap and service line. ... The city shall maintain water service connections from the main to the meter.
All property owners, their agents and tenants shall be held responsible for all water use including loss of water due to leakage in pipes or plumbing inside the discharge side of the meter or on their property...
City rules rest on state law. Read Texas's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for water service line in Fort Worth, TX?
Responsibility is shared. Owns and maintains the water tap and service connection from the main to the meter, after the owner pays for its initial construction.
What is this based on for Fort Worth, TX?
This verdict is sourced to Fort Worth Code of Ordinances § 35-57.4: Water Tap Connections (Ownership and maintenance) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Fort Worth Code of Ordinances § 35-57.4: Water Tap Connections (Ownership and maintenance)regulation · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-24
- Fort Worth Code of Ordinances § 35-10: Liability for usage; discontinuance of service for failure to pay claimsregulation · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-24
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