# Fort Worth Water Line: City vs Owner | Who Pays the Repair?

> Fort Worth's code splits water line duty at the meter, the city maintains the tap to the meter, the owner covers the discharge side.

**Who pays:** shared

Fort Worth splits the water line at the meter: the city owns/maintains the tap and service line up to the meter, while the owner is responsible for everything on the discharge side.

**Boundary:** 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.

## Sources
- [Fort Worth Code of Ordinances § 35-57.4: Water Tap Connections (Ownership and maintenance)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-31884) — "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." (accessed 2026-10-24)
- [Fort Worth Code of Ordinances § 35-10: Liability for usage; discontinuance of service for failure to pay claims](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-31670) — "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..." (accessed 2026-10-24)

_Last verified 2026-10-24. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/fort-worth-tx-water-service-line/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._