# Sewer Lateral Repair in Fresno, CA: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Fresno owners maintain the sewer lateral from the house to the main, including under the sidewalk and street. Fee deferral and a $15,000 septic-abandonment loan exist.

**Who pays:** owner

Fresno owns you the lateral all the way to the main, including the part under the sidewalk and street, but offers fee-deferral and a septic-abandonment loan to soften it.

**Boundary:** Owner maintains the lateral from the house to the point of connection with the public main, including the portion beneath the sidewalk and street.

**Property owner:** City of Fresno: the owner’s lateral runs "from the house up to the point of connection with the public sanitary sewer main. This includes both the portion on private property and the portion located beneath the sidewalk and street up to the point where the lateral connects to the public main."

**City / agency:** The city owns the main; it offers a Sewer Connection Agreement (fee deferral over up to 15 years) and a Septic Abandonment Loan Program (up to $15,000 over up to 20 years).

**Exceptions:** Sewer Connection Agreement: fee deferral over up to 15 years; Septic Abandonment Loan Program: up to $15,000 over up to 20 years

## Sources
- [City of Fresno Public Utilities: Property Owners & Contractors (owner lateral to main, incl. under street)](https://www.fresno.gov/publicutilities/sewer-wastewater/property-owners-contractors/) — "It is the property owner's responsibility to maintain and repair their own sewer lateral from the house up to the point of connection with the public sanitary sewer main." (accessed 2026-09-07)
- [City of Fresno Public Utilities Department](https://www.fresno.gov/publicutilities/) (accessed 2026-09-07)
- [Sewer Loan Programs](https://www.fresno.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Sewer-Loan-Programs.pdf) — "Maximum Loan Term: 15 years ... SEPTIC ABANDONMENT LOAN: ... Maximum Loan Amount: $15,000. ... Maximum Loan Term: 20 years" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [City of Fresno Public Utilities: Property Owners & Contractors (owner lateral to main, incl. under street)](https://www.fresno.gov/publicutilities/sewer-wastewater/property-owners-contractors/) — "from the house up to the point of connection with the public sanitary sewer main. This includes both the portion on private property and the portion located beneath the sidewalk and street up to the point where the lateral connects to the public main." (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-07. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/fresno-ca-sewer-lateral/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._