If the repair is yours to pay
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- Your building
- Your part: building to the meter
- Meter
- The city or utility's part: meter to the main
- Water main
Drawn from the rule quoted on this page. Exceptions above still apply.
Default rule and exceptions
Split at the meter. The property owner is responsible for the line from the meter to the house; the City repairs the line from the meter to the street/main.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Houston 311: "If there is a leak anywhere between the meter and the house, the repair is their responsibility." |
| City / public agency | The City of Houston is responsible for repairing a leak on the line running from the meter to the street. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 10, 2026.
If there is a leak anywhere between the meter and the house, the repair is their responsibility to make and the homeowner should hire a plumber to repair the leak. If there is a leak on the line that runs from the meter to the street, the City is responsible for making this repair.
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 Houston, TX?
Responsibility is shared. Houston 311: "If there is a leak anywhere between the meter and the house, the repair is their responsibility."
What is this based on for Houston, TX?
This verdict is sourced to Water service line leak responsibility (KA-02085) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Water service line leak responsibility (KA-02085)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-27
- Drinking water: Houston Public Worksofficial · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-10
Spot an error? Challenge this record
Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source? Tell us. Corrections that check out are applied, with the change shown in history. That is our standing policy.