# Sewer Lateral in Kansas City, MO: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Kansas City owners are responsible for the entire sewer lateral, from the main to the house. KC Water may repair a right-of-way section, but only under certain conditions.

**Who pays:** owner

In Kansas City the owner is responsible for the whole sewer lateral, from the main to the house; KC Water repairs a right-of-way section only at its discretion.

**Boundary:** KC Water makes the customer responsible for the entire private sewer lateral, from where it connects to the sewer main to the building plumbing. The Director may authorize repair of a defective portion in the City right-of-way or easement, but only under certain conditions.

**Property owner:** KC Water: "Customers are responsible for maintenance and repair of the private residential sewer lateral itself from the point of its connection to the sewer main to the building plumbing."

**City / agency:** KC Water: "Under certain conditions, the Director of KC Water or the director's designee may authorize repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of the defective portion of a private residential sewer service line located on or within the City's right-of-way or easement."

**Exceptions:** KC Water may authorize repair of a defective portion in the right-of-way or easement, at the Director's discretion and only under certain conditions

## Sources
- [Repair and Maintenance of Residential Service Laterals.](https://www.kcwater.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Repair-and-Maintenance-of-Residential-Service-Laterals.pdf) — "Customers are responsible for maintenance and repair of the private residential sewer lateral itself from the point of its connection to the sewer main to the building plumbing." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Repair and Maintenance of Residential Service Laterals.](https://www.kcwater.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Repair-and-Maintenance-of-Residential-Service-Laterals.pdf) — "Under certain conditions, the Director of KC Water or the director's designee may authorize repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of the defective portion of a private residential sewer service line located on or within the City's right-of-way or easement." (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-27. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/kansas-city-mo-sewer-lateral/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._