# Who Cleans Storm Drains in Los Angeles? | Who Pays the Repair?

> LA Sanitation cleans and inspects all 40,000 sidewalk catch basins in Los Angeles and asks residents to report any that are clogged.

**Who pays:** city

The city cleans Los Angeles catch basins, and LA Sanitation asks residents to report clogged ones.

**Boundary:** LA Sanitation & Environment cleans and inspects all 40,000 sidewalk catch basins in the City of Los Angeles and asks residents to report clogged ones. Crews clear debris from all 40,000 street catch basins and 70 mountain debris basins before and during the rainy season.

## Sources
- [Wet Weather Preparedness](https://sanitation.lacity.gov/programs/wet-weather-preparedness) — "We clean and inspect all 40,000 sidewalk catch basins across the City of Los Angeles, clearing away leaves, plastic, and litter." (accessed 2026-09-30)
- [Wet Weather Preparedness](https://sanitation.lacity.gov/programs/wet-weather-preparedness) — "our crews proactively clear debris from all 40,000 street catch basins and 70 mountain debris basins before and during the rainy season." (accessed 2026-09-30)
- [Reporting a Spill or Clogged Catch Basin](https://sanitation.lacity.gov/services/reporting-spill-or-clogged-catch-basin) — "Please help us by reporting clogged catch basins or any fluids other than water flowing into gutters and storm drains." (accessed 2026-09-30)

_Last verified 2026-09-30. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/los-angeles-ca-catch-basin-storm-drain-flooding/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._