# Sewer Lateral Repair in Memphis, TN: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Memphis owners bear all costs of the building sewer, the house connection from the building to the public sewer, and indemnify the city for damage from it.

**Who pays:** owner

Memphis defines the "building sewer" as the full run to the public main and bills every dollar of it to the owner.

**Boundary:** Owner bears all costs of the building sewer, defined as "the extension from the building to the public sewer," also called the "house connection."

**Property owner:** Memphis Code 13-4-1: "Building sewer means the extension from the building to the public sewer or other place of disposal, also called house connection." Code 13-16-10: "All costs and expenses incidental to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner."

**City / agency:** The city owns the public sewer; the owner indemnifies the city for damage from the building sewer.

## Sources
- [Sec. 13-4-1. - Definitions (Building sewer).](https://library.municode.com/TN/Memphis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13PUSE_CH13-4INGEDE) — "Building sewer means the extension from the building to the public sewer or other place of disposal, also called "house connection."" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sec. 13-16-10. - Connection to be at expense of owner; indemnification of city; construction.](https://library.municode.com/TN/Memphis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13PUSE_CH13-16BUSECOSEEXDEFE) — "All costs and expenses incidental to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner." (accessed 2026-09-27)

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