If the repair is yours to pay
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- Your building
- Your part: the whole lateral, up to the connection with the main
- Connection to the main
- Public sewer main
Drawn from the rule quoted on this page. Exceptions above still apply.
Default rule and exceptions
The owner owns and maintains the entire sanitary sewer service lateral, regardless of who owns the property where it connects to the main. Operation and maintenance includes replacement.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Minneapolis Code: "The sanitary sewer service lateral is owned in its entirety by the land owner whose property is connected to the public sanitary sewer system. The responsibility for its cleaning, maintenance or repair lies with the property owner." |
| City / public agency | Minneapolis Code: "Regardless of who owns the property where the connection is made to the sewer main or any other element of the public sanitary sewer system, the property owner is responsible for ownership and maintenance ... Operation and maintenance includes replacement." |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 27, 2026.
The sanitary sewer service lateral is owned in its entirety by the land owner whose property is connected to the public sanitary sewer system. The responsibility for its cleaning, maintenance or repair lies with the property owner.
Regardless of who owns the property where the connection is made to the sewer main or any other element of the public sanitary sewer system, the property owner is responsible for ownership and maintenance ... Operation and maintenance includes replacement.
City rules rest on state law. Read Minnesota's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sewer lateral in Minneapolis, MN?
The property owner. Minneapolis Code: "The sanitary sewer service lateral is owned in its entirety by the land owner whose property is connected to the public sanitary sewer system. The responsibility for its cleaning, maintenance or repair lies with the property owner."
What does the city cover in Minneapolis, MN?
Minneapolis Code: "Regardless of who owns the property where the connection is made to the sewer main or any other element of the public sanitary sewer system, the property owner is responsible for ownership and maintenance ... Operation and maintenance includes replacement."
What is this based on for Minneapolis, MN?
This verdict is sourced to Sec. 511.10 - Definitions (Sanitary sewer service lateral). and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Sec. 511.10 - Definitions (Sanitary sewer service lateral).ordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- 511.40. - Ownership and responsibility for sanitary sewer service laterals and connections.ordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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