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
Owner-owned/maintained sewer lateral runs from the property all the way to its connection with the City sewer main. That connection may be in the street past the property line, on an easement, or in a canyon (so the owner-maintained run can extend well beyond the lot line).
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Maintain the sewer lateral from the property all the way to the connection with the City sewer main. |
| City / public agency | The City owns and maintains the sewer main. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 12, 2026.
The sewerage system for a home or property is connected to the City sewer main through a sewer lateral. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of that lateral from the property all the way to the connection with the sewer main.
This connection may be in the street, past the property line; on an easement; or in a canyon.
City rules rest on state law. Read California's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sewer lateral in San Diego, CA?
The property owner. Maintain the sewer lateral from the property all the way to the connection with the City sewer main.
What does the city cover in San Diego, CA?
The City owns and maintains the sewer main.
What is this based on for San Diego, CA?
This verdict is sourced to Your Home Plumbing: Sewer (owner maintains lateral to the main) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Your Home Plumbing: Sewer (owner maintains lateral to the main)official · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-11
- Your Home Plumbing: Sewer (connection location)official · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-11
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Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source?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.