If the repair is yours to pay
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- Your building
- Your part: building to the meter
- Meter
- The city or utility's part: meter to the main
- Water main
Drawn from the rule quoted on this page. Exceptions above still apply.
Default rule and exceptions
Split at the meter outlet coupling. San Jose Water (SJW) owns the pipes from the water main to the meter outlet coupling; the customer owns the service line from the meter to the house (CPUC Rule 16). CAVEAT: SJW is the investor-owned utility serving most, not all, of San Jose; a few districts are served by the City’s municipal system.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Maintain the service line from the meter (SJW’s coupling) to the house, per CPUC Rule 16. |
| City / public agency | San Jose Water maintains the pipes from the water main to the meter outlet coupling. |
| Exceptions | Applies to the San Jose Water Company service area (most of the city); a few districts are on the City municipal system |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 12, 2026.
San Jose Water Responsibility – SJW is responsible for the pipes that bring water from the water main located under the street, all the way to the meter outlet coupling.
Customer Responsibility – Customers are responsible for everything from the connection of their service line to SJW’s coupling.
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 water service line in San Jose, CA?
Responsibility is shared. Maintain the service line from the meter (SJW’s coupling) to the house, per CPUC Rule 16.
Are there exceptions in San Jose, CA?
Applies to the San Jose Water Company service area (most of the city); a few districts are on the City municipal system
What is this based on for San Jose, CA?
This verdict is sourced to Who’s Responsible for What: SJW to the meter outlet coupling and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Who’s Responsible for What: SJW to the meter outlet couplingofficial · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-11
- Who’s Responsible for What: customer from the coupling to the houseofficial · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-11
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