Los Angeles sewer guide
Who Is Responsible for a Sewer Line in Los Angeles: Your Pipe or the City’s?
Short answer: in the City of Los Angeles, you own and must maintain the private sewer lateral that runs from your building to the city sewer main. The city (LASAN) maintains the main in the street. Other cities and unincorporated areas follow their own rules, so the right phone call depends on where your property sits.
Sewage backing up right now?
- Stop running water: no flushing, no washer, no dishwasher.
- Check whether neighbors have the same problem. If yes, call the city line below.
- Photograph the backup for your records.
- City of LA: LASAN 24-hour line 1-800-773-2489.
Not sure whose pipe it is? A camera run shows where the blockage sits.
Who owns what: a quick map of your sewer line
A home sewer has three parts. Responsibility changes at each one, and that is where most arguments about who pays start.
| Part of the system | Who maintains it (City of LA) | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Drains and pipes inside the building | Property owner | Clogs here are your cost. |
| Private sewer lateral: building to the main, including the part under your yard, sidewalk and street | Property owner | This is the pipe most backups come from. Tree roots, grease and old clay or cast iron are the usual causes. |
| Public sewer main in the street | City of Los Angeles (LASAN) | If the main is blocked, the city fixes it at no charge to you. |
| Digging in the public right-of-way (sidewalk, parkway, street) | Needs a City Class “A” permit | A repair contractor must pull it before opening the street. |
Rules differ outside the City of LA. See the table further down for who to call in nearby cities. Last updated October 2026.
Signs the problem is in your lateral, not the city main
Likely your lateral
- Only your home backs up, neighbors are fine.
- The lowest drain goes first: shower, tub or floor drain.
- Repeat clogs every few months in the same spot.
- Large trees or old clay pipe on the property.
Possibly the city main
- Neighbors on the street report backups too.
- Several buildings gurgling at once.
- Sewage coming up in the street or a manhole.
- Sudden backup after heavy rain.
These are clues, not proof. A camera inspection records the actual pipe and shows which side of the property line the problem is on. Learn how it works in our camera inspection section.
What to do, step by step
- Stop the water. Every flush or load of laundry pushes more sewage toward the lowest drain.
- Check the street. Ask neighbors and look at nearby manholes. Backups on several properties point to the main.
- Call the city if it may be the main. In the City of LA, LASAN runs a 24-hour line at 1-800-773-2489 (TTY 213-473-4112).
- Get a camera inspection if it is your pipe. You want footage that shows the cause and the location before anyone cuts or digs.
- Clear it the right way. Grease, scale and roots in a main line are usually cleared with hydro jetting; a cable can leave the pipe wall coated. See jetting vs snaking.
- Ask for the video and a written scope before agreeing to a repair.
Los Angeles sewer lateral rebates: check before you pay
LASAN has offered a Sewer Lateral Repair Rebate of up to $2,500 and a CCTV inspection rebate of up to $300 for City of LA homeowners, applied for through MyLA311. Funds are first-come until the annual budget runs out, and eligibility rules change, so confirm current availability with LASAN before you hire anyone.
Keep your camera footage and invoices. They are normally part of the application. LASAN’s rebate pages do not say whether funds are available right now, so call 1-800-773-2489 or email San.SLRebates@lacity.org before you start. Details are on our rebate page.
Who to call by area
| Where is the property | Who runs the sewer | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| City of Los Angeles (including Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Highland Park, Westchester and the Valley neighborhoods) | LASAN | 1-800-773-2489, 24 hours. TTY 213-473-4112. |
| Unincorporated Los Angeles County | County sewer maintenance districts; owners own their laterals | Contact LA County Public Works for your district. County Public Works takes sewer overflow reports at 1-800-675-4357. |
| Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Culver City and other cities | Usually the city’s own public works department | Call that city’s public works department. Glendale (818) 548-3950, Burbank (818) 238-3915, Pasadena 626-744-7311, Culver City (310) 253-6420. See who to call by city. |
Not sure which one applies? Call with the address or zip code and we will point you the right way.
Common questions
Who is responsible for the sewer line from my house to the street in Los Angeles?
In the City of Los Angeles the property owner is responsible for the private lateral from the building to the sewer main. The city maintains the main itself.
What if the blockage is in the city sewer main?
Call LASAN on 1-800-773-2489. Main-line clearing by the city is not billed to the homeowner.
Do I need a permit to repair my lateral?
Work in the public right-of-way needs a Class “A” permit. Your repair contractor normally handles it.
Can hydro jetting fix a lateral problem?
It clears grease, scale and roots, but a broken, bellied or collapsed pipe needs repair. That is why we start with a camera run.
Who pays for a camera inspection?
You do, unless a rebate applies. Ask for the price before booking. $350 to $600 for a typical residential line
Not sure whose pipe it is? Get it on camera.
We connect you with a local plumber who runs a camera through the line and shows you the footage.