Sewer Repairs

The City is responsible for repairing and maintiaing the public sanitary and storm sewer systems.

Property owners are responsible for maintaining the sewer lateral pipe from their house or business to the public sewer. In Urbana the maintenance of the sanitary and storm sewer service lateral up to the connection to the City’s sewer main is the responsibility of the property owner. Section 24-38 Paragraph (c) of the City Code for the City’s policy on sewer service laterals states that “all costs and expenses incident to the installation, connection, repair, and maintenance of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner, and for such purposes, the owner is granted permission to excavate in the public right of way subject to the regulations of the director of public works”. The connection to the main is typically a tee or wye which is considered part of the public sanitary sewer and thus the City’s responsibility to maintain. Additional information on sewer lateral pipes is presented on the sanitary back-up webpage.

Property owners may be eligible to participate in the City's Sewer Lateral Pavement Reimbursement Program if their sewer lateral repair is located under City sidewalk or street pavement. The Sewer Lateral Pavement Reimbursement Program reimburses a property owner for 50% of the pavement removal, replacement, and backfilling costs associated with a sewer lateral repair. Additional information on the Pavement Reimbursement Program is provided below.

All sewer lateral repairs must obtain a plumbing permit from the City. If the sewer lateral repair is located in City Right-Of-Way (ROW) the property owner or contractor must obtain a ROW permit from the City before beginning work. Property owners typically contract with a sewer exavator or plumber to complete a sewer lateral repair. You can consult the Yellow Pages for a local sewer excavator or plumber.