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Who is responsible for the sewer line between my house and the street in Virginia?

In Fairfax County, Spotsylvania County, Salem and Colonial Heights, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer lateral, the pipe from the house toward the public main, at least on the owner's own lot. Where your part ends, at the property line, a cleanout or the main itself, differs from one locality to the next, so ask your sewer utility.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

This is a job for a licensed pro in Virginia

This page explains what the work involves, the permits, what a licensed pro does and what drives the cost. It does not give step-by-step instructions, because this work needs a licence, a permit or both, and doing it wrong can injure someone. Before you hire, check the licence on Virginia's DPOR record.

The short answer

In the four Virginia localities below, the pipe from your house toward the street, called the sewer lateral, is yours to maintain and fix, at least on your own lot. Where your part ends differs between them: in some it is the property line, in others a cleanout, and in Fairfax County it runs all the way to the county sewer, connection included. The only way to know for your address is to ask your sewer utility, and it helps to ask before something breaks.

How four Virginia localities draw the line

Fairfax County. The county's public works department says: "The resident or building owner is responsible for resolving problems or damages resulting from blockages in the service line. This extends from the home/business to the county sewer, including the connection to the sewer."[1] Fairfax County is responsible for maintaining the public sewer in the street or easement.[2] The county's code compliance office adds that "Maintenance, repair, and replacement of laterals is the responsibility of the property owner and is enforceable under Section 504.1 of the Virginia Property Maintenance Code."[2]

Spotsylvania County. The county splits the lateral in two. "If you own your home, you also own the upper sanitary sewer lateral from the end of your home’s internal plumbing to the property line."[3] The lower lateral and the public main typically sit in a public right of way or a dedicated county easement, which can be on private property.[3]

City of Salem. "The building owner is responsible for maintenance and repair of the sewer lateral on the owner's private property, as well as cleanup."[4]

City of Colonial Heights. Here the cleanout decides it. Without a sewer cleanout at the property line, the city considers the property owner the owner of the lateral from the building to the main and solely responsible for its flow and maintenance.[5] With an approved cleanout at the property line, the city claims ownership of the lateral from that cleanout to the main and is responsible for its maintenance and repairs.[5]

If you live elsewhere, including Blacksburg, Christiansburg or Montgomery County, look for your utility's own rule on its website or call it. Ask three questions: where its responsibility starts, whether it owns the cleanout, and who pays for a break under the sidewalk or street.

The state rule behind it

The maintenance part of Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code says: "Every building drainage and sewer system shall function properly and be kept free from obstructions, leaks, and defects."[7] Fairfax County uses the same code against failing laterals: when it confirms a leak or a backup into the structure, it issues a Notice of Violation to the owner.[2]

Your line is not on the 811 map

Because the lateral is private, nobody marks it for you. Virginia 811 says: "The sewer line that connects your house to the sewer main at that cleanout will NOT be marked when you contact Virginia 811."[8] Fairfax County does not locate and/or mark private sanitary sewer laterals that extend from the building to the Fairfax County sanitary sewer-main line.[1] A plumber can trace it from the cleanout or with a camera and locator.

A backup: yours or the utility's?

How the backup behaves is a useful clue. Fairfax County's guidance: "If the backup occurs only when facilities (such as toilet, tub, washer or sinks) are used, it is possible that you need a plumber."[1] By the same guidance, sewage backing up when you are not using any of your facilities may point to a problem in the county main line, and the county sends a Wastewater Collection Division representative to check its sewer.[1]

Salem asks residents to check with neighbours: "If the problem is affecting multiple buildings, immediately call the Salem Water Department at 540-375-3029."[4] Montgomery County Public Service Authority customers are told to call the NRV 911 non-emergency line at 540-382-4343 for an after-hours water or sewer problem.[6] Find your own utility's 24-hour number now and keep it with your insurance papers.

If the utility finds its main working, the problem is in your lateral. For what to look for, see the signs of a broken sewer line; for what the fix involves, see what replacing a sewer line involves and what it costs.

A resin-soaked pipe liner laid flat on pavement and pressed with a metal roller before a trenchless sewer repair
Photo: Rachkay333, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hiring for your part of the line

A contractor you hire for work on the private lateral should hold a licence that covers it. Virginia's plumbing contractor classification (PLB) covers the installation, maintenance, extension or alteration of sewerage systems.[9] The highway/heavy (H/H) classification also covers water, gas, and sewer connections to residential, commercial, and industrial sites, subject to local ordinances,[9] and so does the underground utility and excavating (UUC) specialty.[10] Localities add their own rules: in Fairfax County, a repair or replacement on private property needs a plumbing permit from the county, and a plumber must be certified, licensed and bonded to make any repairs.[2]

Check the licence yourself. The Board for Contractors warns that a license number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the contractor's license is valid.[11] Look the business up on DPOR's website, or "Contact the Board for Contractors at (804) 367-8511".[11] Our guide to checking a contractor's licence walks through it.

When to call a licensed pro

In Fairfax County, a backup when no one is using water may point to the county main, and the county sends a representative to check its sewer;[1] in Salem, a problem affecting several buildings goes straight to the Water Department.[4] Call a licensed plumber when the utility says its main is clear, when only your house backs up, or when you see a wet, sunken or smelly spot over your lateral. Digging up, repairing or replacing the lateral is a job to hire out, and in Fairfax County a repair or replacement on private property needs a plumbing permit from the county.[2] If sewage is already in the house, start with our sewer backup page.

Find a licensed sewer pro

Loclis lists licensed businesses from Virginia's DPOR register with their licence number and class. Browse sewer line services, look up plumbers in Blacksburg, or read more plumbing answers. When you are ready, describe the job once and licensed local businesses quote it.

Common questions

Does the city fix the sewer pipe under the sidewalk?
It depends on your locality. Spotsylvania County makes the owner responsible to the property line, Fairfax County makes the owner responsible all the way to the county sewer including the connection, and Colonial Heights takes over from an approved property-line cleanout. Ask your sewer utility where its part begins.
Who do I call first when sewage backs up?
Fairfax County says sewage backing up when no one is using water may point to a problem in the county main, and that a backup only when fixtures are used may mean you need a plumber. Salem says to call its Water Department immediately if the problem affects several buildings. Ask your own utility which number to call and when.
Will 811 mark my sewer lateral before I dig?
No. Virginia 811 says the sewer line from your house to the cleanout near the property edge is private and is not marked. Fairfax County also says it does not locate private laterals. A plumber can locate the line from the cleanout or with a camera.
Can my county make me repair my sewer lateral?
In Fairfax County, yes: the county says lateral maintenance, repair and replacement is the owner's responsibility and is enforceable under the Virginia Property Maintenance Code, and it issues a Notice of Violation when a leak or backup is confirmed. Ask your own locality how it enforces the maintenance code.
What if my house has no sewer cleanout?
Spotsylvania County suggests adding one, since it gives you or your plumber quick access to stop a backup. In Colonial Heights, a city-approved cleanout at the property line also moves ownership of the section beyond it to the city.

Sources

  1. [1] Wastewater Management: Sanitary Sewer Emergencies, Backups and Miss Utility, Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Checked October 26, 2026.
  2. [2] Sanitary Sewer House Lateral: Key things to know about your home's sewer system, Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance. Checked October 26, 2026.
  3. [3] FAQs: Utilities, Sanitary Sewer Lateral, Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Checked October 26, 2026.
  4. [4] FAQs: Water & Sewer, Backup vs. Overflow, City of Salem, Virginia. Checked October 26, 2026.
  5. [5] City Cleanout Permit Application, City of Colonial Heights, Virginia. Checked October 26, 2026.
  6. [6] Water/Sewer: Frequently Asked Questions, Montgomery County, Virginia, Public Service Authority. Checked October 26, 2026.
  7. [7] 13VAC5-63-530, Virginia Maintenance Code: Chapter 5 Plumbing requirements, Virginia Administrative Code, Legislative Information System. Checked October 26, 2026.
  8. [8] Private Utilities Explained, Virginia 811. Checked October 26, 2026.
  9. [9] 18VAC50-22-20, Board for Contractors Regulations: Definitions of license classifications, Virginia Administrative Code, Legislative Information System. Checked October 26, 2026.
  10. [10] 18VAC50-22-30, Board for Contractors Regulations: Definitions of specialty services, Virginia Administrative Code, Legislative Information System. Checked October 26, 2026.
  11. [11] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 26, 2026.

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