Chandler sewer line responsibility: who repairs the pipe to the main

Section 51-6 first defines the pipe: "The building service line and private mains shall consist of all piping, both on the owner's property and in the City right-of-way, down to and including the tap and tapping saddle on the City Sewer Main." Then it assigns the duty: "The property owner shall be responsible for cleaning, unstopping, maintenance, and repair of the building service line and any private sewer mains from the owner's home or building to the public sewer main."

The definition of building service line in 51-1 says the same thing: it runs from the owner's home or building, on the owner's property and in the city right-of-way, down to and including the tap and tapping saddle on the city sewer main.

There is one exception. Where the correction of a stoppage "requires the repair or replacement of a damaged or broken section of the building service line or private sewer main that is within the public right-of-way, such as a City street or alley, and serving a single-family or a duplex property, the Public Works and Utilities Department shall make the repair or replacement up to the owner's property line."

• Building service line: the pipe from your building to the city sewer main, including the connection on the main.
• Tap and tapping saddle: the fitting that joins your pipe to the city main. It counts as yours under the code.
• Public right-of-way: the street, alley or similar land the city controls.
• Stoppage: a blockage that backs up the line.

Every owner of a Chandler building connected to the public sewer, including landlords and commercial owners. The exception covers only single-family and duplex properties. Restaurants, retail, offices, apartments and other commercial buildings are not in it, so the owner is responsible for the pipe under the street.

A restaurant with a failed lateral. The line has separated under the street. The owner hires a contractor, and the contractor needs the city's tap permit and a street permit to work in the right-of-way (see our page on Chandler's sewer tap permit). The city does not step in.

A duplex with a backup. A landlord clears a stoppage and the camera finds a broken section under the alley. Under the exception, Public Works and Utilities repairs that broken section up to the property line. The landlord is still responsible for the pipe on the property.

The edge case: a house where the break is not found during a stoppage. The exception applies "where the correction of a stoppage requires" the repair, and it is limited to single-family and duplex properties. If a house owner wants the street section replaced for another reason, the code does not promise city work. Call Public Works and Utilities before you schedule the dig.

1. 1Find where the failure is with a camera inspection or the plumber's locate, and note whether it is on your property or under the street.
2. 2If it is on your property, hire a licensed plumber and pull the permits the work needs.
3. 3If it is in the street and your building is commercial or larger than a duplex, expect to repair it yourself. Your contractor will need the city's tap and street permits.
4. 4If it is in the street and your building is a house or duplex with a stoppage, call Public Works and Utilities and ask about the city-repair exception before hiring a contractor.
5. 5Keep camera footage and repair records. They help with insurance claims and with any dispute over where the break was.

• "The city owns everything under the street." In Chandler the owner's line runs to the main, tap included.
• "The street-section help applies to my business." It is written for single-family and duplex properties only.
• "Once the city repairs to the property line, the rest is free." The city's repair stops at the owner's property line.
• "Every Valley city works this way." Glendale's code has the city do any repair that needs street excavation at no cost to the owner, with no single-family limit in the text.

This page describes Chandler's published rules as of the date above. It is not legal advice, and insurance coverage for sewer lines varies by policy.