Sewer Pipe Lining (CIPP) in Phoenix

Lining installs a new pipe inside the old one. Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) is the common method. EPA describes it as a flexible fabric liner coated with thermosetting resin, inserted into the existing pipe and cured to form a new liner. The liner is pressed against the pipe wall with water or air pressure, and heat cures the resin. It can address cracks, offset joints and weak segments, and EPA says the resin bonds with the existing pipe to form a tighter seal than most other trenchless techniques.

That is the good news. The rest of this page is what the code and EPA say you should check before you buy it.

A clean pipe, a recorded video and the city's review, in that order. Section 717 of the 2024 IPC, which Phoenix accepts, starts with descaling and cleaning the pipe and flushing it with water. A recorded video survey then confirms the address and notes cleanouts, fittings, depth and the length of piping every 25 feet or less. Before the permit is issued, the code official watches that video to decide whether the pipe can be relined under the manufacturer's requirements. Phoenix's amendments do not change this section.

If anyone offers to line your sewer without that video or without a permit, they are not following the section. Our guide to jetting before lining explains why the cleaning step matters, and what the code says about trenchless repair goes through each subsection.

Slope, separations and collapsed wall. Section 717.5 says relining is not permitted where the video shows backgrade or insufficient slope, complete pipe wall deterioration or complete separations such as from tree root invasion or improper support. The defective portions have to be exposed and repaired first.

Put simply, a liner follows the shape of the pipe. If the pipe has a belly that holds water, the liner holds water. If a joint has separated and soil is washing in, the liner has nothing solid to bond to. Our guides to a belly in the sewer line, an offset joint and Orangeburg pipe on camera show what the camera looks for.

Some pipe diameter, and some visibility. EPA lists reduced pipe diameter as a drawback of lining. The code still requires the same nominal size, but the inside of the pipe is smaller than before. Every branch connection also has to be reopened. EPA says laterals are typically reinstated with robotic cutting devices working from inside the pipe, and that liners often show dimples where laterals sit. And EPA's limitation list includes bypass or diversion of flow during installation, curing time that can be hard to manage on long segments, and a defective installation that "may be difficult to rectify."

That last point is why we lean toward digging. A trench lets the inspector see the pipe, the bed and the joints before backfill, and a failed repair in a trench can be fixed where everyone can see it. A failed liner usually ends up in a trench anyway.

Because we build every sewer to code and want it inspected in the open. We offer lining. We recommend digging for most lines. If the line is a good candidate, we will say so, quote it and pull the permit. If the line is a bad one, we will say that too, and we would rather tell you before you spend money. HQ holds an Arizona A-12 license for sewers, drains and pipe laying, and a dug and replaced sewer gets a permit, an underground inspection and a water test before it is covered. For the full comparison, see trenchless sewer repair and trenchless repair versus digging.

The IPC text above is the most specific, and the UPC says less about lining. Phoenix accepts both codes. In December 2025 IAPMO's Standards Council ruled that the 2027 UPC will not include language for drain piping rehabilitation for building drains, and sent that work to a task group for the 2030 cycle. Its only accepted change added ASTM F3541 to the existing sewer-lining clause, UPC 715.3.1. So ask the city which code your permit is under and what it wants to see. We handle that conversation for you.

The pre-installation video, the installer's data report, the post-installation video, the written certification and the permit sign-off. Keep all of them; a buyer or a lender may ask for them later. Our page on getting a copy of your sewer inspection video covers the video.

When the camera shows bad slope, a complete separation, a collapse, a pipe under 4 inches, or no video at all. Lining is also the wrong answer when the actual problem is a clog or grease; see hydro jetting. If you are unsure, start with a sewer camera inspection and decide after you see the pipe.

Call with your address, your city and any video you have. HQ offers 24/7 emergency service for backups, free estimates and upfront pricing before work starts. See also sewer repair and pipe bursting.