Sewer Laterals on the South Coast

What the lateral is

Every drain in a house joins a building drain that leaves the foundation. From there, the lateral runs under the yard to the public sewer main, usually under the street or an easement. On a hillside lot it may run a long way downhill.

Who is responsible

In most California communities, property owners are responsible for maintaining the lateral, and sometimes for the connection to the main. Inside Santa Barbara city limits, the City sets the rules (City of Santa Barbara (building permits and inspections)). Unincorporated communities such as Montecito, Hope Ranch, Mission Canyon, Summerland and Isla Vista are served by sanitary districts and the County (County of Santa Barbara). Ask your agency where the responsibility line is.

Older lateral materials

• Vitrified clay: common in older homes. Strong but jointed every few feet, and roots find the joints.
• Cast iron: corrodes and scales inside over decades.
• Orangeburg (bituminous fiber): used in some mid-century homes; it can deform and collapse.
• Modern plastic: used in newer construction and replacements.

Camera inspections

A camera inspection records the inside of the lateral and measures the distance to each defect. It is the basis for a repair decision and useful when buying or selling an older house. Ask for the video.

Repair methods

Spot repairs fix a single bad section. Trenchless lining forms a new pipe inside the old one. Pipe bursting pulls a new pipe through as the old one breaks apart. Open-trench replacement digs and replaces. The right choice depends on the pipe's condition, depth, length and what is above it. See sewer line repair.

Before digging

California law requires excavators to notify the regional center at least two working days, not counting the day of notice, and not more than 14 calendar days before digging. In Santa Barbara County, that is DigAlert (DigAlert, California excavation law; DigAlert (Underground Service Alert of Southern California)).

Signs your lateral needs attention

• Repeat main-line clogs.
• Gurgling drains and toilets.
• Sewage odor outside.
• Soggy or unusually green patches over the line.

Related pages: sewer line inspection & repair, drain cleaning, repiping & pipe replacement, and what shapes an estimate.

Sources: City of Santa Barbara (building permits and inspections); County of Santa Barbara; DigAlert, California excavation law; DigAlert (Underground Service Alert of Southern California).