Sewer laterals · Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank
Angeleno Sewer Line Repair: Sewer Line Repair in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles you own the lateral all the way to the city main, street section included. Angeleno Sewer Line Repair films the line first, then matches the repair to what the pipe actually needs.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Published LA price ranges
- Licensed, bonded, insured partners
Representative illustrations of the work, not photos of a specific job.
- LADBS plumbing permit on the private side
- BOE S-Permit for any work in the street
- Camera video before and after lining in the right-of-way
- Laterals at least 4 ft deep at the property line, 2% minimum slope
- Shoring required in trenches 5 ft and deeper
- LASAN rebates: up to $300 for video, up to $2,500 for repair
What usually brings people here
Every drain is slow, or a toilet backs up into the tub
When fixtures on different branches fail together, the shared line downstream is the suspect. That is usually the lateral, though a blocked house trap can mimic it.
A sewer scope came back bad during escrow
Roots, an offset or a belly on the buyer's video. The question is what it costs to fix, which method fits, and what to ask the seller for.
Roots cleared again, and again
Cutting restores flow, but the roots come back through the same open joints. At some point repairing the entry point costs less than clearing it.
Someone said the problem is under the street
In Los Angeles that section is still yours. It needs a Bureau of Engineering S-Permit and a City-bonded sewer contractor.
Sewer services across Los Angeles
Sewer Line Replacement
Full lateral replacement from the house to the city main, by trench, bursting or lining depending on what the camera shows.
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Trenchless Sewer Repair
Lining and pipe bursting through small access points, where the existing pipe and route allow it.
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Sewer Camera Inspection
Video of the lateral from the cleanout, defects located from the surface and a written finding.
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Emergency Sewer Repair
Sewage backing up or a line that has stopped flowing. Phones answered 24/7.
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Sewer Pipe Lining (CIPP)
A resin liner cured inside the old pipe. Suited to cracked or root-damaged pipe that still holds its shape and grade.
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Pipe Bursting
A new HDPE pipe pulled through the path of the old one, which is split apart on the way.
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Sewer Line Excavation
Open-trench replacement with proper bedding and slope. The method that can correct a belly.
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Sewer Spot Repair
One failed section replaced when the rest of the line checks out on camera.
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Commercial Sewer Line Repair
Laterals for restaurants, multi-unit buildings and commercial property, scheduled around occupancy.
See how it works →Also: street-side lateral repair · inspections for home buyers · tree root damage · bellies · cleanouts
How Angeleno Sewer Line Repair approaches a lateral
Camera first, method second
No lining, bursting or digging is proposed until the line has been filmed and the defects located from the surface.
The method has to fit the defect
Lining is excellent for cracked or root-infested pipe that still holds its shape. It cannot correct a belly, and it needs an open pipe to line.
Both sides of the property line
Private-side work under an LADBS permit, and the lower lateral under a BOE S-Permit by a City of LA Bonded Sewer Contractor.
Prices you can check before calling
Published budgeting ranges for LA-area work and a free estimator. No phone call needed to get a number.
How a job runs
Call or request
Phones answered 24/7. Describe what you are seeing and where.
Camera and locate
Video from the cleanout, footage counted, defects marked on the ground above them.
Permit and repair
LADBS on the private side, an S-Permit for the street, the method matched to the finding.
Final video and sign-off
Post-repair footage and the City inspection. Keep both: the LASAN rebate asks for them.
LAT-01 · 6" VCP● REC042.6 FTCLEANOUT → MAINROOT MASS @ JOINTWhat the camera tells you
The footage counter shows how far each defect sits from the cleanout, and a locator reads its depth from the surface. That is what turns "you need a new sewer line" into a specific scope you can compare between bids.
- Roots at joints: entry points, not just a blockage.
- Offsets and cracks: where pipe sections have shifted.
- Standing water: a belly that lining cannot fix.
- Lost shape: a collapse that rules lining out.
What sewer work costs in Los Angeles
Camera inspection
$175–$800
Video through an existing cleanout. Cleaning, extra locating and repairs are separate. LASAN rebates up to $300.
Spot repair
$1,500–$8,000
One failed section, excavated on private property at ordinary depth. Driveway restoration, street work and permits are extra.
Full replacement, open trench
$5,000+
House to property line or main. City permit, inspection and street restoration fees apply when work reaches the street.
Typical budgeting ranges for Los Angeles-area projects, as of October 2026. Not a quote or a company rate.
Estimate your own job · What drives sewer replacement cost in LA
Backed up right now, or holding a scope report?
Either way, the next step is the same: get the line on camera and find out exactly where it failed. Calling is fastest. The form works too.
Which repair fits which defect
General patterns from the camera finding. Access, depth, pipe material and what sits on top of the line still decide the final method.
| Camera finding | Lining (CIPP) | Pipe bursting | Spot repair | Excavation | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root intrusion at joints, pipe still round | Usually fits | Fits | If one area | Fits | Footage of line affected; access at the cleanout |
| Belly (low spot holding water) | Follows the sag | Mostly follows the old path | If the sag is short | Restores slope | Length of the sag, depth, what is built above it |
| Collapsed or crushed section | Needs an open pipe | Sometimes | If localized | Fits | How far the collapse extends; urgency if flow has stopped |
| Offset joints | Minor offsets only | Often | Fits | Fits | Number of offsets and how far apart they are |
| Corroded cast iron | If the wall is still sound | Often | Rarely worth it | Fits | Whether it runs under the house or slab |
Where we work
Sewer line questions, answered
Who is responsible for the sewer line from my house to the street in Los Angeles?
You are. LA Sanitation splits the lateral into an upper section, from the building to the property line, and a lower section, from the property line to the main in the middle of the street, and makes the property owner responsible for both. Work on the lower section needs a Bureau of Engineering S-Permit issued to a City Bonded Sewer Contractor.
How do I tell whether it is my lateral or the City main?
If only your property backs up, the lateral is the likely cause. If neighbors back up too, or sewage is coming out of a manhole in the street, it points to the City main: call LA Sanitation's 24-hour line at 1-800-773-2489. A camera inspection from your cleanout settles it.
How much does sewer line repair cost in Los Angeles?
Typical budgeting ranges for LA-area projects as of October 2026: a camera inspection runs $175–$800, a spot repair of one section $1,500–$8,000, and full open-trench replacement $5,000 to $25,000 or more. Depth, length, hardscape and any work in the street move the number most.
Can a sewer line be repaired without digging?
Often, but rarely with no digging at all. Lining and pipe bursting work through a cleanout or small access pits. They are ruled out when the pipe has collapsed, when it has a belly that needs its slope corrected, or when there is no workable access point.
Can a liner fix a belly in my sewer line?
No. A cured-in-place liner takes the shape of the pipe it is installed in, so it follows the sag and the low spot keeps holding water. Correcting a belly means re-establishing slope, which usually means excavating that section and re-bedding the pipe.
Do I need a permit to repair or replace a sewer lateral in LA?
Yes for repair or replacement. Private-side work needs an LADBS plumbing permit, and anything in the street needs a BOE S-Permit. Clearing a stoppage does not need a permit unless pipe is replaced or the street or sidewalk is excavated.
Does the City of Los Angeles offer a rebate for sewer lateral work?
LA Sanitation offers rebates of up to $300 toward a camera inspection and up to $2,500 toward a lateral repair, first come, first served while each year's funds last. The repair needs a City-finaled permit, and the program asks for the video and an itemized invoice.
Will cutting the roots out fix my sewer line?
It restores flow, and that can be the right call for now. It does not close the joint or crack the roots came through, so they grow back. When clearing is needed every year or two, repairing or lining the entry points usually costs less over time.
Will the City pay if a street tree's roots damaged my lateral?
In the City of Los Angeles, no. StreetsLA states that sewer lateral repair and associated tree costs, including root pruning and removal, are the property owner's expense. Root-prune permits from Urban Forestry are free. Burbank, Pasadena and Glendale each have their own policies.
Do you work in Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank?
Yes. Angeleno Sewer Line Repair covers Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank, in Los Angeles County. Each of those cities runs its own sewer code and permits, so the paperwork and inspection differ from the City of LA.
Get your sewer line looked at
Phones answered 24/7, every day. Serving Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank, in Los Angeles County.