# What Changed in LA Sewer Permits in 2026: S-Permit Rules and the LADBS Fee Update | Angeleno Sewer Line Repair > The City of LA revised its S-Permit procedures and conditions in 2026, and Council approved an LADBS fee update. What the rules say now and what is pending. URL: https://lasewerlinerepair.com/blog/la-sewer-permit-changes-2026/ ## LA Sewer Permits in 2026: What the Updated Rules Say Three Bureau of Engineering pages were revised this year and the Council approved a Building and Safety fee update. Here is what is confirmed, and what is not yet known. By Angeleno Sewer Line Repair · Updated October 20, 2026 Sewer work in the City of Los Angeles runs through two permit systems: the Bureau of Engineering’s S-Permit for anything in the public right-of-way, and an LADBS plumbing permit for the private side. Both moved in 2026. The Bureau revised its S-Permit general conditions on February 19, its processing procedures on May 18 and its fee page on October 8, and on June 30 the City Council approved a fee update for LADBS permits. None of the Bureau’s pages lists what changed from the previous version, so this post does not claim any rule is new. It summarizes what the current versions say, as read on October 20, 2026, and what remains unknown. [Angeleno Sewer Line Repair](/) works with City of LA Bonded Sewer Contractors for right-of-way work, and these are the points owners ask about most. ### Camera inspection is driven by condition, not age The current processing procedures state that the age of a house connection lateral will no longer be the main reason for deciding whether a CCTV inspection is required. Instead, the procedures set out when video of an existing lateral is needed, by type of work: - **Reconnection at the property line** where the sewer is capped: CCTV is necessary to assess the lateral before a new connection, unless the lateral was built under a B permit. Inspection is by an LADBS plumbing inspector. - **Extending an existing lateral:** CCTV is required, and a damaged lateral calls for a second permit for the repair. - **Rehabilitation or lining:** CCTV is required both before and after, and a Bureau of Contract Administration inspector assesses whether lining is feasible. - **Replacing the entire lateral or building a new one:** CCTV is not required, because the pipe is new, unless the replacement uses trenchless methods. - **Concrete laterals:** CCTV is required for reconnection or extension. The procedures also say the Public Works inspector must be present during the CCTV inspection, scheduled through the City’s online inspection request system. For owners, that means the camera work for a street-side permit is not just a contractor’s video; it is an inspected step. See [sewer camera inspection](/sewer-camera-inspection/) for what the footage shows. ### Grades and what they trigger The general conditions describe how lateral video is graded: Excellent, Fair, Poor or Very Poor. A Very Poor rating means repair is required. A Poor rating means repair is recommended, and required for cement pipe. The same page says a plumber may pull the S-Permit for a reconnection at the property line, while other right-of-way repair, replacement and rehabilitation goes to an active Bonded Sewer Contractor. ### Depth and shoring For a new lateral deeper than 5 feet, the procedures note that shoring plans may be required, and at 10 feet or deeper the plans must be stamped by a civil engineer. A shoring plan review for a trench over 10 feet can carry a special engineering fee and must be approved before the permit issues. Deep street work therefore needs more lead time. Our [depth guide](/guide/how-deep-is-a-sewer-line/) explains why laterals are deepest at the main. ### S-Permit fees: check the current list The Bureau’s fee page, revised October 8, says standard and inspection fees are reviewed at least annually and points to the City’s current Standard Fee List rather than printing every amount. Fees that can apply to a street-side repair include the permit fee with surcharges, a per-foot lateral inspection fee, and a Street Damage Restoration Fee based on the street’s classification and how recently it was resurfaced. The procedures also note that paying online by credit card before approval carries the City’s card transaction fee. Our [cost guide](/guide/sewer-line-replacement-cost-los-angeles/) lists the amounts posted when we last checked; confirm them at permit time. ### The LADBS fee update: approved, timing not yet known Council File 26-0163 covers proposed increases to Building and Safety permit and inspection fees. LADBS submitted its report in February 2026, saying it projected Building Permit Enterprise Fund expenditures to exceed revenue by about $83 million in fiscal year 2025-26. The Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved the item on April 14, the Budget and Finance Committee approved amended recommendations in June, and the full Council adopted it on June 30, 2026, by a 14-0 vote with one member absent. Adoption is not the same as new fees at the counter. In a June 15 report, LADBS said it would work with the City Attorney on the ordinance amendments and that this would take some time. It proposed phasing: first the fees for Express Permits, which LADBS says cover about 68% of its permits and include plumbing fixture work; then other permit and inspection fees; then administrative fees. We could not confirm an effective date for any phase, or which phase covers a private-side sewer permit. Until LADBS publishes its updated schedule, the practical guidance stays the same: LADBS permit fees for a lateral repair are small relative to the job. If you are budgeting now, ask the contractor whether the quote assumes the current or an updated fee. ### What this means if you are planning work - Expect video for any lining, bursting or extension in the street, with a City inspector present. - If your lateral is cement pipe graded Poor, plan for repair. - If the work is deep, allow time for a shoring plan. - Ask for permits and City fees as separate lines in every bid; our [quote comparison guide](/guide/how-to-compare-sewer-repair-quotes/) shows how. For the full process, see the [Los Angeles sewer permit guide](/guide/sewer-permit-los-angeles/) and [sewer lateral repair under the street](/street-sewer-lateral-repair/). For the effective date of the LADBS update, the council file and LADBS’s published fee schedule are the places to check. Questions about your own sewer line? Phones answered 24/7, every day. [Call (213) 782-3753](tel:+12137823753)[Get an Estimate](/contact/) - [sewer permit los angeles](/guide/sewer-permit-los-angeles/) - [street sewer lateral repair](/street-sewer-lateral-repair/) - [how to compare sewer repair quotes](/guide/how-to-compare-sewer-repair-quotes/) - [sewer line replacement cost los angeles](/guide/sewer-line-replacement-cost-los-angeles/) - [sewer camera inspection](/sewer-camera-inspection/)