How the estimate is built
For lining and pipe bursting, the estimator multiplies your footage by the researched per-foot range: $135–$250 per foot for lining and $145–$300 per foot for bursting. Those per-foot figures cover the liner or new pipe and the core work; access pits, a new cleanout and street work sit outside them. For a spot repair, camera inspection or clearing visit, it shows the typical job range, because those jobs are not priced by the foot.
Full open-trench replacement shows $5,000 to $25,000 or more. The published Los Angeles data does not support a defensible per-foot figure for trenching, because so much of the cost is restoration, depth and shoring rather than pipe.
What pushes a job to either end
Length and depth come first. After that, the surface decides most of it: a line under lawn is cheaper to reach than one under a driveway, patio or mature tree. Hillside access, narrow side yards, groundwater near the river and a missing cleanout all add time. In the City of Los Angeles, any work past the property line adds an S-Permit, a City Bonded Sewer Contractor, inspection, traffic control and a street restoration fee.
Why the camera comes before the number
The estimator assumes you know what kind of work the line needs. Usually you only know that after the line has been filmed. If you are not sure yet, start with the camera inspection range, then come back once the footage shows whether the problem is one joint or the whole line. The inspection report guide explains what to look for, and the replacement cost guide covers each driver in more depth.
If you are in the City of Los Angeles, LA Sanitation's rebates can offset part of the cost: up to $300 for a camera inspection and up to $2,500 for a lateral repair, while funds last. See the rebate guide.