Quick answer: In the Colorado cities and sanitation districts we checked, the property owner is responsible for the private sewer line that runs from the house to the public sewer main, and that usually includes the section under the street. The city or district maintains the main itself. Some providers also put the tap, the connection to the main, on the owner, while a few keep it. Because many areas are served by more than one district, confirm the rule with the provider on your sewer bill.
This guide lists what each city or district’s own code, rules or published FAQ says, with a link to the source so you can check it yourself. It is general information, not legal advice.
What is a sewer service line?
A sewer service line (also called a lateral or building sewer) is the private pipe that carries wastewater from your home to the public sewer main, which usually runs down the middle of the street. The main collects wastewater from the whole neighborhood. Responsibility almost always splits at the point where your line meets that main, not at your property line or the curb.
Who is responsible for the sewer line under the street in Colorado?
In most of the places below, the property owner is. The owner’s responsibility generally runs to the public main, even where that pipe sits under the sidewalk or street. Several providers say so directly. Widefield Water and Sanitation District describes the main as “usually located in the middle of the street” and makes customers responsible for blockages in the line between that main and the home. Colorado Springs, Fountain Sanitation District, Widefield and Littleton also make the owner responsible for restoring the public right of way and the street after repair work.
Sewer line responsibility by city
| City or area | Sewer provider | Owner is responsible for |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs Utilities | Service line, including the connection to the main |
| Denver | City and County of Denver | Private sewer, including the part in the public right of way, is not city property |
| Manitou Springs | City of Manitou Springs | Service line, including the connection to the city’s line |
| Fountain | Fountain Sanitation District or Security district | Service line, including the connection to the main |
| Security-Widefield | Widefield or Security districts | Service line, including the connection to the main |
| Monument | Monument Sanitation, Woodmoor or Triview (varies) | Service line to the main; Monument Sanitation includes the tap |
| Woodland Park | City of Woodland Park | Service line, including the connection to the main |
| Pueblo | City of Pueblo | Service line, including the tap |
| Cañon City | Fremont Sanitation District | Line from the home to the main in the street |
| Castle Rock | Town of Castle Rock | Service line; the Town owns the connection point on the main |
| Parker | Parker Water and Sanitation District or another district | Entire service line, including the right of way |
| Littleton | City of Littleton and local districts | Service line, including the tap |
| Lone Tree | Southgate Water and Sanitation or another district | Service line to the connection at the main |
What the rules say in each city
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Utilities owns and maintains the wastewater mains. Under City Code 12.5.410, the owner is responsible for the service line “from and including the connection to the collection line,” and must return “the public right of way and the street to City standards” after work. Colorado Springs Utilities will check whether a problem is in its main or your line; if it is in the service line, arranging the repair is the owner’s job. Sources: Colorado Springs Utilities, Service line responsibility and the Wastewater Line Extension and Service Standards (2023).
Denver
Denver’s municipal code keeps the portion of a private or building sewer that extends into the public right of way, up to the connection with the public sewer, out of city ownership (Sec. 56-44), and places the cost of building private sewers on their owners (Sec. 56-43). Our guide to who pays for sewer line repair in Denver covers the Denver rules, permits and licensing in more detail. Source: Denver Revised Municipal Code, Chapter 56.
Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs defines the service line as “the privately owned line” between the building and the city-owned collector line. The owner maintains it “from and including the connection to the collector line,” and the city maintains the rest of the system. Source: Manitou Springs Municipal Code, Chapter 13.04.
Fountain
Fountain Sanitation District makes the owner responsible for maintaining and repairing the service line “from and including the connection to the District’s main collection line,” and for returning the right of way and street to standard. Part of Fountain is served by the Security district instead, so check your bill. Source: Fountain Sanitation District Sewer Use Regulations.
Security-Widefield
Widefield Water and Sanitation District makes the owner responsible for the service line “from and including the connection,” and for restoring the public right of way and street. Security’s standards define the service line as running “down to and including the connection” to the main, with maintenance the property owner’s sole responsibility once the line is accepted. Sources: Widefield Water and Sanitation District, Wastewater FAQ and Security Sanitation District standard specifications.
Monument
Monument is served by more than one district. Monument Sanitation District says the property owner “owns this line and the tap to the main.” Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District says the customer owns the sewer service line from the residence to the connection to the district’s main. We could not find a published rule from Triview Metropolitan District, so Triview customers should ask the district directly. Sources: Monument Sanitation District Sewer Use Regulations and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District FAQs.
Woodland Park
Woodland Park’s code says all sewer service lines are owned and maintained by the property owner, from the building to the public sewer main, including cleanouts and “the connection to the public sewer main.” Source: Woodland Park Municipal Code, Chapter 13.36. See our Woodland Park sewer line repair page for local details.
Pueblo
Pueblo’s code says property owners own the service lines that connect to the public sewer, “including the tap itself,” and maintain, repair or replace them at their own expense. This covers the City of Pueblo. If a camera inspection finds damage in your Pueblo line, see our trenchless sewer repair in Pueblo. Source: City of Pueblo, sewer service line FAQ.
Cañon City
Cañon City is served by Fremont Sanitation District, which states that homeowners are responsible for the sewer line from the home to the main sewer line in the street. Its rules add that private piping is the owner’s responsibility “whether located in or upon public or private property.” Source: Fremont Sanitation District.
Castle Rock
Castle Rock is an exception at the main: the Town owns and maintains the sewer mains and the connection point, defined as the wye on the main. The service line from the main to the building is owned and maintained by the property owner. The Town may choose to repair the part of a service line under public property or right of way at its own expense when that serves the public system, but it is not required to. Source: Castle Rock Municipal Code 13.12.050.
Parker
Parker Water and Sanitation District makes customers solely responsible for their sewer service lines “regardless of whether they extend into the public rights-of-way,” including maintaining the entire length. Some Parker neighborhoods are served by other districts, so check your bill. If your Parker line needs work, here is how our trenchless sewer repair in Parker handles it. Source: Parker Water and Sanitation District Rules and Regulations.
Littleton
Littleton’s city code makes the owner responsible for the service line from the public sewer to the building, “including the tap,” and for restoring the right of way and street after repairs. Littleton is served by several districts. Southwest Metropolitan Water and Sanitation District, for example, says homeowners are responsible for the lateral “even the portion of the pipe within the street.” For Littleton homes with an aging sewer line, see our trenchless sewer repair in Littleton. Sources: Littleton City Code 7-5-24 and Southwest Metropolitan Water and Sanitation District.
Lone Tree
Parts of Lone Tree are served by Southgate Water and Sanitation District, which is responsible for the main lines and the immediate connections to them. Southgate says the owner’s responsibility “does not end at the property line, asphalt edge, or sidewalk” but extends to the connection to the main within the street. Source: Southgate Water and Sanitation Districts FAQs.
What if your home is on a septic system?
If your home is not connected to a public sewer, the line runs to a septic system instead. In El Paso County, the Board of Health’s septic rules say the owner is responsible for maintaining the system unless that duty has been assigned to someone else. Source: El Paso County Public Health, Chapter 8 OWTS Regulations.
How do you find out where the problem is?
A sewer camera inspection is the practical first step. The camera shows the condition of the line and how far from the house a crack, root mass or collapse sits, which tells you whether the problem is in your service line or in the public main. If it is in the main, report it to your provider. If it is in your line, the footage helps you plan the repair and compare options such as trenchless pipe lining, which can often fix a line under a street or driveway without a long trench.
Frequently asked questions
Does the city pay to fix my sewer line?
Generally, no. In the places listed above the city or district maintains the public main, and the owner pays for the private service line. Castle Rock is one exception worth knowing: the Town owns the connection point and may choose to repair the right of way portion when it serves the public system.
Does my responsibility stop at my property line?
Usually not. Most of the rules above extend the owner’s responsibility to the public main, which often sits under the street.
How do I know which district serves my home?
Check the name on your sewer or wastewater bill. In Monument, Parker, Littleton, Lone Tree and Fountain, different neighborhoods can be served by different districts with slightly different rules.
Does homeowners insurance cover a broken sewer line?
It depends on your policy. See our guide to whether homeowners insurance covers sewer line repair.
What should I do first if my sewer backs up?
Stop running water, then arrange a camera inspection to find where the problem is. That answers both what the repair needs and whose responsibility it is. You can contact Alphalete Trenchless to schedule one.
