Your Sewer Lateral: What SF & Peninsula Owners Must Know

Your lateral is the underground pipe carrying waste from your house to the public sewer, and the property owner is generally responsible for it. In older SF and Peninsula neighborhoods these are often clay or cast iron, which roots invade and joints offset over decades. A camera inspection is the only way to know its real condition — and some cities have point-of-sale lateral requirements to be aware of.

• The homeowner typically owns (and pays for) the lateral, not the city.
• Clay and cast-iron laterals are prone to root intrusion, cracks, and bellies.
• A camera inspection shows the true condition before you buy or sell.
• Some local jurisdictions have point-of-sale lateral compliance rules.