Seattle side sewers: who owns the pipe and who pays

Where your pipe ends

SPU says your side sewer runs from the house, past the property line, all the way to the public sewer main. The main belongs to SPU. (SPU) A break under the sidewalk or street can still be your repair.

Permits

Side sewer work in Seattle needs an SPU side sewer permit; the requirements and applications sit on SPU's side sewer permits page. Plumbing inside the house falls under Public Health – Seattle & King County permits. (King County)

Picking a contractor

1. Ask whether the company does side sewer work in Seattle and pulls the SPU permit.
2. Check the contractor registration on L&I Verify. It shows bond, insurance and any violations.
3. Get three written bids, as L&I advises. (L&I)
4. Ask for a camera video of the line with the bid.

Protecting yourself on a big job

If the job runs $1,000 or more, the contractor must hand you a signed Notice to Customer with its registration number and bond details before starting. (RCW 18.27.114) Unpaid suppliers can lien your property, so ask for lien releases. (L&I)

If a court judgment against a registered contractor goes unpaid, the state's Homeowner Recovery Fund can pay up to $25,000 for owner-occupied homes, for judgments ordered after July 1, 2026. (L&I)

Related

See how to hire an emergency plumber in Seattle or browse Seattle plumbers.