Who Owns the Sewer Line in Greeley? Your Part vs the City’s
In Greeley, the sewer service line from your house to the City main is yours to maintain, even the part under the yard and sidewalk. The City takes care of the main under the street. Here’s where the line splits, who pays for what, and who to call.
Talk to a local sewer pro
Not sure whose problem it is?
Call and describe what’s happening. A local sewer pro can tell you whether it sounds like your line or the City main, and what a camera check costs.
Where your part ends and the City’s begins
Greeley residents are responsible for their own service line, the pipe that carries waste from the house to the City sewer main. The City maintains the public mains and pump stations. If you’re not sure where your part ends at your address, ask the City before work starts.
The City doesn’t maintain private service lines. It tells residents to call a private sewer company for problems on their own line, and its records only show where a line connects to the main, not the path it takes across your yard.
Your sewer line, piece by piece
Here’s who is responsible for each part of the line at a typical Greeley home:
Part of the line | Who takes care of it | What that means |
|---|---|---|
Drains and pipes inside the house | You | Sinks, toilets, floor drains and the pipes under the floor |
Cleanout | You | The capped access pipe near the house or in the basement |
Service line under the yard | You | Roots, sags, cracks and clogs here are yours to fix |
Service line under the sidewalk and street | Usually you | Your line keeps going until it meets the main. Ask the City if you’re unsure |
The public sewer main | The City | Cleaning, camera checks and repairs of the main itself |
What the City does for its sewer mains
The City’s side of the system is large and maintained on a schedule. According to the City of Greeley:
Your line or the City’s? Who to call
Most of the time, a few clues tell you which side the problem is on:
Not sure? A sewer camera inspection from your cleanout shows the whole line, with the distance to any problem, so you can see whether it sits in your line or at the main. Buying a home? See sewer checks for Greeley home buyers.
Backing up and only your home is affected?
That’s almost always your own line. Call any time and a local sewer pro can tell you what to do first and what the visit costs.
Who pays for repairs
If the problem is in your service line, the repair is usually yours to pay for. That includes clearing, camera checks and any repair or replacement of the pipe.
What insurance may cover
A standard policy often won’t pay to fix the pipe itself. Some Colorado policies add a service line endorsement that can. See what home insurance covers for sewer lines.
Ask your agent
For typical prices, see sewer line repair costs. Many problems need only clearing or a spot repair, not a new line.
Watch out for letters and offers
Greeley homeowners sometimes get mail that sounds official. The City has warned about two kinds:
Finding where your line runs
Before any digging, it helps to know the path of your line. The City’s records show where it connects to the main, not the route across your lot.
Questions to ask the City first
Outside Greeley? Rules change by town
Each town sets its own rules. Here’s what nearby towns say:
Town | Who owns the service line | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
Evans | Ask the City; a Public Works permit and 48 hours’ notice are required before sewer work | |
Johnstown | The owner, all the way to the main, including the tap | |
Windsor | The homeowner, up to the connection with the Town main | |
Other towns | Ask the town office or your utility |
Frequently asked questions
Call about your Greeley sewer line
Not sure whether it’s your line or the City main? Tell a local sewer pro what’s happening, ask for the price before work starts and for the camera footage. Call any time, day or night, about who is responsible for your sewer line in Greeley. Learn more about SewerProof Greeley.