Who is responsible for the water and sewer lines between the street and my home?

Usually the property owner. Austin Water, for example, says new service connections are installed by the property owner and the owner must also install the yard line from the property line to the building, while the utility maintains the public side. Houston explains that the private sewer lateral running from the home to the city main is the resident's responsibility, and the city maintains the public main. Each utility draws the line slightly differently, often at the meter for water and at the property line or main for sewer, and many require permits, approved plans or right-of-way permits before digging. Ask your utility for its service rules before hiring a contractor.

Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.

Sources

• New Service ConnectionsCity of Austin, Austin Water
• Wastewater FAQsCity of Houston Public Works