State guide
Georgia
Georgia does not appear to have one single statewide sewer-lateral ownership rule; responsibility is set in local utility and county rules, but the statewide plumbing code is mandatory everywhere. The official local pages found in Gwinnett, Fulton, and Statesboro all place the private lateral on the owner, though Gwinnett says the county maintains the cleanout at the right-of-way and Fulton may do right-of-way work only at the owner's cost.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who usually owns the sewer lateral
- Usually the owner is responsible for the whole private sewer lateral, though some Georgia utilities still maintain a right-of-way cleanout or may perform right-of-way work only at the owner's expense.
- State agency
- Georgia DCA sets the mandatory state plumbing code, while local governments and water/sewer departments enforce permits and set lateral-ownership details.
- Permits for repair or replacement
- Georgia's plumbing code is a mandatory state code, but permitting is local; for example, DeKalb says plumbing permits must be submitted by a licensed plumbing contractor.
- Inspection at sale
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- Assistance programs
- Official help found includes Statesboro's Sewer Lateral Replacement Assistance Program and DeKalb County's CARES Plumbing Repair Program for eligible low- to moderate-income households.
Official resources in Georgia
Shows that Georgia's plumbing code is a mandatory state code and explains that local governments adopt procedures to enforce it.
Official county page explaining that owners maintain the entire private lateral, while the county maintains the right-of-way cleanout.
Official county flyer stating owners pay for sewer lateral repairs even when the blockage is in the public right-of-way or easement.
Official city page describing the Sewer Lateral Replacement Assistance Program and stating owners are responsible from the building to the public sewer main, including the wye.
Official county page describing a no-cost plumbing repair program that includes private sewer lateral remediations.
Key facts for Georgia
- Georgia DCA lists the International Plumbing Code as a mandatory state code.
- Gwinnett says owners are responsible for the entire private lateral, including the connection to the public sewer system.
- Gwinnett says the cleanout at the right-of-way is maintained by the County.
- Fulton says the owner pays for sewer lateral repairs even if the blockage is within a public road right-of-way or sewer easement.
- Statesboro says the owner is responsible from the building to the public sewer main, including the wye connection.
- DeKalb's CARES Plumbing Repair Program lists private sewer lateral remediations as an eligible repair category.
City sewer lateral rules and programs in Georgia
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Department of Community Affairs DeKalb | Atlanta | (404) 679-4840 | State agency for Georgia's mandatory construction codes, including the plumbing code. |
| Fulton County Department of Public Works Fulton | Atlanta | Not published* | County public works department with the official sewer and water service lateral responsibility flyer. |
| North Fulton Sewer Fulton | Not published* | Not published* | Sewer contact listed on Fulton County's service lateral responsibility flyer. |
| South Fulton Sewer Fulton | Not published* | Not published* | Sewer contact listed on Fulton County's service lateral responsibility flyer. |
| City of Statesboro Water Department Bulloch | Statesboro | 912-764-0693, extension 3 | City utility contact on the water and sewer page that also hosts the sewer lateral assistance information. |
| DeKalb CARES Plumbing Repair Program DeKalb | Decatur | 404-401-4514 | County application contact for a no-cost plumbing repair program that includes private sewer lateral remediations. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Ask your utility exactly where its responsibility stops; in Georgia, right-of-way details differ by county even when the owner still pays for the lateral.
- Before repair work, check local permitting rules and whether a licensed plumbing contractor must pull the permit.
- If you are in Statesboro or DeKalb County, check program eligibility before hiring a contractor because both local programs have specific requirements.
Not seeing your city or county?
We list a city only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Georgia, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Georgia's population center, for comparison only):
- City of Simpsonville Public Works, South Carolina · about 131 miles
- Simpsonville Police Department dispatch contact, South Carolina · about 131 miles
- Sewer Lateral Assistance Program (SLAP), Tennessee · about 138 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Georgia Department of Community Affairs: Mandatory and Permissive State Codes
Website →Phone: (404) 679-4840 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Georgia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- Who is responsible for the sewer line: homeowner or city?
- What is a sewer lateral (and where does yours end)?
- Sewer line repair and replacement costs
- Sewer scope inspections before you buy
Sewer lateral responsibility check →