Residential Sewer Pipe Requirements

Permits

• A permit is the first requirement for the installation of residential sewer pipes. If the installation is part of a larger building project, the permit must be issued along with all other relevant permits. To obtain a permit in the city of Boise, Indiana, for example, either a licensed contractor or the owner of the property must perform all plumbing work on this type of installation. In Sunnyvale, California, permits may be requested online for sewer work if it is a cleaning or repair job only, not part of a larger construction project.

Materials

• The material requirements for residential sewer pipe installation in Sunnyvale, California, include cast iron, clay, lead, copper and a specific type of PVC. The PVC may only be used in residential buildings with a maximum height of two floor levels. In Boise, installers can also use asbestos and vitrified clay in the project.

Clean Outs

• All residential sewer pipe systems require the installation of clean outs, which are capped outlets that allow the homeowner access to the sewer system for the purpose of cleaning out blockages. Each public works department has very specific requirements for the location of clean outs. For example, in the city of Frisco, Texas, clean outs must be placed at all three-way and four-way connections, and their locations require approval by the city engineer, while in Sunnyvale cleanouts must be located at the rear of the building.

Inspections

• Most public works departments are particularly strict about inspection and approval of residential sewer systems. The village of Romeoville, Illinois, requires its village inspectors to oversee all repair work related to private sewer lines. The city of Santa Barbara, California, requires a standard inspection report submitted before it will issue a building permit, while in Sunnyvale a “rough” inspection takes place when the sewer is installed and a final inspection occurs once the work is complete.