Sewer Camera Inspection in Longmont, CO

Is the sewer line under my yard really my responsibility?

Yes. The City of Longmont states that the sewer service line is owned and maintained by the property owner, while the city maintains the sewer mains and investigates problems in the main itself. In practice that means a backup caused by roots or a broken section anywhere between your foundation and the city main is a private repair. If you suspect the main instead, for example because neighbors are backing up at the same time, the city's Water Utilities office takes calls at (303) 651-8416 during business hours, and after hours the city directs residents to Longmont Public Safety Dispatch.

What does a camera tend to find in Longmont homes?

Longmont's housing spans more than a century. The city was founded in 1871 by the Chicago-Colorado Colony, and older blocks around Downtown Main Street and along St. Vrain Creek sit alongside much newer neighborhoods such as Prospect New Town. Citywide, the median home was built in 1991 and about 37% were built before 1980. In the older homes, footage often shows root intrusion at joints, offset sections and cracked pipe. In newer homes the findings lean toward low spots where the trench settled, separated joints and debris left from construction. Mature street trees are a common thread in the established parts of town.

Will I need a permit if the footage shows a break?

Most likely. Longmont Building Services requires a permit for any change to plumbing systems, and replacing or repairing a sewer service line falls under that. Building Services is at the Development Services Center, 385 Kimbark Street, (303) 651-8332. The plumber doing the repair usually pulls the permit and schedules the inspection. Clearing a clog and filming the line, on their own, are diagnostic work rather than a change to the system.

One local note

Ask the plumber for the recording and a marked location for any defect. If you are comparing a spot repair, a lining job and a full replacement, having the same footage in front of every contractor is the easiest way to make the bids line up. It also helps if you sell the house later, since buyers in Longmont increasingly ask for a sewer scope.