Responsibility and Policy

Private Property: Sewer stoppages on private property are the responsibility of the property owner or tenant. The City of Carrollton cannot use public funds for repairs on private property. This policy has been effective since November 1, 2002.

Public Property: The City of Carrollton is responsible for maintaining sewer mains located in public right-of-way and public utility easements. Property owners must maintain all service lines extending from the City mains to their property.

What to Do If Your Plumbing Is Clogged

Call a Plumber: Most common household plumbing stoppages are caused by grease or foreign objects clogging the service line from the house to the City sewer main. Call your plumber. There are several pages of plumbers listed in the yellow pages of your phone book. Consumer tips for selecting a plumber are available from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

Check Cleanouts: Familiarize yourself with the location of sewer service line cleanouts on your property. Some service cleanouts may have been covered with landscaping or with dirt when the lawn was installed. Look for these various types of devices near your home.

Property Line Cleanout: Depending on the age of your home, you may have a property line cleanout. This is an access point that is installed at the property line. With a property line, you or your plumber can tell more about the location of the sewer service line stoppage.

Tree Roots and Service Line Repairs

Tree Roots: The property owner is responsible for all obstructions which might occur in the service line. Your plumber should be equipped to remove and prevent the return of tree roots in your service line.

Broken Service Line: Plumbers are not permitted to excavate sewer services in the public right-of-way. There are several utilities in a small area which must be protected. These include telephone, gas, electric, water and Cable television service. Only City Public Works may repair sewer services in the right-of-way. Please contact Public Works at 972-466-3425 and request a sewer service call. Public Works staff will verify that the service line requires repair within the right-of-way and will schedule the repair.

Fees and Charges

Residents wanting to avoid paying a City of Carrollton service fee can contact a plumber to verify that the problem is not on your property or the City right-of-way. If a sewer crew is called out, you will be charged a $75 sewer service call fee during normal business hours ( Monday - Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or a $150 sewer service call fee after normal business hours.

Understanding Service Lines and Cleanouts

My plumber said the problem is on the City side.  What do I need to do to get you to fix the problem?

The phrase, "it is on the City side" has many meanings.  So, the first step is to clarify the meaning with your plumber.

• If there is a blockage or offset in the line beyond the City's right-of-way, the plumber still needs to unblock the line.  City policy defines the lateral service line beginning at the house and ending past the tie in to the city main as the property and responsibility of the homeowner.  There is no such thing as a "City side" on a lateral service line.
   
• If there is a structural defect on the sewer lateral line somewhere in the right-of-way, then the responsibility of excavating and repairing the sewer line falls under the Public Works/Water Utilities Division.  This does not change the fact that the lateral line is owned by the resident.  Before the city will excavate and repair a structural defect in the right-of-way, the resident must provide a video tape of the sewer lateral line (provided to you by your plumber) that shows the defect needing repair.  After the Wastewater Supervisor reviews the tape, he will contact the resident to discuss the findings.  If the tape does indeed show a structural defect that needs repair, Public Works will repair the line at no cost to the resident.