Buyers, Builders, Re-Modelers Beware!



Posted: Tuesday, March 04, 2008

by
LaRocca Inspections

Getting ready to purchase your new home? Ready to re-model or add on to your existing home? Are you building that dream home on the lot with the million-dollar view? If you live in the City of Los Angeles and answered, "Yes" to any of these questions then we have a surprise for you!

The Los Angeles City Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering has adopted policy requiring the homeowner to pay for and provide a video inspection of the main sewer line lateral when an application for a building permit is made on any structure built prior to 1965. The lateral is the portion of the property's main sewer line that connects the property to the city sewer pipe. The city inspector will review the video to determine the condition of the sewer lateral and can require the sewer line to be rehabilitated or replaced at the property owner's expense.

A property owner can obtain information about how this affects their specific property by contacting the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works at 213-978-0265.

Chris Griffin, president of Sewerline Check Professionals (a private sewer-line inspection agency based in the Los Angeles area) illustrates, "Imagine you've just completed your remodel or new construction project. Most likely you have gone over budget, because that's what most of us do to get the good stuff! The city building inspector tells you that before the certificate of occupancy will be issued a video inspection of the main sewer line lateral will be required. Then imagine the city officials telling you that the line is in need of repair or rehabilitation at a cost of many thousands of dollars. Then you're told that this cost will be your responsibility because the City of Los Angeles places the responsibility of the sewer pipe from the structure to the city sewer connection under the street, public right of way or easement on the private property owners."

Griffin goes on to say "I have seen this scenario all too often when the unsuspecting home owner or builder is taken by surprise at the end of their project." Main sewer line laterals can be quite costly to rehabilitate or replace. The cost can vary depending on the depth of the sewer line though in many cases a minimum of $6,000 to $8,000 to rehabilitate the line can be expected. If the line is in such poor condition that it needs to be replaced, a typical associated cost could be $12,000 or higher." Surprise! Was this in your budget?

Have no fear, you can determine the condition of the main sewer line prior to building or remodeling your home or while in the purchasing process by having a sewer line video examination performed. This video examination will let you know just what condition your sewer line is in and what type of pipe it is made of. The sewer line inspector will be able to give you information as to what the city may require for your particular circumstance.

Contact Chris Griffin at 818/951-7660 or chrisg@sewerlinecheck.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Anonymous 1 year 276 days ago.
April,

You say Chris has been a licensed plumber for 20 years.  Do you have his license number?  It's always nice to be able to verify these things when you make those kind of claims.

Thank you
cheryl P
» left by April Kass from Los Angeles, CA 1 year 276 days ago.
Chris was a plumber for many years but has long since let his license expire as he no longer provides this type of service. He does have a General Contractor's licence which is inactive at this time as he does not do any actual building.
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