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Brisbane · Buying & selling

Sewer lateral inspection in Brisbane

Brisbane's own rules on sewer lateral inspection, with the code text for every value.

Each rule below links to the section of the Brisbane Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Brisbane's code says

Brisbane code What Brisbane's code adds
How long a certificate lasts
  • 15 years minus the lateral's age in years, unless the director sets a shorter period.
    Applies: Certificate for a lateral that city records or owner testing show needs no repair or replacement.
    § 13.04.452 · code text
    A sewer lateral certificate issued under subsection (A)(1) may be issued at no cost and shall be valid for a period equal to the difference of fifteen (15) years minus the number of years since construction of the lateral unless the director establishes a shorter period based on circumstances including but not limited to the age of the lateral and other factors affecting its integrity and reliability.
Deadline to comply
  • By the date the director sets in the notice.
    Applies: After the director issues a notice to inspect, or inspect and repair, the sewer lateral.
    § 13.04.412 · code text
    The notice will specify the nature of the suspected defect, whether inspection, or inspection and repair, is required, and specify a date by when the property owner must inspect, repair or replace the sewer lateral.
When an inspection is required
  • A sewer lateral certificate is needed before the city issues a final building permit.
    Applies: Work that triggers the city's sewer lateral building rules or changes water service, such as a new or resized meter.
    § 13.04.453 · code text
    A person must possess or obtain a sewer lateral certificate issued under Section 13.04.452 before the city will issue a final building permit when the person has undertaken work that:
  • For a certificate, the owner must show by testing and inspection, at own cost, that the lateral needs no repair.
    Applies: City records do not show the lateral was installed, repaired or replaced within the last 15 years.
    § 13.04.452 · code text
    The entire sewer lateral was lawfully constructed and the director determines that the lateral is not in need of repair or replacement based on either city records and files that indicate the lateral has been installed, repaired or replaced within the last fifteen (15) years or the property owner has provided sufficient evidence to the director, by testing and inspection (solely at the property owner's expense) that the lateral is not in need of repair or replacement;
Fee or permit
  • The certificate may be issued at no cost.
    Applies: Certificate for a lateral that city records or owner testing show needs no repair or replacement.
    § 13.04.452 · code text
    A sewer lateral certificate issued under subsection (A)(1) may be issued at no cost and shall be valid for a period equal to the difference of fifteen (15) years minus the number of years since construction of the lateral unless the director establishes a shorter period based on circumstances including but not limited to the age of the lateral and other factors affecting its integrity and reliability.
Owner's responsibility
  • Owners sharing a joint sewer lateral must record a joint lateral agreement before the final building permit.
    Applies: Approved joint lateral; work that triggers the lateral rules, changes water service, or maintains the joint lateral.
    § 13.04.431 · code text
    2. Is associated with a change in water service (e.g., change in meter size or the addition of a meter; or
  • The seller must disclose the sewer lateral certificate rules to the buyer, both brokers and escrow.
    Applies: Sale or transfer of a fee interest; condominium units and some family, trust and foreclosure transfers are exempt.
    § 13.04.453 · code text
    Beginning April 20, 2015, any person intending to sell or transfer a fee interest in real property must disclose the requirements of this section to each of the following, except as provided in subsection C.
  • The seller must disclose the joint sewer lateral agreement rules to the buyer, both brokers and escrow.
    Applies: Property on a joint lateral; sale or transfer of a fee interest from January 1, 2022; condominium units and some transfers exempt.
    § 13.04.431 · code text
    Beginning January 1, 2022, except as provided in subsection C, any property owner intending to sell or transfer a fee interest in real property must disclose the requirements of this Section 13.04.431 to each of the following:
  • The owner must keep all parts of the sewer lateral serving the property in good repair.
    § 13.04.412 · code text
    A property owner shall maintain in good repair all portions of the sewer lateral servicing his or her property.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Does Brisbane require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?

Brisbane's code: A sewer lateral certificate is needed before the city issues a final building permit. (Work that triggers the city's sewer lateral building rules or changes water service, such as a new or resized meter.) (§ 13.04.453); 15 years minus the lateral's age in years, unless the director sets a shorter period. (Certificate for a lateral that city records or owner testing show needs no repair or replacement.) (§ 13.04.452).

General information, not legal advice.

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