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Malibu · Buying & selling

Sewer lateral inspection in Malibu

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

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

What Malibu's code says

Malibu code What Malibu's code adds
Fee or permit
  • Get all construction permits, pass a leak test, file a compliance certificate and get final city inspection approval.
    Applies: Applies to properties on the Civic Center wastewater sewer system after a trigger, such as a sale or permit for work over $100,000.
    § 13.30.080 · code text
    obtain all required construction permits
When an inspection is required
  • Before a parcel or its fee interest is sold or transferred.
    Applies: Applies to title transfers; partial interests, leaseholds and certain trust, family, co-owner and marital transfers are excluded.
    § 13.30.080 · code text
    Prior to the sale or transfer of a parcel or the fee interest in that real property estate and does not include the sale or transfer of partial interest, including a leasehold.
  • When the owner applies for a building permit for construction costing over $100,000.
    Applies: Applies to properties on the Civic Center wastewater sewer system.
    § 13.30.080 · code text
    Whenever a property owner or authorized agent applies for a building permit for any type of construction on the subject property that exceeds $100,000 in construction cost.
  • When the owner applies to the Water District to change the water meter size.
    Applies: Applies to a change in water service size.
    § 13.30.080 · code text
    Whenever a property owner or authorized agent applies to the Water District to increase or decrease the size of the property's water meter.
  • When the owner gets a written city violation notice about the lateral, based on city testing.
    Applies: Applies after a city notice of violation.
    § 13.30.080 · code text
    Whenever a property owner or authorized agent has received a written notice of violation from the city with respect to the condition of the building sewer lateral based on testing conducted by the city or its authorized representative.
  • When the owner gets a written city notice that inspection suggests likely damage or non-compliance of the lateral.
    Applies: Applies after a city communication showing likely damage or non-compliance.
    § 13.30.080 · code text
    Whenever the property owner or authorized agent has received a written communication from the city with respect to the condition of the building sanitary sewer lateral based on observations from the city or its authorized representative evidencing damage or non-compliance with this chapter is likely to have occurred.
Owner's responsibility
  • The owner does all required maintenance, repairs and inspections to keep the sewer lateral compliant.
    § 13.30.080 · code text
    It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to perform all required maintenance, repairs and inspections to keep the building sanitary sewer lateral in the condition as specified by subsection B.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Malibu's code: Before a parcel or its fee interest is sold or transferred. (Applies to title transfers; partial interests, leaseholds and certain trust, family, co-owner and marital transfers are excluded.) (§ 13.30.080); When the owner applies for a building permit for construction costing over $100,000. (Applies to properties on the Civic Center wastewater sewer system.) (§ 13.30.080).

General information, not legal advice.

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