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Rohnert Park · Buying & selling

Sewer lateral inspection in Rohnert Park

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

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

What Rohnert Park's code says

Rohnert Park code What Rohnert Park's code adds
Deadline to comply
  • Repairs must be done within 30 days of the city's notice that repair or replacement is required.
    Applies: Applies to a defective sewer lateral, unless the city engineer sets a different deadline.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    In the absence of a specific deadline established by the city engineer, all repair or replacement work shall be completed within 30 days of notification by the city after review of inspection materials show that such repair or replacement is required.
  • Within 30 days of the city's notice.
    Applies: Applies to removing an illegal connection when the City Engineer sets no specific deadline.
    § 13.26.025 · code text
    In the absence of a specific deadline established by the City Engineer, all repair or removal work to eliminate the illegal connection shall be completed within 30 days of notification by the city that an illegal connection has been discovered.
  • A private sewer that fails inspection or testing may stay connected for no more than 90 days.
    Applies: Applies to private sewers; longer only with a written extension approved by the city engineer.
    § 13.26.090 · code text
    No private sewer shall be allowed to remain connected to the city sewer for more than 90 days after failing to pass an inspection or test as specified in this section unless a written request for extension has been filed with and approved in writing by the city engineer.
  • Repairs must be done within 90 days of the city's notice that repair or replacement is required.
    Applies: Applies to defective private sewers, unless the city engineer sets a different deadline.
    § 13.26.090 · code text
    In the absence of a specific deadline established by the city engineer, all repair or replacement work shall be completed within 90 days of notification by the city after review of inspection materials show that such repair or replacement is required.
  • At least 30 days after written notice from the city engineer.
    Applies: A building sewer that does not meet code; the city engineer may allow a reasonable correction schedule.
    § 13.26.040 · code text
    Should the city engineer determine that a building sewer does not meet the standards of this code, the city engineer shall give a minimum of thirty days written notice to owner of the premises to correct said violation.
  • Inspection and any required repairs must be done and accepted before a Certificate of Occupancy or temporary certificate is issued.
    Applies: Applies when building a new structure on a property with an existing lateral.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    The inspection and any required repairs or replacement shall be completed and accepted by the city prior to receiving a Certificate of Occupancy or a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy;
  • Inspection and any required repairs must be done and accepted before building permit approval and final sewer connection.
    Applies: Applies when connecting a previously unconnected structure to an existing lateral.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    The inspection and any required repairs or replacement shall be completed and accepted by the city prior to approval of the building permit and final connection to the sewer system;
  • Inspection and any required repairs must be done and accepted before the final map or parcel map is approved.
    Applies: Applies to a change of use to a common interest development, such as condominiums.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    The inspection and any required repairs or replacement shall be completed and accepted by the city prior to approval of the final map or parcel map.
  • Testing and any required repairs must be done before a certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate is issued.
    Applies: Applies to a new structure connecting to an existing private sewer.
    § 13.26.090 · code text
    The testing and any required repairs shall be made prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy.
  • Inspection and any required repairs must be done and accepted before building permit approval and final sewer connection.
    Applies: Applies when connecting a previously unconnected structure to an existing private sewer.
    § 13.26.090 · code text
    The inspection and any required repairs or replacement shall be completed and accepted by the city prior to approval of the building permit and final connection to the sewer system.
Owner's responsibility
  • A state-licensed contractor must do lateral inspections and tests, with results filed with the city engineer.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    All building sewer and sewer service lateral inspections and testing shall be performed by a state licensed contractor to the satisfaction of the city engineer in accordance with applicable city standards.
  • The owner must repair or replace the lateral at the owner's sole expense.
    Applies: Applies to a defective building sewer or lateral.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    Whenever defective building sewers are found, the property owner, at the sole expense of the property owner, shall repair or replace the lateral.
  • The owner must repair and/or replace the building sewer.
    Applies: Applies to a building sewer that lets infiltration or inflow into the sewer system.
    § 13.26.040 · code text
    It shall be the responsibility of the owner of the premises to repair and/or replace any building sewer which has been found to exhibit conditions that would permit infiltration or inflow to enter the sewer system.
  • The owner must make a repair or replacement plan and schedule for city engineer approval, at the owner's sole expense.
    Applies: Applies to a defective private sewer.
    § 13.26.090 · code text
    Whenever defective private sewers are found, the property owner, at the sole expense of the property owner, shall create a plan and schedule for repair or replacement of the private sewer.
When an inspection is required
  • When sewage from a lateral overflows onto public property or onto another owner's private property.
    Applies: Applies to sewer service laterals.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    Whenever the city finds that a sewage overflow emanating from a sewer service lateral has reached public property, including but not limited to a city street or the city storm drain system, or had flowed onto private property owned by another property owner;
  • When sewage overflowing from a lateral is a threat to public health.
    Applies: Applies to sewer service laterals.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    Whenever the city finds that a sewage overflow emanating from a sewer service lateral presents a threat to public health, even if it has not flowed across a property line;
  • City engineer finds repair, cleaning or testing is needed to stop a nuisance or protect public health, safety and welfare.
    Applies: Applies to sewer service laterals.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    Upon determination of the city engineer that repair, cleaning or testing is required to abate a nuisance or for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.
  • When you apply to build a new structure on a property with an existing lateral.
    Applies: Applies to new structures.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    On application to build a new structure on property with an existing lateral.
  • When you apply to connect a previously unconnected structure to an existing lateral.
    Applies: Applies to previously unconnected structures.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    On application proposing to connect a previously unconnected structure to an existing lateral.
  • When you apply to change the property's use to a common interest development.
    Applies: Applies to common interest developments.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    On application for a change of use on the premises served from any other land use to common interest development.
  • When you apply to build or connect a structure to an existing private sewer.
    Applies: Applies to private sewers.
    § 13.26.090 · code text
    On application to build a new structure on property which will connect to the private sewer with an existing lateral, or when otherwise proposing to connect a previously unconnected structure to an existing private sewer.
  • When the city orders it because it knows or reasonably suspects a building sewer is defective.
    Applies: Applies to defective building sewers found during routine sewer main work.
    § 13.26.045 · code text
    The city may order the property owner to conduct an inspection, repair or replacement of any building sewer that the city knows or reasonably suspects to be defective in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Does Rohnert Park require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?

Rohnert Park's code: When sewage from a lateral overflows onto public property or onto another owner's private property. (Applies to sewer service laterals.) (§ 13.26.045); Repairs must be done within 30 days of the city's notice that repair or replacement is required. (Applies to a defective sewer lateral, unless the city engineer sets a different deadline.) (§ 13.26.045).

General information, not legal advice.

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