The City of Oakland offers residents a Sewer Lateral Repair Program, which works as a reimbursement program to residents/owners in order to help defray the cost of repairing collapsed sewer laterals between the house and the main.

This is how the program works:

If you think you have a collapsed pipe, contact the plumber of your choice and have him cable the line at your expense. Once you have received the tape, contact the City Administrator at 314-416-0026. An appointment will be made to review the tape to verify eligibility of the program. Tree roots are not covered under this program. If eligible, the resident hires a contractor to do the repair and then pays for the repair in full. Copies of the actual bill and receipt of payment are then sent to City of Oakland, P. O. Box 220511, St. Louis, MO  63122 and reimbursement of up to $2,500 (this reimbursement cap is set by the Board of Aldermen and can be changed based on the funds available) will be sent to the resident/owner after the voucher is approved at the next scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting.

About the program:

All residential dwellings with six (6) or fewer units are covered under this program within Oakland city limits. The Program reimburses point-of-break repairs, which means that only the portion of the pipe that is defective is repaired. The City reimburses diagnotic and repair charges up to a maximum of $2,500 per repair of a sewer lateral.  All other charges for a single repair are the responsibility of the homeowner of the covered sewer lateral repair and are expected to be paid at the time the lateral is repaired, so that reimbursement funds can be granted.

*** Please Note: Most municipalities, cities, and counties with sewer lateral programs limit reimbursements and expenses to the amount available in the Fund at any time. Some offer waiting lists and reimbursements out of the next year’s Fund revenue. Funds typically are on a first-come, first-served basis. You should always check on fund availability. Additionally, most municipalities will require proof of PAID real estate tax bills, city fees, taxes, including personal property taxes, and trash fees if applicable for eligibility to participate in any available programs.

The City of Oakland offers residents a Sewer Lateral Repair Program, which works as a reimbursement program to residents/owners in order to help defray the cost of repairing collapsed sewer laterals between the house and the main.

This is how the program works:

If you think you have a collapsed pipe, contact the plumber of your choice and have him cable the line at your expense. Once you have received the tape, contact the City Administrator at 314-416-0026. An appointment will be made to review the tape to verify eligibility of the program. Tree roots are not covered under this program. If eligible, the resident hires a contractor to do the repair and then pays for the repair in full. Copies of the actual bill and receipt of payment are then sent to City of Oakland, P. O. Box 220511, St. Louis, MO  63122 and reimbursement of up to $2,500 (this reimbursement cap is set by the Board of Aldermen and can be changed based on the funds available) will be sent to the resident/owner after the voucher is approved at the next scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting.

About the program:

All residential dwellings with six (6) or fewer units are covered under this program within Oakland city limits. The Program reimburses point-of-break repairs, which means that only the portion of the pipe that is defective is repaired. The City reimburses diagnotic and repair charges up to a maximum of $2,500 per repair of a sewer lateral.  All other charges for a single repair are the responsibility of the homeowner of the covered sewer lateral repair and are expected to be paid at the time the lateral is repaired, so that reimbursement funds can be granted.

*** Please Note: Most municipalities, cities, and counties with sewer lateral programs limit reimbursements and expenses to the amount available in the Fund at any time. Some offer waiting lists and reimbursements out of the next year’s Fund revenue. Funds typically are on a first-come, first-served basis. You should always check on fund availability. Additionally, most municipalities will require proof of PAID real estate tax bills, city fees, taxes, including personal property taxes, and trash fees if applicable for eligibility to participate in any available programs.

The repair lateral repair program applies to single-family homes, duplexes or apartment buildings containing not more than six (6) dwelling units.

• Sewer lateral repair from the main line in the street or sewer easement to the building foundation are eligible under this program. It does not include a sewer line located under any permanent structure. A lateral sewer line service line may be located in the front, side or rear yard.
• A sewer lateral is defined as the portion of the sewage system which carries household wastes to the Metropolitan Sewer District (M.S.D.) sewer main and which lies between the structure foundation wall, or exterior wall if construction is non-traditional and the sewer main. Damaged or blocked pipes located within the exterior walls of the structure are not covered under this program. This service is not available to commercial or industrial (as determined by the primary use of the land) property.
• The City Council may periodically amend these guidelines in the best interest of the City and its homeowners, except as they may be restricted by State law or the City Ordinances.
• If an owner is experiencing a problem with the lateral sewer service line, the owner must first contact a plumber or drain and sewer cleaning company to have the sewer line cabled. If the problem is not resolved by cabling the line, the owner will fill out an application and bring a copy of the paid bill for cabling services and proof of paid real estate taxes.
• The City may arrange for a private contractor to televise the line so that the cause and location of the problem can be determined. If the television inspection demonstrates that the line is defective, the testing contractor shall be paid by the City. If the television inspection fails to demonstrate that the line is defective, the testing contractor shall be paid by the homeowner. The corrective work is limited to excavating, repair of the lateral, backfilling, and seeding and strawing of the disturbed portion of the yard. The City will not be responsible for restoration of any landscaping, such as bushes, trees or special grass on the property. Additional work will be done at the homeowner’s expense.
• The program will only pay for the replacement of sidewalks, driveways and streets removed to accomplish the repair under this policy. Special request for certain concrete or asphalt material will not be accepted nor reimbursed under this program.

*** Please Note: Most municipalities, cities, and counties with sewer lateral programs limit reimbursements and expenses to the amount available in the Fund at any time. Some offer waiting lists and reimbursements out of the next year’s Fund revenue. Funds typically are on a first-come, first-served basis. You should always check on fund availability. Additionally, most municipalities will require proof of PAID real estate tax bills, city fees, taxes, including personal property taxes, and trash fees if applicable for eligibility to participate in any available programs.

The repair lateral repair program applies to single-family homes, duplexes or apartment buildings containing not more than six (6) dwelling units.

• Sewer lateral repair from the main line in the street or sewer easement to the building foundation are eligible under this program. It does not include a sewer line located under any permanent structure. A lateral sewer line service line may be located in the front, side or rear yard.
• A sewer lateral is defined as the portion of the sewage system which carries household wastes to the Metropolitan Sewer District (M.S.D.) sewer main and which lies between the structure foundation wall, or exterior wall if construction is non-traditional and the sewer main. Damaged or blocked pipes located within the exterior walls of the structure are not covered under this program. This service is not available to commercial or industrial (as determined by the primary use of the land) property.
• The City Council may periodically amend these guidelines in the best interest of the City and its homeowners, except as they may be restricted by State law or the City Ordinances.
• If an owner is experiencing a problem with the lateral sewer service line, the owner must first contact a plumber or drain and sewer cleaning company to have the sewer line cabled. If the problem is not resolved by cabling the line, the owner will fill out an application and bring a copy of the paid bill for cabling services and proof of paid real estate taxes.
• The City may arrange for a private contractor to televise the line so that the cause and location of the problem can be determined. If the television inspection demonstrates that the line is defective, the testing contractor shall be paid by the City. If the television inspection fails to demonstrate that the line is defective, the testing contractor shall be paid by the homeowner. The corrective work is limited to excavating, repair of the lateral, backfilling, and seeding and strawing of the disturbed portion of the yard. The City will not be responsible for restoration of any landscaping, such as bushes, trees or special grass on the property. Additional work will be done at the homeowner’s expense.
• The program will only pay for the replacement of sidewalks, driveways and streets removed to accomplish the repair under this policy. Special request for certain concrete or asphalt material will not be accepted nor reimbursed under this program.

*** Please Note: Most municipalities, cities, and counties with sewer lateral programs limit reimbursements and expenses to the amount available in the Fund at any time. Some offer waiting lists and reimbursements out of the next year’s Fund revenue. Funds typically are on a first-come, first-served basis. You should always check on fund availability. Additionally, most municipalities will require proof of PAID real estate tax bills, city fees, taxes, including personal property taxes, and trash fees if applicable for eligibility to participate in any available programs.