Sewer line repair in Denver: who pays, what it costs, how it works

Who is responsible for the sewer line in Denver?

Denver's Wastewater Management Division states that the City and County of Denver is only responsible for the main public sewers. The private tap and the service line that carry wastewater from your house to the main are the property owner's responsibility, and the city recommends hiring a licensed company to locate or service them. The division maintains more than 1,525 miles of sanitary sewers.

If sewage backs up into the house, call Denver Wastewater at (303) 446-3400 first. The city sends a crew; if the problem is in the city sewer, its staff service the line and arrange any cleanup the city line caused. If the problem is in your private line, the city tells you, and you hire a plumber to clear and repair it and to address any damage.

How should a sewer problem be diagnosed?

1. Clear the line if it is blocked. A cable or jetting service restores flow so the pipe can be inspected. Our drain cleaning guide covers the methods and costs.
2. Run a camera inspection. A video camera fed through a cleanout shows roots, cracks, offset joints, sags (low spots where water and solids collect) and collapsed sections, and a locator marks the depth and position at the surface.
3. Get a copy of the video and a written report. Ask the contractor to note the footage from the cleanout to each defect. This lets a second company quote the same scope without re-inspecting.
4. Compare repair options for the specific defect. One bad joint calls for a different fix than a line that is failing end to end.

Repeated root intrusion is common. Denver's wastewater division notes that the moisture, warmth and nutrients inside sewer lines attract roots, which enter through the smallest crack or pinhole.

How much does sewer line repair cost?

These ranges come from HomeAdvisor's sewer line cost guide, updated in June 2026. Depth, length, the material of the old pipe and whether the line runs under a driveway, tree or street all drive the final price.

Trench, lining or bursting: what is the difference?

• Open trench repair digs down to the damaged section and replaces it. It works for any defect but disturbs yards, driveways and landscaping.
• Cured-in-place lining (CIPP) pulls a resin-soaked liner through the existing pipe and cures it into a new pipe inside the old one. It needs the old pipe to be intact enough to hold its shape.
• Pipe bursting pulls a new pipe through the old one while a bursting head breaks the old pipe apart. It usually needs an access pit at each end.

Not every line is a candidate for trenchless work. Ask each company to explain, using the camera video, why it recommends one method over another for your line.

What does Denver require for a sewer repair?

Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure sets the rules in its sewer cutoff and repair requirements. Key points:

• A properly licensed plumbing or sewer company must do the repair work.
• Denver defines a sewer repair as replacing pipe in the same trench and location as the existing pipe. Rerouting a sewer line requires a Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) before work starts.
• Permits are created when the contractor schedules inspections, and the contractor must email the city with a valid license by 3:30 p.m. on the previous business day.
• Denver charges a $55 fee for each inspection trip.

If you also suspect a leak under a concrete floor, our guide to expansive soil and slab leaks in Denver covers that related problem.

How do you vet a sewer repair contractor?

Because the city requires a properly licensed company, start there: confirm the individual's license in the state license lookup and ask Denver Contractor Licensing to confirm the company's city license if anything is unclear. Ask for the camera video, a written scope with footage and method, who handles the permit and inspections, how the yard or driveway will be restored, and what warranty the contractor itself offers. Get at least two quotes for anything beyond a simple clearing.

If a backup is happening right now, use our emergency checklist. For a non-urgent second opinion, you can email us through the contact page. We are a guide, not a contractor, and do not perform inspections or repairs.