Sewer lateral inspection in Corte Madera: the local rules

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

What Corte Madera's code says

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
Deadline to comply	The owner has 180 days to finish the required repairs, at the owner's expense. Applies: Starts when a notice to repair or replace is issued, based on defects in the sewer lateral inspection report. § 21.22.040 · code text The notice to repair/replace shall specifically identify the deficiencies to be corrected and shall establish a deadline of one hundred eighty days, within which the owner(s) shall complete the required corrective actions at owners' expensive. Within 90 days of a notice of defects, the owner must apply for a repair or replacement permit. Applies: Applies when an existing sewer lateral is found defective during mandatory testing. § 21.20.080 · code text If found to be defective, the owner shall, within ninety days of a notice of said defects, apply for a permit for the repair or replacement of the lateral and/or appurtenances.
Fee or permit	A permit is required to repair or replace a defective lateral or its fittings. Applies: Applies when an existing sewer lateral is found defective during mandatory testing. § 21.20.080 · code text If found to be defective, the owner shall, within ninety days of a notice of said defects, apply for a permit for the repair or replacement of the lateral and/or appurtenances. The owner must get a final permit inspection and approval from the building official. Applies: Only for repairs that need a building permit. § 21.22.040 · code text The owner shall repair his or her private sewer lateral to the satisfaction of the district manager, and, if a building permit is required for the repairs, the owner shall obtain a final permit inspection and approval of the relevant building official.
When an inspection is required	Testing is required when an existing sewer lateral will serve a new building. Applies: Applies to existing sewer laterals that serve a new building. § 21.20.080 · code text For existing lateral sewers serving a new building, the existing lateral may only be used when it is found, upon examination and testing by district staff, to meet all requirements of the district. Testing is required when a remodel increases plumbing fixture units by 10% or more. Applies: Applies to existing sewer laterals serving a newly remodeled building with a fixture-unit increase of 10% or more. § 21.20.080 · code text For existing lateral sewers serving a newly remodeled building, when the remodeling increases the number of plumbing fixture units by ten percent or more, the existing lateral may only be used when it is found, upon examination and testing by district staff, to meet all requirements of the district. The district manager may inspect a private sewer lateral, with advance notice to the owner. Applies: Only when the district manager suspects the lateral may be allowing inflow or infiltration. § 21.20.075 · code text (e) To assess the condition of the lateral where he/she suspects that the lateral may be allowing inflow or infiltration.
Owner's responsibility	The owner pays for the testing. Applies: Applies whenever mandatory testing is done. § 21.20.080 · code text Whenever testing shall be conducted in accordance with this section, the cost of the testing shall be paid for by the owner and performed in the presence of district staff. The owner pays for the repair or replacement the inspection report shows is needed. Applies: The district decides the level of repair based on its review of the defects in the inspection report. § 21.22.030 · code text Based upon the district staff evaluation of the deficiencies outlined in the report, the district will determine the level of repair or replacement that is necessary and cost will be the responsibility of the owner. The owner must repair the private sewer lateral to the district manager's satisfaction. § 21.22.040 · code text The owner shall repair his or her private sewer lateral to the satisfaction of the district manager, and, if a building permit is required for the repairs, the owner shall obtain a final permit inspection and approval of the relevant building official. Each owner must disconnect from the shared lateral and connect to the nearest sewer main. Applies: Applies to a private sewer lateral that serves more than 1 home, except as the code otherwise provides. § 21.22.040 · code text The owner of each affected premises shall be responsible for disconnecting their private sewer lateral from the common lateral and connecting to the nearest sewer main.

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Does Corte Madera require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?

Corte Madera's code: Testing is required when an existing sewer lateral will serve a new building. (Applies to existing sewer laterals that serve a new building.) (§ 21.20.080); The owner has 180 days to finish the required repairs, at the owner's expense. (Starts when a notice to repair or replace is issued, based on defects in the sewer lateral inspection report.) (§ 21.22.040).

Sewer lateral inspection in Corte Madera

What Corte Madera's code says

Who this affects

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