Sewer line repair in Phoenix: costs, methods and responsibility

Phoenix Water Services says the city is only responsible for city-owned infrastructure. Everything from the connection to the city system back to the house or business is the property owner's responsibility. The city does not inspect private sewer lines and says homeowners should contact a plumber for home plumbing inspections.

If sewage is overflowing and you believe the city sewer is the cause, Phoenix lists 602-262-6691 on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and its 602-261-8000 hotline after hours and on weekends. If the city finds its line is clear, the problem is in your private lateral.

These are national figures from HomeAdvisor’s sewer line repair guide, updated in June 2026. Length, depth, access, and whether the line runs under a slab, driveway or landscaping all change the price.

For comparison, HomeGuide’s plumber cost guide lists main sewer line repair at $1,880 to $3,700 and sewer line cleaning at $150 to $800.

1. Clear and inspect. The line is usually cleaned, then a camera is run through it, often from a cleanout. Ask for the video and a written note of the footage where problems appear.
2. Locate. The contractor marks where the damage is on the surface and how deep it runs.
3. Choose a method. A single broken section can be dug up and replaced. Longer damage may suit trenchless lining, where a resin-soaked liner is cured inside the old pipe, or pipe bursting, where a new pipe is pulled through as the old one is broken outward.
4. Permit and inspection. Replacing sewer piping is permitted work in Phoenix. The contractor should schedule the inspection before backfilling.
5. Final camera run. Ask for a video after the repair, showing the new section is clean and properly connected.

• Several drains slow or backing up at the same time, especially the lowest fixtures in the house.
• Gurgling from toilets or drains when other fixtures run.
• Clogs that return soon after cleaning, which often means roots or a broken section.
• Sewer odor outside or soggy, unusually green patches of yard along the line's path.

Phoenix says grease and cooking oil, and tree and shrub roots, are the most common causes of blockages. Our drain cleaning guide covers what to try before repair.

Yes, in most cases. The city's work-exempt-from-permit list exempts clearing stoppages, but its exemption for ordinary repairs specifically does not cover repairs that involve replacing or relocating sewer, drainage, soil, waste or vent piping. If the job needs a permit, it also needs a licensed contractor under Arizona's rules. Outside Phoenix, check your own city's rules; our locations section covers eight Valley cities.

The ROC's license classification list includes A-12 and CR-80 (sewers, drains and pipe laying) as well as the plumbing classifications R-37, R-37R and CR-37. Ask which classification the company holds and confirm it in the ROC search. A license in an unrelated trade does not cover sewer work.

Search the business in the Arizona ROC contractor search and confirm the license is active. The ROC says Arizona requires a licensed contractor when the total project cost, labor and materials included, is over $1,000 or when the work needs a local permit, and it recommends checking that the license is current on the day you sign. Get estimates from at least three licensed contractors, avoid rushed decisions, and do not pay in cash or sign over an insurance check, as the ROC advises. Ask each bidder to quote the same scope, including length, method, permit, restoration of landscaping or concrete, and a final camera inspection.

Our guide on how to choose a plumber in Phoenix lists more questions to ask.

Plumber Phoenix Pros is an independent guide and not a licensed contractor. We do not perform, price or schedule this work. To reach a plumber, call one of the licensed contractors listed on this page or see all listed contractors. If you prefer, you can email us your question through our contact page.