This is an over-the-counter permit. When all documents, including Sewerage Facilities Charges, any required easement, sewer capacity and the constructed building are ready, then the S-Permit may be issued in less than 30 minutes.

An S-Permit is good for two years from the date of issuance.

The S-Permit expires two years from the date that it was issued. If the job is in progress and inspection is on going, then it will not expire.

Paying the basic fee according to the "Standard Fee List" will renew the permit for another two years. The reason for requesting a permit extension must be reasonable and beyond the control of the applicant.

These permits may be revised to accommodate any change in scope of work. Permit fees will be adjusted, additional fees or refunds will be made to reflect any change.

Once the S-Permit is issued and inspection has started, then the project may go on until satisfactorily completed. As long as the applicant is progressing with the work described in the permit diligently and responsibly, then the permit stays in effect until completion of work.

The Bureau of Contract Administration of the Department of Public Works will make that determination depending on the job conditions that may delay the project.

If the project consists of a connection that is to be made to a storm drainpipe, then the type and method of connection must be determined and approved by the BOE Staff. A junction structure may be required.

Notification of Inspection
Prior to commencing work, the customer is required to contact the Bureau of Contract Administration (BCA). The number to contact is printed on the S-Permit. The BCA will dispatch a Public Works Inspector to review the scope of work with the customer. The Inspector will inform the customer when to call for future inspections and will review any other information or questions the customer may have.

Property Line Connection - Sewer main lines (local sewers) are in the public rights-of-way (streets) and in the public sanitary sewer easements over private properties. If a service connection (pipe from the local sewer to the property line) is available, then the S-Permit is for a property line connection. The City’s sewer maps show the availability of this service connection. A regular plumber or contractor may obtain this "property line connection" S-Permit. For the cost of this property line connection permit, please see the Standard Fee List

Sewers – Undedicated Streets - LAMC Section 64.11 states no person shall connect any sewer which has been or may hereafter be constructed in any street, prior to the dedication and acceptance of such street by the City Council, with any public sewer unless such sewer has been laid under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the Board and in accordance with the specifications for public sewers adopted by the City Council and on file in the office of the City Clerk, and in accordance with plans and profiles approved by the City Engineer.

House Connection Sewer – LAMC, Section 64.11.1 states that not more than one lot shall be connected to any one house connection sewer.

House Sewer Connection – Permit – LAMC, Section 64.12 states

(a) No person shall make, construct, alter, or repair any house connection sewer, bonded house connection sewer, special house connection sewer, industrial waste sewer connection, industrial waste storm drain connection, storm drain connection, or special drainage connection, or any portion of any such sewer or storm drain connections, including sampling manholes, or connect any house sewer, soil pipe, or plumbing to any such sewer or storm drain connections or to a sewer or storm drain under the jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles, without first obtaining a written permit therefor from the Board of Public Works.

(b) Persons desiring to obtain a permit for any of the purposes enumerated in Sections 64.12 to 64.22 inclusive, shall file with the Board a written application therefor signed by the applicant, on printed forms, furnished by it for that purpose. The application shall contain such information as the Board may require. If it appears from the application that the work to be performed thereunder is to be done according to the regulations contained or referred to in this article, governing the doing of such work, a permit shall be issued upon payment of the permit charges required or referred to in Section 64.15.

(c) The Board before granting any permit in accordance with the provisions of Sections 64.12 to 64.22 inclusive, which will necessitate any excavation in, upon or under any State highway in this City or the making of a connection to a sewer or house connection sewer for which a permit is also required from a County Sanitation District, or a political subdivision other than this City, shall require such permit to be presented for inspection.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be deemed or construed to require the application for or the issuance of a permit for the purpose of removing stoppages in any house connection sewer, except when it is necessary to replace any part or all of such sewer connection or to excavate in any street or sidewalk or sewer easement in connection therewith.

(e) A permit under which an excavation, tunnel, or the laying of sewer, or storm drain pipe in any public street is contemplated will be issued only to other departments of the City, other governmental agencies, or contractors holding a valid contractor's license issued by the Contractors' License Board of the State of California in the classification of A-1 General Engineering, B-1 General Building, C-36 Plumbing, or C-42 Sewer, Sewage Disposal, Drain, Cement Pipe Laying. (Added by Ord. No. 121,900, Eff. 6/4/62.)

EXCEPTION:

A permit for making sewer connections at the property line may be issued to any responsible person when in the opinion of the Board the granting of such permit will not endanger public property or jeopardize the public's interests.

(f) Any person performing work pursuant to a permit issued under this section shall comply with all the provisions of Section 62.03.1 of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 150,478, Eff. 2/6/78.)

Permit Exemptions – LAMC, Section 64.13

The provisions of Section 64.12 requiring permits for the construction of house connection sewers shall not be construed to apply to contractors constructing house connection sewers under contracts entered into under proceedings had or taken pursuant to any of the procedure ordinances of this City, or the County of Los Angeles, or the Statutes of the State of California, or other contracts authorized by the City Council, providing for the construction of such house connection sewers.

Connections to the sewer that are made without an S-Permit are illegal. Saddle connections must be used to prevent a protruding sewer lateral into a mainline sewer.

A violation occurs when a connection is made without paying either the Sewerage Facilities Charge, Industrial Waste Permit fee (if applicable), and Bonded Sewer Fee.

Connection to another building connection is illegal. Connection to a maintenance hole is prohibited unless approved by the City Engineer. Connection must be made to the main line sewer. Work without a permit is a violation.

A Public Works Inspector will stop the work and issue a citation. The person responsible for the work violation will be directed to the applicable Bureau of Engineering office to apply for a permit. All applicable fees must be paid to clear a citation.

Illegal connections will be subject to corrective action required by the City Engineer. Corrective action must be taken by the parties responsible for the illegal connection.

Disclose all the known information effecting the issuance of the S-Permit and work to be performed under the permit. The work shall be done in accordance with the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction.

Sewer Problems - The maintenance of the main line sewer (the sewer in the middle of the street and between the maintenance holes) is the responsibility of the City of Los Angeles. The maintenance of a lateral, service connection or house connection sewer (between the property and the main line sewer) is the responsibility of the abutting property owner. Service connections usually break due to age, clogged by debris, or from tree root penetration. There is a simple way to find out if the sewer problem is in the house connection or main line sewer. If your property is the only property on the block that has a sewer problem, then the problem is in your service connection and you need to call a plumber. If the problem were with the mainline sewer, then all properties connected to the line would have sewer problems at the same time. Also if the main line sewer were clogged, the water would be coming out of the maintenance hole cover. In case of a main line problem, please call (213) 485-5884 weekdays, from 6:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. and (213) 485-7575 any other time.

The problem of root penetration into the sewer lines can be controlled by periodic chemical treatment of the line. Several trade name products are available on the market specifically for this purpose. Excavation and repair of faulty sewer pipe joints can prevent root penetration. Tree roots do not enter sewer lines unless there is a break or bad joint that leaks moisture and provides an opening encouraging root penetration.

If you need to excavate and repair your house connection sewer in the public right-of-way (sidewalk, street or alley) or easement (in the yard), then your Bonded Sewer Contractor must contact the appropriate Engineering District Office for an S-Permit..

Long established City policy, based on the opinion of the City Attorney, places the responsibility for the construction, maintenance, and repair of house connection sewer lines upon the property owner. The City Attorney states, in part: "…that this rule is not altered by the fact (if it be a fact) that roots of trees growing in the street caused clogging of the sewer line. The privilege is granted to the house owner to connect his house with the main publicly owned sewer and the duty to keep clean the privately owned sewer rests on the owner of such house connecting sewer, not upon the City."

The house connection sewers are not of general benefit since they serve and can be used legally to serve only a single lot. The fact that the house connection sewer is in a public street does not mean that it is of public benefit and that the maintenance and repair should not therefore be performed by City forces at the expense of the general public.

In almost all cases, the owner of private property holds the underlying fee to the center of the street. The public street is actually an easement. The property owner there has a legal right to construct and maintain a house connection sewer between his private property and the public street sewer, subject to permit provisions of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

A Sewer Permit shall be issued to Bonded Sewer Contractors only or to individuals who satisfactorily comply with the Liability Insurance and Deposit Requirement according to Section 64.15.1 of the Los Angeles Municipal code.

Please contact the BOE’s Central District Office to become a Bonded Sewer Contractor or to comply with the Liability Insurance and Deposit Requirement for one project. Please contact the appropriate district office to obtain Sewerage Facilities Charge (SFC) and a Sewer Permit for the location of the property.

Permitee’s name, address, telephone number, and job address are required. If connection to the sewer is made through another property, then a recorded private sewer easement is required. The contractor must be a bonded sewer contractor. Bonded Sewer Contractors are approved by the Board of Public Works.

Each Lot shall be connected to the City mainline sewer directly. Connections may not be shared. Sewerage Facilities Charges must be paid before an S-Permit is issued. Connections must be made to an available "Y" before any saddle connection is installed.

Storm drain connections must be connected to the catch basins first before a connection to the main line is allowed.

Any traffic mitigation required must be identified and approved by Department of Transportation. Other obstructions such as street trees, fire hydrants, street lights, power poles and utility meter boxes must be identified, and permission to relocate or remove them must be secured from the owner of the item. The applicant must also check interfering underground utilities. Substructure Maps are available at the pertinent BOE District Office.

When tree roots are causing damage to a building sewer connection, then a Street Tree Removal Permit or a Root Trimming Permit issued by the Bureau of Street Services is required.

Water Meter Boxes, Gas Shut-Off Valve Boxes, Street Light and Traffic Signal Conduit and Pull Boxes, and Parking Meters. These obstructions may be removed or relocated. The Permittee must contact the owner of the effected utility.

House sewer connections (building connections) are designed per Bureau of Engineering Standard Plan S-110-1 and S-111-0.

Connections shall be minimum of four (4) feet under ground at the property line and have a minimum slope.

Applicant must call for inspection at the number indicated on the permit, 24 hours before commencement of work.

Trenches that are more than five (5) feet deep require shoring and other requirements to comply with California Occupational Safety & Health Community Association (CALOSHA). In general, safety measures in accordance with the current edition of the Work Area Traffic Control Handbook are required for construction work.

Please see the Standard Fee List.

If S-Permit Special Eng Fee, investigation, or design is required prior to issuance of a permit for any storm drain connection, special drainage connection, or industrial waste storm drain connection, a deposit to cover the estimated cost of such S-Permit Special Eng Fee must be made to the Board before a permit will be issued.

Please see the Standard Fee List.

The Permitee may request a cancellation and refund of the fees within one year of the permit issuance date as long as construction or repair of the sewer or storm drain has not started. This request must be filed with the City Clerk Office by completing a Refund Request Form or accessing the Internet https://engpermits.lacity.org/refunds. A $42.00 administrative fee and 3% and 7% surcharges will be withheld.

Please see " Insurance Requirements & Instructions".Liability Insurance

From Federal Government, the State, every county, city, municipal corporation, irrigation district, school district, district established by law, and any political or administrative subdivision of the State or Federal Government will not be required to make a deposit or to post a policy of protective liability insurance as otherwise required by LAMC, Sections 64.15 and 64.15.1.