San Mateo County sewer lateral rules at sale, city by city

• A sewer lateral certificate of compliance is required before the property title transfers. “must obtain a sewer lateral certificate of compliance prior to the transfer of the property title.” (South San Francisco, Point of Sale Ordinance Fact Sheet, checked 2026-09-23)
• The city assesses a CCTV video recorded by any licensed contractor. “A Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video performed by any licensed contractor is required to be submitted to the city for assessment of the sewer lateral.” (South San Francisco, Point of Sale Ordinance Fact Sheet, checked 2026-09-23)
• A certificate is valid for 10 years if no repairs or only partial repairs were needed. “If no repairs are required or partial repairs are performed to the sewer lateral, then the Compliance Certificate is valid for 10 years.” (South San Francisco, Point of Sale Ordinance Fact Sheet, checked 2026-09-23)
• A certificate after full replacement is valid for 25 years. “If replacement of the entire lateral was performed, then the Compliance Certificate is valid for 25 years.” (South San Francisco, Point of Sale Ordinance Fact Sheet, checked 2026-09-23)
• A time extension of up to 180 days is available if the certificate can't be obtained before transfer. “If a sewer lateral certificate of compliance cannot be obtained before the transfer of title, the property owner, agent, or buyer may apply for a time extension of up to 180 days to perform the inspection and necessary repairs to the lateral.” (South San Francisco, Point of Sale Ordinance Fact Sheet, checked 2026-09-23)

• Homes over 50 years old must have the lateral inspected and certified by the city before sale. “If your home is over 50 years old, your sewer lateral must be inspected and certified by the City before it is sold.” (City of San Bruno, Point of Sale Sewer Lateral Requirement (SBMC ch. 10.13), checked 2026-09-23)
• Enforcement began May 8, 2015. “Effective May 8, 2015, the City of San Bruno will begin enforcement of a point-of-sale requirement for sewer lateral inspections.” (City of San Bruno, Point of Sale Sewer Lateral Requirement (SBMC ch. 10.13), checked 2026-09-23)
• A certificate is required even if the property was never listed on the MLS, and for inter-family transfers. “Yes, even if the property was never listed on the MLS it is required to obtain a Lateral Compliance Certificate. This also applies to inter-family transfers.” (City of San Bruno, Compliance Certificate FAQ, checked 2026-09-23)
• The video must show the whole lateral from the structure to the connection at the city main. “Shall show entire sewer lateral from the structure to the connection on the city’s main sewer.” (City of San Bruno, Compliance Certificate FAQ, checked 2026-09-23)
• You can hire any person or company to make the video, but the video must meet the city's requirements to be acceptable. “No, you can hire any person or company to perform the video but there are certain requirements that need to be met in order for the video to be acceptable.” (City of San Bruno, Compliance Certificate FAQ, checked 2026-09-23)
• Condo units on a shared lateral don't need an individual certificate. “No, An Individually-Owned Unit in a Multi-Unit Structure Served by a Single Lateral or Shared Laterals Such as a Condominium or Other Common Interest Development will not be required to obtain an individual Lateral Compliance Certificate.” (City of San Bruno, Compliance Certificate FAQ, checked 2026-09-23)

• Before close of escrow, owners must run a CCTV inspection of the lateral from the building to the city main. “Prior to transfer of ownership (close of escrow), property owners must perform an inline closed circuit video inspection of their existing sanitary sewer lateral from the building to the City main per Millbrae Municipal Code, Section 8.20.” (City of Millbrae, Testing Sanitary Sewer Lateral Upon Transfer of Ownership, checked 2026-09-23)
• A property with an active compliance certificate is exempt. “The inspection is exempt if the property has an active compliance certificate.” (City of Millbrae, Testing Sanitary Sewer Lateral Upon Transfer of Ownership, checked 2026-09-23)
• Millbrae offers a rebate on qualifying lateral upgrades: 20% of the cost, capped by the program. “Recently separated sanitary sewer laterals, sewer laterals that are required to upgrade to current City code, sewer laterals at risk of overflowing, and broken sewer laterals, may qualify for a rebate from the City in the amount of 20% of the total cost paid for the upgrade or up to $2,000.” (City of Millbrae, Testing Sanitary Sewer Lateral Upon Transfer of Ownership, checked 2026-09-23)

• On any transfer of a property with buildings more than 25 years old, the lateral must be tested for infiltration and repaired as needed. “Whenever any property is to be transferred to or vested in any other person or entity and that property includes any buildings or structures constructed more than twenty-five (25) years prior to the date of transfer or vesting, the sewer lateral(s) to that property shall be tested for infiltration and all necessary repairs or replacements performed to prevent all infiltration.” (City of Burlingame, Sewer Lateral Test Ordinance 1329 (BMC ch. 15.12), checked 2026-09-23)
• Repairs must be completed and approved before title transfers. “All repair or replacement work shall be completed and approved by the city prior to transfer of title (Ord.” (City of Burlingame, Sewer Lateral Test Ordinance 1329 (BMC ch. 15.12), checked 2026-09-23)
• The test must be witnessed by a city representative. “The test must be witnessed by a City representative to meet the ordinance requirements.” (City of Burlingame, Sewer Lateral Test Ordinance 1329 (BMC ch. 15.12), checked 2026-09-23)
• Each lateral is to have a cleanout in the city right-of-way; if one does not exist, it must be installed. “Each lateral is to have a cleanout located in the City right-of-way. If a cleanout does not exist, then one is required to be installed.” (City of Burlingame, Sewer Lateral Test Ordinance 1329 (BMC ch. 15.12), checked 2026-09-23)
• A full replacement from building to city cleanout is good for 25 years. “A complete replacement from building to City cleanout is effective for 25 years.” (City of Burlingame, Sewer Lateral Test Ordinance 1329 (BMC ch. 15.12), checked 2026-09-23)
• A repaired and tested lateral is good for 10 years. “A repaired and tested lateral is effective for ten years.” (City of Burlingame, Sewer Lateral Test Ordinance 1329 (BMC ch. 15.12), checked 2026-09-23)
• Who pays for the test and repairs is decided between the parties to the sale. “That is to be decided between the parties involved in the sale.” (City of Burlingame, Sewer Lateral Test Ordinance 1329 (BMC ch. 15.12), checked 2026-09-23)

• San Mateo's ordinance has four triggers, and the sale of real property is one of them. “the revised private sewer lateral ordinance has four event triggers that require a property to conduct a sewer lateral inspection per Municipal Code Section 7.38.432(c)(1): Sale of real property” (City of San Mateo, 2020 Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance (SMMC 7.38.432), checked 2026-09-23)
• Building permits for additions, alterations or remodels to property valued at or above $90,000, as set by City Council resolution, are another trigger. “Building permits for additions, alterations, and/or remodel to property of valuation greater than or equal to $90,000 as set by City Council Resolution No.” (City of San Mateo, 2020 Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance (SMMC 7.38.432), checked 2026-09-23)
• No new inspection is needed if one within the past 5 years needed no repairs, or its partial repairs were completed. “Within the past 5 years, an inspection was performed that either (1) needed no repairs or (2) had required partial repairs which have subsequently been completed.” (City of San Mateo, 2020 Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance (SMMC 7.38.432), checked 2026-09-23)
• A full replacement with final city sign-off within the past 25 years is also exempt. “Within the past 25 years, a sewer lateral was completely replaced and received final sign off through a City permit.” (City of San Mateo, 2020 Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance (SMMC 7.38.432), checked 2026-09-23)
• Work in the public right-of-way or at the city main needs an encroachment permit. “Any sewer lateral work in the Public Right-of-Way or involving the City's main will need an encroachment permit.” (City of San Mateo, 2020 Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance (SMMC 7.38.432), checked 2026-09-23)

• At sale, the seller must give prospective buyers a Notice to Buyers that homeowners are responsible for repairing and maintaining the private sewer lateral. “The City requires a seller to provide prospective buyers with a "Notice to Buyers" advising them that homeowners are responsible for the repair and maintenance of the private sewer lateral.” (City of Belmont, Sewer (Public Works), checked 2026-09-23)
• A Sewer Lateral Certificate is not required at time of sale. “A Sewer Lateral Certificate is not required at time of sale.” (City of Belmont, Sewer (Public Works), checked 2026-09-23)
• A certificate is required for property improvements costing $200,000 or more, or work that changes water service, such as a second meter or a meter size change. “A Sewer Lateral Certificate is required if you are conducting improvements to your property costing $200,000 or more, or if there is work that causes a change in water service such as adding a second meter or changing the meter size.” (City of Belmont, Sewer (Public Works), checked 2026-09-23)
• The city issues a certificate when the whole lateral was lawfully built in the past 15 years and is not suspected of needing repair, or when testing and inspection show it is in good condition. “The City will issue a Sewer Lateral Certificate for a private sewer lateral in a state of good repair when: The entire sewer lateral has been lawfully constructed within the past 15 years and the City does not suspect that the sewer lateral is in need of repair, or the property owner has shown by testing and inspection to the City's satisfaction that the sewer lateral is in good condition.” (City of Belmont, Sewer (Public Works), checked 2026-09-23)

• Pacifica runs a Sewer Lateral Replacement Grant Program; its page lists applications for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. “2025-2026 Sewer Lateral Replacement Program Application 2026-2027 Sewer Lateral Replacement Program Application” (City of Pacifica, Sewer Lateral Grant Program, checked 2026-09-23)
• The 2024-2025 round ran until June 30, 2025, or until 100 laterals were replaced. “The program will expire on June 30, 2025, or when 100 laterals are replaced.” (City of Pacifica, Sewer Lateral Grant Program, checked 2026-09-23)
• The program requires the completed replacement with an invoice showing a zero balance due, meaning the contractor has been paid in full. “Sewer lateral replacement completed, and must include an invoice showing a zero balance due, indicating that the contractor has been paid in full.” (City of Pacifica, Sewer Lateral Grant Program, checked 2026-09-23)
• Pacifica also issues sewer lateral compliance certificates and keeps them on file; the city can confirm whether a property already has one. “Not sure if your property is already in compliance? Contact Doug Trade by email at traded@ci.pacifica.ca.us or by phone at (650) 738-7472 to see if there is already a certificate on file.” (City of Pacifica, Sewer Lateral Compliance Certificates, checked 2026-09-23)

Of the cities we have verified: South San Francisco, San Bruno (homes over 50 years old), Millbrae, Burlingame (buildings over 25 years old) and San Mateo. Belmont does not require a certificate at sale but requires a notice to buyers. Each rule, its trigger and its source are in the table above.

It depends on the city. South San Francisco, San Bruno and Millbrae assess a video. Burlingame requires an infiltration test witnessed by a city representative.

Ten years if no repairs or only partial repairs were needed; 25 years if the entire lateral was replaced.

South San Francisco allows a time extension of up to 180 days if the certificate cannot be obtained before transfer. Burlingame requires repairs to be completed and approved before title transfers.

Burlingame leaves it to the parties to the sale. For the other cities, read the row for your city and settle it in the purchase contract.