There’s sewage coming out of a manhole. What do I do?

Please call (650) 363-4100 to report a sewer main overflow. We will send a crew to investigate and address the issue, if possible.

There’s sewage coming out of my cleanout and/or drains. Can you help?

Please call (650) 363-4100 to report a sewer backup. If a standard cleanout is present, the County will provide emergency service to clear blockages in the lower lateral.

If there isn’t a standard cleanout, or if the blockage is in the upper lateral or beyond, we will not be able to clear the blockage, and we will advise the property owner to contact a private plumber.

How long will it take for a sewer backup to be addressed?

We respond to all sewer backup reports on the same day. However, because we handle emergencies in the order they are reported to us, response time will vary. If it has been more than two hours since you made your report, and the backup has not yet been addressed, please call (650) 363-4100. 

Please note that you may not receive notice of our crew's arrival or departure; if no one is present, our sewer crew may leave a green tag on your door to summarize their findings.

The sewer crew said they can’t clear the backup. Why can’t they clear it?

If the blockage is in the upper lateral or beyond, it cannot be reached from the cleanout, as the cleanout only provides access to the lower lateral.

Similarly, if the cleanout is non-standard, we may not be able to clear the blockage, as our crews do not have the tools to service non-standard cleanouts.

Does the County provide sewer service to my property?

To find out if your property is within one of the County’s sewer districts, enter the address into our Service Locator tool. 

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For assistance in verifying the jurisdiction for a property, please call (650) 363-4100 during our regular hours (Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 5:00PM).

Does the County maintain my sewer lateral?

No. For San Mateo County sewer districts, the property owner is responsible for installation, maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of both the upper and lower sewer lateral.

Part of my lateral isn’t on my property. Am I responsible for that, too?

Yes. The property owner is responsible for the portion of the sewer lateral that is not within the property, such as in a street, public easement, or right of way.

See our Permits & Plan Reviews page for more detailed information.

* Please note that the permits required may be different for incorporated areas that are part of County-maintained sewer districts; check with your local town/city for their regulations and permit processes.

What permits do I need?

If your work involves…

• The cleanout or lower lateral: you will need a Sewer Inspection Permit (SIP).
• The upper lateral or past it: you may need a Building Permit.*
• The right of way: you will need an Encroachment Permit.*

*For incorporated areas, you will need to speak to your local government about the additional types of permits you might need. 

See our Permits & Plan Reviews page for more detailed information.

How long is a Sewer Inspection Permit (SIP) valid?

A SIP is valid for one year from the it was date issued.

After one year, the permit expires, and must be renewed before work or inspections can continue. If you need to renew a SIP, please send an email to sewers@smcgov.org, or leave a message at (650) 599-1403. 

The SIP renewal fee is $300.

What is the fee for a SIP?

The base SIP fee is $300, but additional fees may be required.

The SIP renewal fee is $300.

Do I need a Plan Review?

You may need a plan review if your construction includes any renovations, additions, or landscaping that could involve sewer pipes or easements.

What is the fee for a Plan Review?

The base fee is $300 for residential projects, and $500 for non-residential projects, but additional fees may be required.

See our Permits & Plan Reviews page for more detailed information.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Use the link or QR code provided on the SIP to book an inspection, or leave a message at (650) 599-1403 that includes your SIP number, and our team will call you back. Please note that inspection slots fill quickly; for the best chance to book a preferred time, please book your inspection at least one week ahead of time.

A SIP is required to book an inspection.

My inspector didn’t show up for my scheduled inspection. What should I do?

We apologize for the inconvenience; please call (650) 363-4100 to let us know. We will do our best to make accommodations, but another appointment may need to be scheduled.

Is there a fee for inspections?

No. Inspections are free of charge.

I recently moved into a new property in a County sewer district. How do I set up sewer service?

As long as the sewer pipes are functional, sewer service will continue. 

You do not need to set up an account, or transfer bills to your name--regular sewer service charges are added to secured property tax bills.

How do I pay for my sewer service?

Regular sewer service charges are added to secured property tax bills and will be paid when you pay property tax.

For new connections or additions, such as moving from septic to County sewer service, or a new ADU, there will be a one-time sewer service charge to cover the remainder of the year until property taxes are due. This one-time service charge can be paid in person by cash or check, or by card/bank transfer through our online payment portal.

What payment methods do you accept?

Cash and check can be submitted in person at our office, located at 555 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063, on the 5th floor.

Credit card, debit card, and bank transfer (e-check) payments can be made using our online payment portal.

What are the annual sewer service rates?

See our Service Rates Information page more information.

What is the fee for a Sewer Inspection Permit?

The base SIP fee is $300, but additional fees may be required.

The SIP Renewal fee is $300.

What is the fee for a Plan Review?

The base fee is $300 for residential projects, and $500 for non-residential projects, but additional fees may be required.

Is there a fee for inspections?

No. Inspections are free of charge.

What constitutes a standard cleanout or lateral?

Please see our sections C-2 and C-5 of our Sanitary Sewer Standard Details and Specifications document for details.

A standard cleanout must be placed in an easily accessible location near the property line. The access point must be at a 45 degree angle to the lateral, and enclosed in a Christy B-9 box. The pipes should be free from any intrusions or defects, such as cracks, and must be made of an approved material.

What material should we use for our sewer lateral?

Approved materials consist of:

• PVC: SDR-26 (preferred), SDR-35, C900
•  Vitrified Clay Pipe (VCP)
•  Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP)
• For trenchless work only, high-density polyethlene (HDPE) is also accepted

Do you provide any services for septic tanks?

Septic tanks are covered by the Environmental Health Services division of San Mateo County Health, under Water Protection  & Land Use.

Can you recommend a plumber?

We are unable to provide recommendations for individual businesses.

Is my plumber overcharging me?

We can't say; pricing is highly subjective, and plumbers set their rates based on a variety of different factors. For a broader perspective, we recommend getting quotes from at least three different plumbers before making a decision.

Does the sewer lateral need to be inspected before I can sell a property?

San Mateo County does not require a lateral inspection before selling a property in unincorporated County.

Incorporated towns and cities may have different regulations. For incorporated areas, please check with your local government for their requirements.