This step-by-step process guides owners of residential properties with three or fewer units that are served by the Laguna Beach Sewer System (located north of Cardinal Drive) through the Private Sewer Lateral Inspection and available incentives.

1. City notifies property owner to inspect their private sewer lateral. Property owner may receive a Notice of Participation via a door hanger or letter from the City or be required to inspect their private sewer lateral during a permitting process.

2. Property owner arranges for a qualified plumber to complete an Inspection Report. Inspection Reports include a diagnostic video of the entire private sewer lateral. Property owners may select a plumber of their choosing as long as they meet the City's requirements. The City also maintains a list of pre-certified plumbers; however, the City does not warrant nor guarantee the work of any specific plumber or plumbing company.

3. Plumber submits an initial Inspection Report to the City’s online platform. Before any work on the private sewer lateral is done, the plumber who inspected the private sewer lateral submits an initial Inspection Report using the City’s online platform. The Inspection Report must be submitted within fourteen (14) days of the inspection. Property owners are encouraged to provide an email address to their plumber, so they also receive automated emails regarding the inspection.

4. Public Works and Utilities Department staff reviews the Inspection Report and provides an assessment. Public Works and Utilities Department staff will assess if the private sewer lateral does or does not need additional work, or if the Inspection Report has a technical problem or was completed incorrectly.  The assessment will be posted to the City’s online platform and the property owner and plumber will be notified via email.

5. Private sewer lateral passes inspection and a Certificate of Compliance is issued, or repair and/or replacement is needed. If the private sewer lateral passes inspection, the Public Works and Utilities Department will issue a Certificate of Compliance with an expiration date for when another inspection must be performed by and no further action by the property owner is needed at this time. A copy of the Inspection Report, including its video, will be included in the property’s Real Property Report. If repair and/or replacement of the private sewer lateral is needed, the Public Works and Utilities Department staff will provide further information on the maintenance work needed; proceed to step 6.

6. Property owner submits a Private Sewer Lateral Incentive application to the Public Works and Utilities Department. Under this program, property owners may be eligible for reimbursement of 50% of private sewer lateral repair and replacement costs up to $1,600. It is preferred for applications to be submitted electronically by emailing a completed application to waterquality@lagunabeachcity.net, but hard copies may be submitted by hand at 479 Ocean Avenue or via mail to 505 Forest Avenue. Applications must be submitted to the Public Works and Utilities Department and receive conditional approval (a Notice to Proceed) from the Public Works and Utilities Department before any work on the private sewer lateral is done. Details on how to apply and eligible properties and costs are found on the Private Sewer Lateral Incentive Program webpage.

7. Property owner receives Conditional Approval (Notice to Proceed) or Notice of Ineligibility to Participate. Public Works and Utilities Department staff reviews the application and, via email, issues a conditional approval of the application or a Notice of Ineligibility to Participate. All repair and replacement work must be completed within ninety (90) days of the conditional approval date.  If the application does not meet the incentive program’s criteria, then a Notice of Ineligibility to Participate will be issued and the property owner follows the process for commercial properties, industrial properties, and residential properties with four or more units starting at Step 6.

8. Property owner arranges for a qualified plumber to perform maintenance work and to submit a new, post-work Inspection Report to the City via its online platform. Work will most likely require permits; all required permits must be obtained, or applicable fee(s) will be assessed. Property owners are encouraged to provide their email address, so they also receive automated emails regarding the inspection. The Inspection Report must be submitted within fourteen (14) days of the inspection, and all work must be completed within ninety (90) days of the conditional approval date.

9. Public Works and Utilities Department staff reviews the new, post-work Inspection Report and provides an assessment. The property owner and plumber will be notified of staff’s assessment via email. Public Works and Utilities Department staff will assess if the private sewer lateral passes inspection or needs further work, or if the Inspection Report has a technical problem or was completed incorrectly.  Once Public Works and Utilities Department staff determines the private sewer lateral passes inspection, proceed to step 10. 

10. Property owner submits a request for reimbursement to Public Works and Utilities Department. It is preferred to submit a reimbursement request electronically by emailing the Public Works and Utilities Department at waterquality@lagunabeachcity.net, but hard copies may be submitted by hand at 479 Ocean Avenue or via mail to 505 Forest Avenue. The Request for Reimbursement must be received within ninety (90) days of the issuance of the conditional approval and include:

    • A completed, signed Form W‐9* with property owner’s (recipient’s) information;
    • Copies of paid-in-full invoices for private sewer lateral work; and
    • Proof of payment of those invoices, such as voided checks and credit card statements.
      
      

    *Please note that incentive payments, like this one, are subject to IRS reporting regulations. As such, a completed Form W‐9 must be submitted for reimbursement, and a Form 1099 may be issued to the recipient.

    Further details on how to request a reimbursement, including via mail and hand delivery, are found on the Private Sewer Lateral Incentive webpage.

11. Public Works and Utilities Department staff issues a Certificate of Compliance and reimbursement.  The submittals will be reviewed within five (5) business days and Public Works and Utilities Department staff will email the property owner: (1) their Certificate of Compliance; and (2) a confirmation of their reimbursement amount and payment timeline. The Certificate of Compliance will have an expiration date for when another inspection must be performed by; no further action by the property owner is needed at this time. A copy of the Inspection Report, including its video, will be added to your property’s Real Property Report. 

12. Property owner receives a reimbursement check in the mail. A check for the Private Sewer Lateral Incentive Program reimbursement will come in the mail within four (4) weeks of receiving the reimbursement confirmation email.

This step-by-step process guides owners of commercial properties, industrial properties, and residential properties with four or more units or those not served by the Laguna Beach Sewer System (south of Cardinal Drive) through the Private Sewer Lateral Inspection Program.

1. Property owner is notified to inspect their private sewer lateral by the City. Property owner may receive a Notice of Participation via a door hanger or letter from the City or be required to inspect their private sewer lateral during a permitting process.

2. Property owner arranges for a qualified plumber to complete an Inspection Report. Inspection Reports include a diagnostic video of the entire private sewer lateral. Property owners may select a plumber of their choosing as long as they meet the City's requirements. The City also maintains a list of pre-certified plumbers; however, the City does not warrant nor guarantee the work of any specific plumber or plumbing company.

3. Plumber submits Inspection Report to the City via its online platform. The Inspection Report must be submitted within fourteen (14) days of the inspection. Property owners are encouraged to provide their email address, so they also receive automated emails regarding the inspection.

4. Public Works and Utilities Department staff reviews the Inspection Report and provides an assessment. Public Works and Utilities Department staff will assess if the private sewer lateral does or does not need additional work, or if the Inspection Report has a technical problem or was completed incorrectly.  The assessment will be posted to the City’s online platform and the property owner and plumber will be notified via email.

5. Private sewer lateral passes inspection and a Certificate of Compliance is issued, or repair and/or replacement is needed. If the private sewer lateral passes inspection, the Public Works and Utilities Department will issue a Certificate of Compliance with an expiration date for when another inspection must be performed by and no further action by the property owner is needed at this time. A copy of the Inspection Report, including its video, will be included in the property’s Real Property Report. If repair and/or replacement of the private sewer lateral is needed, the Public Works and Utilities Department staff will provide further information on the maintenance work needed; proceed to step 6. 

6. Property owner arranges for a qualified plumber to perform maintenance work and submit a new, post-work Inspection Report to the City via its online platform. Work will most likely require permits; all required permits must be obtained or applicable fee(s) will be assessed. Property owners are encouraged to provide their email address, so they also receive automated emails regarding the inspection. The Inspection Report must be submitted within fourteen (14) days of the inspection.

7. Public Works and Utilities Department staff reviews the new, post-work Inspection Report and provides an assessment. The property owner and plumber will be notified of staff’s assessment via email. Public Works and Utilities Department staff will assess if the private sewer lateral passes inspection or needs further work, or if the Inspection Report has a technical problem or was completed incorrectly.  Once Public Works and Utilities Department staff determines the private sewer lateral passes inspection, proceed to step 8.

8. Public Works and Utilities Department staff issues a Certificate of Compliance. Public Works and Utilities Department staff will email the property owner a copy of their Certificate of Compliance. The Certificate of Compliance will have an expiration date for when another inspection must be performed by; no further action by the property owner is needed at this time. A copy of the Inspection Report, including its video, will be added to your property’s Real Property Report. 

Applications must receive conditional approval (Notice to Proceed) by the City before any private sewer lateral repair and/or replacement work starts. The application is found here. It is recommended for applications to be electronically submitted to the City via email to waterquality@lagunabeachcity.net; below are all submission options. Applicants will be informed of their status via an email from waterquality@lagunabeachcity.net. A set-by-step guide to this process is provided on the Private Sewer Laterals webpage, including information for owners of residential properties with three or fewer units.

Incentive participants must cooperate with the City by adhering to the incentive’s terms and conditions:

• An Inspection Report must be submitted to the City via its online platform prior to beginning any repair, replacement, or other work on the private sewer lateral unless a waiver in writing is granted by the Public Works and Utilities Department. Waivers will be granted on a case-by-case basis.
• Applicant must wait to receive conditional approval (Notice to Proceed) from the Public Works and Utilities Department before beginning any repair or replacement work.
• All repair, replacement, and other work must obtain all the necessary permits. If work is performed without the required permits, penalty fees will be assessed.
• Work must be completed within ninety (90) days of the Notice to Proceed date.
• Post-work Inspection Report, plumbing invoices, proof of payment, and Form W-9 must be submitted within ninety (90) days of the Notice to Proceed date.
• Funds will be obligated for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days from Notice to Proceed date. The obligation period includes all work, post-work inspection, payment to the plumber by property owner, and request for reimbursement.
• For reimbursement to be granted, property owners must provide:
  • Copies of paid‐in‐full invoice(s) from a qualified plumber;
  • Proof of payment of the invoice(s) (such as a canceled check or credit card statement); and
  • A completed, signed Form W‐9 with property owner’s (recipient’s) information. Please note that incentive payments, like this reimbursement, are subject to IRS reporting regulations. As such, a completed Form W‐9 must be submitted for reimbursement, and a Form 1099 may be issued to the recipient.
• Reimbursement is on a first come, first qualified, and first served basis.
• Incomplete applications may result in processing and reimbursement payment delays or no reimbursement payment.

The Public Works and Utilities Director, or their designee, may offer extensions and make other exceptions if the property owner makes a request and presents good cause for the request.