Which part of the pipe needs which permit?
PWD's Sewer Connection and Repair Manual splits the job by pipe segment:
- Sewer lateral, and the stub or slant where it meets the city sewer: PWD Sewer Connection Permit.
- Main house drain, curb trap and vent pipe: L&I Plumbing Permit.
The manual puts the line at the curb trap: the L&I permit covers on-site work up to and including the trap, and PWD's permit covers the lateral from there to the sewer. A quote that just says "replace sewer line" doesn't tell you which of these is in the job, so ask the plumber to write down where the work starts and ends and which permits they'll pull.
The permit is still needed even though you own the pipe. PWD's regulations say the owner owns and must maintain the property's whole drainage system and sewer connection, but the work has to be done by a licensed plumber. L&I's plumbing permit page says a licensed master plumber must oversee plumbing work, and it lists "stopping leaks and clearing stoppages" as exempt. Snaking or jetting a blocked line is exempt; digging up and replacing pipe is not. Our guide to which plumbing jobs need an L&I permit covers the rest of the exemptions.
Is it still a repair, or a new connection?
Replacing part or all of an existing lateral counts as a repair, and repairs skip PWD's Utility Plan Review and pre-permit step. But the manual says changing the lateral's size is automatically a new connection, which needs both Utility Plan and pre-permit approval. If the plumber suggests upsizing the pipe or adding fixtures or drainage area, ask what extra approvals and time that adds.
L&I treats some of this as simple paperwork. Its EZ permit list, which needs no plans, includes pipe repair, a new or replacement house drain serving one building, a new or replacement curb trap, and sealing a lateral. EZ still means a permit.
What the plumber files, and how fast
For a lateral repair, PWD's permit page says the plumber sends the Permit Unit their name and registered license number, the property's legal Office of Property Assessment address (no aliases), a current PA One Call number, the street opening size, and the lateral's size and type (sanitary, storm or combined). The minimum opening is 18 square feet, and extra cuts add 9 square feet at a time. Repairs can also be applied for in person at the PWD Permit Desk in the Municipal Services Building basement.
PWD needs at least one business day to send an invoice, so a permit can't be same-day. Once it's paid, it can't be edited; a mistake means a cancellation, refund and new application. In a true emergency, the manual lets the plumber start right away but requires all permits within three days of starting.
Street work and inspection
Most laterals run under the sidewalk or street. PWD says the plumber must also get lane-closure permits from the Streets Department and confirm street opening and backfill with the Highway District. If a dumpster or blocked parking is part of the job, our guide to street and dumpster permits explains those.
The plumber has to call PWD at least 48 hours before excavation to schedule the inspection, and a PWD inspector must watch from the start of the connection or repair until backfill is one foot over the city sewer. That means the trench shouldn't be filled before the inspector has seen the work. Off-hours emergency inspections can cost extra.
What to ask before you sign
- Which segments are you replacing, and which permits does that need: PWD, L&I, or both?
- Is this staying a repair, or does anything make it a new connection?
- Who gets the Streets Department permits, and are they in the price?
- When will you schedule the PWD inspection, and will I get copies of the issued permits and the inspection approval?
Ask for the issued permits, not just proof of an application. You can check L&I permits yourself; see how to track a Philadelphia permit or inspection.
Outside Philadelphia, the city's PWD and L&I rules don't apply. Bucks and Montgomery County townships and sewer authorities set their own lateral rules, so start with whoever bills you for sewer. Our guide to finding your Bucks County water or sewer provider shows how to look that up.