Plumber in Lents: Portland Sewer Permits, the 30 Day Repair Notice and Liens

In Lents, you own the pipe from the house to the curb

Portland's page on broken sewer and drain lines says the property owner is responsible for the sewer line from the house to the curb, and the City maintains the line from the main to the curb. That is the same split many cities use, and it tells you where a camera needs to look.

The practical result is that a backup from your house is yours until a recording shows the defect past the curb. Ask the plumber to note where on the line the problem sits.

Two permits for one sewer line

All sewer line repairs need a permit, an inspection and approval before the pipe is covered. The City's page names two: a plumbing permit for the part from the house to the property line, and a right-of-way permit for the part from the property line to the curb.

So a repair that reaches the street can need both. Ask the plumber which permits the job needs, who applies, and when the inspector will see the open trench.

Lents sewer repair notice: 30 days before a City lien

When the City notifies you that your line is broken, the page says you have 30 days to repair it or ask for more time. After that, the City may make the repair and put a lien on the property for the cost.

If you receive a notice, call a plumber that day. A camera recording, a quote and a permit application are what make a request for more time credible. The sewer line repair page explains each.

Who may do sewer work in Portland

The City's page says only the property owner or a licensed plumbing contractor may do sewer work. Ask a plumber for the license details and check the CCB side through the CCB license search.

The page also tells you to call before you dig, which applies to any excavation, including exploratory digging to find a lateral.

What to do the day a Lents sewer notice arrives

A City notice starts the 30 day period, so the first day matters. Read it for the date, the address and what the City says it found. Take a photo of it.

Then get a camera inspection on the schedule. Ask the plumber for the recording, the distance to each defect and a written repair plan. With those, you can apply for the permits and ask for more time if the repair cannot be finished within the period.

The page on sewer camera inspection describes the repair choices, and the trenchless option may fit a lateral that is cracked but still in line.

Deciding between repair and replacement for an older Lents lateral

An older line may have several defects. A camera helps you decide whether one spot repair makes sense or whether the whole run should be replaced, since spot repairs on a failing pipe can leave the next weak joint a few feet away.

Ask the plumber to price both and explain what the camera showed that supports the recommendation. A plumber who recommends full replacement should be able to point to the recording.

Both choices need a permit and an inspection before the pipe is covered.

Old galvanized supply pipe in Lents homes

Older houses sometimes still have galvanized steel supply pipe, which corrodes from the inside. Signs include low pressure at several fixtures, brownish water after a period of non-use and visible rust at joints.

A plumber can confirm the pipe material in a minute by looking at an exposed section. If you have it, the PEX repiping page explains how to compare materials and what a quote should name.

Replacing the supply pipe is also a plumbing permit job, so ask who applies and when the inspector sees the open walls.

Water heater trouble in a Lents house

No hot water, lukewarm water or a rumbling tank each point to a different fault. A tripped breaker or a failed element or thermostat may be repairable, while a leak from the tank is not.

The water heater repair page explains which symptoms point to a repair and which to a replacement. For a tank that is leaking, shut off the water and power or gas first.

Ask whether a replacement includes the relief valve and discharge line, and whether a permit applies.

Whichever repair you choose, keep the permit, the inspection approval and the camera recording together. If the City writes again or a buyer asks about the sewer later, those three papers settle the question quickly, and they show the work was done under permit and inspected before the pipe was covered.

Is your Lents address in our service area?

Common Lents jobs, by page

• Recurring clogs: read about sewer line hydro jetting and drain cleaning.
• A cracked or collapsed pipe: see trenchless pipe lining.
• A leaking water heater: the water heater troubleshooting page covers when to replace.
• An old galvanized supply line: read about supply pipe replacement.

What to have ready for a Lents call

• Whether you have received a City notice, and its date.
• Which drains are slow or backing up.
• Where your cleanout is, if you know.
• Your address, so the person who answers can confirm the service area.

Lents questions