Homeowners Associations (HOAs), condominiums, and other planned developments must maintain and verify their private sewer laterals (PSLs), just like any other property. The deadline to certify all PSLs that an HOA is responsible for was July 12, 2021.
HOAs must submit a complete and accurate Statement of Responsibility (SOR) that matches their Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs), even if the HOA is not responsible for maintaining the PSL.
Parcels or Parcel Groups with Sewer Laterals Exceeding 1,000 Feet
1. If you are an Homeowners’ Association (HOA) – Submit a Statement of Responsibility (SOR)
This is a document that clearly explains who is responsible for maintaining the sewer lines. It must match what is written in the HOA’s governing documents (CC&Rs). If you are not an HOA skip to step 2.
2. Submit a Condition Assessment Plan (CAP)
This plan must include:
- A list of all parcels involved, including their addresses
- A map that shows where the sewer lines are located, length and diameter
The deadline to submit a plan that explains the current condition of your sewer lines was:
- July 12, 2016, if you bought or otherwise became owner of a property (or a parcel group) before July 12, 2016
- November 20, 2019, if you bought or otherwise became owner of a property (or a parcel group) after July 12, 2016, or
- Within 180 days of buying or otherwise gaining ownership of a property (or a parcel group) with more than 1,000 feet of sewer lines
3. Submit a Corrective Action Work Plan (CAWP)
This plan must:
- Identify which sewer lines need repair or replacement, including their location, length, and material
- Explain what work will be done to bring the sewer system up to required standards
The deadline to submit a plan that describes how you will fix or replace sewer lines was:
- July 12, 2021, or
- Within 24 months of gaining ownership of a property (or a parcel group) with more than 1,000 feet of sewer lines
4. Deadline to Pass Sewer Testing
All private sewer lines must pass a required verification test by:
- July 12, 2026, or
- July 12, 2029, if:
- The property has more than 5,000 feet of sewer lines, or
- More than half of the sewer lines (by total length) need to be replaced
Resources
| Document | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Condition Assessment Corrective Action Work Plans Template 2025 | Excel | <1 MB |
| PSLParcel1000FeetGuidelines | <1 MB | |
| Guidelines For Condominiums And Other Common Interest Developments | <1 MB |
Changing the Allocation of Responsibility for PSL Maintenance
If an HOA makes any change that affects who is responsible for maintaining private sewer laterals (PSLs), the HOA must notify EBMUD by submitting an updated Statement of Responsibility within 30 days of making the change. The following rules apply:
- If the HOA increases the length of PSL it is responsible for: Within two years of the change, the HOA must pass a verification test and obtain a Compliance Certificate for the additional portion of the PSL.
- If the HOA decreases the length of PSL it is responsible for: Before making the change, the HOA must pass a verification test and obtain a Compliance Certificate for the portion of the PSL it is giving up responsibility for, unless there is already a valid, unexpired Compliance Certificate for that portion.
If the HOA system includes both shared and individually owned laterals: The HOA was required to comply by the 2021 deadline, while individual owners must obtain a Compliance Certificate when one of the three compliance triggers occurs. Before selling a home or condominium, owners should review the HOA’s CC&Rs to understand their responsibilities.