New Ventura Ordinance re Private Sewer Lateral Inspections

The following is taken from the San Buenaventura Code of Ordinances, Chapter 22.250 titled Private Sewer Laterals.  Please see the City of Ventura website for more information.

Section 22.250.050

B. Inspection and report prior to sale of property. A property owner shall have the private sewer lateral inspected by a licensed plumber prior to and as a condition precedent to any sale of the property. An inspection report meeting the requirements of this chapter shall be prepared and submitted to the 

buyer, with a copy to the city, prior to any sale of the property. No inspection shall be required 

pursuant to this subsection if the owner can demonstrate that either i) an inspection was already 

completed within the preceding ten years or, ii) that the lateral was constructed within the last ten 

years. This subsection shall become effective on January 1, 2014. 

C. Inspection and report for common interest developments and commercial properties. In addition to 

the requirements of section 22.250.050.A. and B., the property owner or property owners of any 

common interest development or commercial property shall have the private sewer lateral inspected 

in accordance with the requirements of this chapter once every ten years beginning January 1 of the 

year following the adoption of this chapter. A copy of the inspection report shall be provided to the 

city within 30 days of the property owner's receipt of the report. 

D. Inspection and inspection report requirements. All inspections and inspection reports required by this chapter shall be completed in accordance with the following requirements: 

1. The inspection and inspection report shall be completed by a licensed plumber. 

2. The inspection shall include, at a minimum, a CCTV inspection of the private sewer lateral. 

3. The inspection and inspection report shall identify, as applicable, the severity and location of all 

of the following: 

(a) Displaced joints, open joints, root intrusion, substantial deterioration of the line, cracks, 

leaks, inflow or infiltration of extraneous water, sediment deposits or other conditions likely 

to cause or contribute to blockage of the private lateral or the public sewer. 

(b) Any connection by pipe or otherwise, that allows rainwater or groundwater to enter the 

private lateral or public sewer. 

(c) Any backwater device installed in the private sewer lateral and the condition of the 

backwater device. 

(d) All corrective actions that must be taken to maintain, repair or replace the private sewer 

lateral and the estimated time and cost associated with such maintenance, repair or 

replacement. 

4. The inspection report shall contain either a printed image, DVD, or other suitable electronic 

recording of the CCTV inspection of the private sewer lateral in a format acceptable to the city. 

Posted in: Private Sewer Lateral Inspection, Sale of Ventura Property, Ventura Ordinances, Ventura Real Estate