What To Do If You Have a Sewer Backup

Damage to Your Home or Contents

In the event of a sewer backup, contact your home insurance provider to confirm what your homeowner’s policy covers. Your insurance agent can advise you on cleanup and how to protect your belongings from further damage. Please note that the City is not responsible for reimbursing you for any damage to your home or its contents.

Fixing the Sewer Backup Problem

If you have a sewer backup, you have two options available to fix the problem. You can call the City and have them contract a plumber to fix it, or you can call a plumber of your choice to fix it. 

Option 1: Call the City

• Call 311 to report a sewer backup.
• A contracted service will be sent to assess the problem. The service will clear the blockage if possible and perform a closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection of the sewer service. You will receive a video of the inspection for your records.
• If the City's review of your documentation confirms the blockage occurred beyond your property line, you may be eligible for reimbursement of plumbing costs.
• If the blockage is found to have occurred within your property, the plumbing costs are your responsibility, and you will be invoiced for the plumbing expense. An explanation of the assessment will be provided.

Option 2: Hire a plumber of your choice 

• Call a contractor of your choice
• Should you and your plumber determine the blockage is located beyond your property line, you must submit a sewer backup reimbursement application to the City to determine if you qualify for reimbursement.
• The City will review the reimbursement application and, if your application meets the requirements, you will be reimbursed according to the policy.