Sewer line repair in Houston: costs, methods and who is responsible

These national figures come from HomeAdvisor's June 2026 sewer line guide. They are not Houston-only prices, and depth, length, driveways and slab foundations can push a real quote higher.

HomeAdvisor also notes that a cracked pipe is often better replaced than patched. A camera inspection is worth paying for before any of this; HomeAdvisor's plumbing inspection guide gives a higher range of $250 to $1,175 for a camera inspection, so ask what the price includes.

Houston Public Works says problems with private wastewater pipes, which are typically closer to the home, are the homeowner's responsibility, and problems with public pipes or those in the public right-of-way are the city's. The sewer cleanout marks the limit of the public collection system. The city describes cleanouts as typically white plastic pipe with a threaded or pull-off cap, sometimes under a metal cover, found along public spaces.

That cleanout is also your first diagnostic tool. If a toilet backs up, the city says to check it: sewage standing at the cleanout means a public-side problem to report to 311; no sewage there means the blockage is on your private line.

• Several drains slow or backing up at once, especially the lowest fixtures.
• Gurgling toilets or sewage odor in the yard.
• Soggy or unusually green patches over the line.
• Clogs that come back soon after the line is cleaned, often a sign of roots, a sag or a break.

Older Houston homes may still have cast iron drains under the slab. Our cast iron pipe guide covers how they fail.

• Open trench means digging along the pipe and replacing it. It is straightforward but disturbs the yard, driveway or floor above it.
• Cured-in-place lining pulls a resin-soaked liner through the old pipe and hardens it in place, forming a new pipe inside the old one.
• Pipe bursting pulls a new pipe through the old one, breaking the old pipe outward as it goes.

Trenchless methods need a pipe that the equipment can pass through, so a camera inspection usually comes first. Ask each contractor to show you the video and mark the problem sections.

The Houston Permitting Center requires a sewer connection permit obtained by a master plumber registered with the City of Houston. It lists a $53.71 fee with a $97.56 minimum permit fee plus a $33.56 admin fee, and says plan review and inspection are required. Repairs to an existing leak are exempt from permits under Texas Occupations Code Section 1301.551, so ask the plumber in writing which applies to your job.

Any digging needs a utility locate first. Texas811 says Texas law requires excavators to contact 811 at least two business days before excavating, even in your own backyard, and that the service is free. A reputable sewer contractor will handle this.

• Check the plumber and the company's Responsible Master Plumber in the Texas plumbing license search.
• Get at least two written quotes based on the same camera footage, with the method, length of pipe, cleanup and permit spelled out.
• Ask what is warranted and for how long, and whether yard, driveway or floor restoration is included.
• Follow the Texas Attorney General's advice: do not pay in full until the work is finished and you have inspected it, and for homestead improvements over $5,000 expect the contractor to deposit your payments in a construction account, as Texas law requires.

We are an independent guide and do not repair sewer lines. To reach a plumber, call one of the licensed contractors listed on this page or see all listed contractors. If you prefer, email us through the contact page.