STL Sewer Camera · St. Louis metroCall: (314) 916-4983

Sewer Camera Inspection & Lateral Repair in South City, St. Louis

South City homes, from Carondelet and Dutchtown to Holly Hills, Bevo, Southampton and St. Louis Hills, are inside the City of St. Louis, so the City's Sewer Lateral Repair Program applies to the part of your line under the public right-of-way.

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STL Sewer Camera is a referral service, not a plumbing company. We pass your request to an independent, licensed local sewer contractor, who quotes and does the work.

Backup or cave-in: the City's process

  1. Report a cave-in in the street, sidewalk or alley to the City. A street inspector looks at it and checks with MSD whether the public sewer main is the cause (City SLRP).
  2. If the main is fine, the problem is the lateral. Hire a plumber licensed in the City of St. Louis to inspect it with a camera.
  3. If the break is under the right-of-way, send the plumber's statement and video to the Street Department (Attn: SLRP, 1900 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139; stlstreetdept@stlouis-mo.gov, with "SLRP" and the property address in the subject; or fax (314) 768-2888). The Department's phone number is (314) 647-3111.
  4. The City schedules the repair by severity. Properties with wastewater backing up are the highest priority. Others go in the order they were registered.

Who qualifies, and what's not covered

  • Residential properties of 6 units or fewer, with real estate taxes paid (back taxes must be paid first), that are assessed the $28 sewer lateral fee on the tax bill
  • Not covered: breaks under private property (the yard side of the line), and clearing clogs or tree roots on any part of the line

Source for this section: City of St. Louis Sewer Lateral Repair Program.

Why South City lines fail

About 58% of housing units in the City were built before 1940 (ACS 2020-2024). The City says many of its sewer lines are over 100 years old, are made of clay pipe, and can shift as the ground settles (City SLRP). Roots get in through cracked or separated clay joints. MSD advises against planting trees or large shrubs near the lateral (MSD).

Where a contractor fits

  • Clearing a backup (the City program doesn't pay for this)
  • The licensed plumber's camera inspection and video that the City requires
  • Repairs on the private-property side of the line, which are the owner's cost

Questions

Will the City of St. Louis fix the sewer line in my yard?

No. The City program covers severe breaks only in the section under the public right-of-way. Breaks under private property are the homeowner's responsibility (City SLRP).

Does the City program pay to clear roots or a clog?

No. The City says the program does not cover clearing clogs or tree roots on any portion of the lateral (City SLRP).

Get a local sewer pro

Call (314) 916-4983 or send a request with your address, the problem and your timeline. It's free to ask and you don't have to hire.

Related pages

Sources

Program details were checked against these pages on October 28, 2026. Programs change, so confirm with your city or county before work starts. This site isn't affiliated with any government program or MSD.

Call (314) 916-4983