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Sewer Camera Inspection & Lateral Repair in University City, MO

University City's program needs a video inspection of your lateral with the application, so the camera inspection comes first.

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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.

How University City's program works

  1. Clear the line and document it. Submit the checklist and application, a videotaped inspection of the sewer lateral, a sketch showing the defect, and any other documentation. Incomplete packages are not accepted.
  2. City review: the City approves or denies in writing within 10 days of receiving the application.
  3. Bidding: the City writes repair specifications and sends them to at least 3 participating University City drainlayers, then approves the lowest responsible bid.
  4. Scheduling: after you sign, the City issues a purchase order, typically within 5 working days. The contractor then contacts you within 5 working days to collect your share and set a date.
  5. Payment: the City pays the contractor the first $2,500 of the approved work after final inspection. The rest is the homeowner's.

The program applies to residential buildings of up to 6 units and is limited to available funds. It covers excavation, the repair itself, backfill, pavement, and seeding and strawing. It does not cover pipe inside or under the home, or landscaping. Cabling and video inspection costs are not counted toward the repair. A lateral counts as defective if it has a sewage backup that cabling can't clear, if a break or offset has caused a sinkhole, or if it is more than 50% blocked by damage, roots or debris. Questions: 314-505-8570.

Sources: University City SLRP page, University City program information (PDF).

Where a contractor fits in University City

  • The video inspection and defect sketch your application needs
  • Clearing a backup, which the program doesn't pay for
  • The balance above $2,500. The City describes typical lateral repairs as about $3,000 to $8,500 (University City).
  • A pre-purchase scope. About 38% of University City housing units were built before 1940, and the median year built is 1949 (ACS 2020-2024).

Questions

How much does University City pay toward a sewer lateral repair?

The first $2,500 of the approved repair, paid directly to the approved contractor. The homeowner pays the rest (University City).

Who picks the repair contractor in University City?

The City writes the specifications, bids them to at least 3 participating University City drainlayers and approves the lowest responsible bid (University City).

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.

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