This Information Bulletin covers procedures for obtaining a permit to install water services, fire services, and/or sewer laterals.

I. Required Permits

A Right-of-Way Permit is required for work within the public right-of-way or a water/sewer easement. A construction plan, a drawing showing the general layout of the lot (see Figure 1 of Information Bulletin 165), is required. In addition to the items listed in Information Bulletin 165, the following must be included:

1. Street names and center lines.
2. Location, size, material, and as-built drawing number of water and/or sewer mains.
3. Show proposed water service(s), fire service(s), and/or sewer lateral(s), including their size(s).
4. Show separation between proposed services and laterals, and separation to nearby existing utilities and improvements (trees, driveways, curb inlets, curb ramps, street lights, etc).
5. For water and fire services, identify the method of connection to the water main (wet tap or tee cut-in) and add an item # callout on the plan view.
6. A Legend on the cover sheet showing the proposed improvements with referenced Standard Drawings and symbols.

For water and sewer main information, schedule an in-person Records Review appointment.  

Please note that projects proposing new or replacement water and/or sewer mains are required to be done on D-sheet plans instead.

II. Water and Fire Services

All water and fire service connections to a water main and the installation of water meters must be performed by the Public Utilities Department. All other work is the responsibility of the permittee. The connection to the main is done as either a wet tap or tee cut-in. 1” or 2” wet taps are allowed on water mains up to 16” in size. 4” wet taps are allowed on 8” to 12” water mains, except for projects in the Downtown area, which must be done with tee cut-in’s as well. 6” or larger services must be done with a tee cut-in. Note that service connections are not allowed to be made on transmission mains 20” or larger.

Standard minimum separation requirements are 2.5’ between small (1” or 2”) wet taps, 5’ between 4” wet taps, and 5’ between a tee cut-in and wet tap or another tee cut-in.

Water services must be located a minimum of 3’ from the flare/apron of a driveway.

Refer to the table below for water meter sizes and their corresponding service sizes. Note that ¾”, 1½”, and 3” services are not allowed.

When existing water and fire services are no longer being used, it’s necessary to kill the service (if 2” or smaller) or remove the tee from the main.

Standard wet tap and kill service inspection fees are found in the Fee Schedule for Water and Sewer. Tee cut-in and tee removal fees are special cost items that will be provided during review of the project.

III. Sewer Laterals

Unlike connections to water mains, sewer lateral connections can be made by a licensed contractor. 

• The minimum size for a sewer lateral is 4” and the size of the lateral cannot exceed the size of the sewer main.
• A typical 4” or 6” sewer lateral is connected to the sewer main using a wye or saddle. A saddle may only be used when connecting to sewer mains made of clay material.
• For 8” or larger sewer laterals, the connection to the main must be made with a sewer manhole. The only exception is for 8” laterals on 8” mains, which can be made with a wye connection (no saddle connection).
• Existing sewer laterals that will no longer be used must be identified on the plans to be capped at the property line by the contractor.
• Include a completed Sewer Lateral Table (see Sewer Design Guide section 2.7.5.3) on the plans for each proposed sewer lateral.

IV. Encroachment Conditions

In certain situations, a water service or sewer lateral must be installed under encroachment conditions, so they are considered private improvements and an Encroachment Maintenance Removal Agreement (EMRA) is required as part of the permit.

Water services and meters must remain public until after the meter. The water service after the meter is automatically considered privately maintained and does not need an EMRA unless it crosses adjacent to a neighbor’s property, such as when there is no water main fronting a property. In these situations, the meter and backflow are typically installed in front of a neighbor’s property, and the private water service is brought over to the subject property. Sewer laterals must be made private with an EMRA for the following situations:

1. Laterals connecting to a main within a sewer easement.
2. Laterals connected non-perpendicular to the main (except for cul-de-sacs). See Figure 1.
3. Laterals that propose vertical bend(s) between the cleanout and 1/8 bend drop to the main.
4. Laterals that cannot meet the minimum 2% slope.
5. Laterals that are not within the standard 5’ to 7’ depth of cover at the property line.
6. Laterals that must be installed within 10’ of trees.
7. Laterals within less than 3’ of the edge of a driveway.
8. Laterals that propose installing the cleanout on private property.
9. Additional laterals beyond the number of laterals allowed per Sewer Design Guide section 2.5.1(e).
10. Any other non-standard design.

Figure 1: Encroachment Conditions

V. Permit Issuance

Once the Right of Way permit has been issued, contact the DSD Water & Sewer reviewer on the permit to obtain a Sales Order for any proposed water connection items. Sales Orders must be paid in person through DSD Cashiers by booking an appointment online. There is no online payment option for Sales Orders. Once the Sales Order has been paid, you can schedule the work directly through the Public Utilities Department at 619-527-7424

VI. Inspections

Inspections are required for trenching in the public right of way. An inspection must be scheduled after the trench has been dug and before the proposed service is connected. A final inspection is required after all work is completed. Inspectors are available before construction begins. For more information or to schedule inspections, contact the Development Services Department Telecom and Utility Division at fit_dsd@sandiego.gov or 619-446-5242.