Do I need a permit to replace a sewer line in Rochester Hills?

Plan on one. Sewer and water permits and inspections run through the city's Department of Public Services. A dig in the public right-of-way needs a right-of-way permit first. The city inspects new sewer and water lines in an open trench before they are covered.

Is every Rochester Hills home on city sewer?

Not every one. The city says sanitary sewers are available to serve most properties, and a lot without sewer uses a septic system. Where sewer reaches the street, a home connects after a pre-inspection and the city's charges. Michigan law lets a city require that hookup within 18 months of its notice.

Does my Rochester Hills home have a lead water service line?

The city reports none. Its Department of Public Services finished a multi-year check of service lines and reported no lead pipe material. That covers the city's side, from the main to the curb stop. It also covers the owner's side, from the curb stop to the meter inside the house.

What does sewer line replacement cost in Rochester Hills?

The price turns on the length and depth of the lateral and on what the camera finds. A dig under a driveway or in the road right-of-way adds restoration and compacted sand backfill. The city sets its own permit and connection charges. We look at the job and put a free estimate in writing.

Sewer Line Replacement in Rochester Hills, MI | Sewer Line Repair, Water Service Lines and Excavation

Q: Who builds the sewer line from a Rochester Hills house to the street?

On a hookup, the owner's contractor lays the line from the house to the property line under a city permit. For each new sewer main, city standards call for leads to 2 feet past the property line. The Department of Public Services can confirm the split on your street. A camera inspection shows the condition of the whole run.

How Old Are the Sewer Laterals Under Rochester Hills Homes?

Rochester Hills was Avon Township until it became a city in 1984. That is also the median year built for its homes, by Census figures. About 27 percent of homes date from the 1980s and 21 percent from the 1970s. About 11 percent were built before 1960.

The city's 2025 master plan says many Avondale areas hold more older homes than elsewhere, with a country-like feel. It also names the Brooklands, Glidewell and Belle Cone Gardens as older areas with narrow lots. There, about 30 to 40 percent of lots are 60 feet wide or less.

Some homes are far older: the Stoney Creek Historic District holds houses from the 1830s to the 1990s. Whatever the age, a camera inspection shows the actual condition of the line before anyone digs. A plumber or drain cleaner clears a simple clog. We repair or replace the line when the pipe itself has failed.

Sewer Permits and Lateral Rules in Rochester Hills

The city's Department of Public Services handles water and sewer permits, inspections and connections. Any dig in the public right-of-way needs a city right-of-way permit first. City standards call for a 60-foot right-of-way on a public subdivision road, about 30 feet each side of center. We call MISS DIG 811 at least three business days before any dig.

City standards give each building its own sewer lead, at least 6 inches across. They also set a 1 percent minimum slope, and new 6-inch leads are solid PVC. For each new sewer main, the standards call for leads to 2 feet past the property line. Where a new home has no lead, a right-of-way permit to tap the main comes before plot plan approval.

For a new hookup, the city issues a permit for the line from the house to the property line. The Department of Public Services can confirm who handles which stretch of your lateral. Under driveways and roads, the city calls for Class II sand backfill compacted to 95 percent of maximum density. We leave the trench open for the inspection, then backfill in compacted lifts.

Storm pipes are owned differently here than in some communities. The city says the sump line discharge from each lot belongs to the property owner. Shared storm pipes, structures and basins belong to the development they serve.

Moving a Rochester Hills Home From Septic to City Sewer

The city says sanitary sewers are available to serve most properties in Rochester Hills. A home still on septic can connect once sewer on its street is approved and notice is published. The Building Department first approves a pre-inspection, good for six months. Then the owner pays the city's capital and lateral charges, in full or over 20 years with a lien.

With the charges paid, the city issues the permit, and all of the work is inspected. Under Oakland County's code, the old tank is pumped out, then crushed or filled with sand and compacted. A pumping company empties it, then we crush or fill the tank and restore the yard.

Where a lot has no sewer, the city's building guide calls for a septic system built to Oakland County standards. We handle septic system installation on those lots, built to the owner's Oakland County Health Division permit.

Water Lines, Demolition and Driveways in Rochester Hills

Rochester Hills is part of the North Oakland County Water Authority, and its water comes from Lake Huron. After a multi-year inventory, the city reports no lead service lines, on the public side or the private side. For a home coming off a well, city crews tap the main and run a line to the property line. We lay the water service line from the house at the 1-inch size and five-foot depth the city calls for.

The city's master plan says narrow lots in its older areas stay buildable. The city has also seen more questions about splitting lots. A building permit is required to demolish a structure over 200 square feet. The city's demolition application asks for shut-off notices for gas, electric, water and sewer.

An old pool comes out under its own city guide, with walls taken down at least 2 feet below grade. The bottom is broken so water can drain. We handle demolition and old pool removal and grade the lot for what comes next.

Rochester Hills needs no building permit to replace a driveway on private property. The apron in the road right-of-way may need a right-of-way permit, and the city posts its own approach specifications. After a sewer or water dig, we pour the new concrete driveway or apron to those specifications.