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Default rule and exceptions
LADWP's water Service Connection runs from the distribution main to the meter or shutoff valve, and the Department's control and responsibility ends at its shut-off valve or meter; the Customer's lines and pipes lie beyond that point.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | The Customer's lines and pipes connect to the Service Connection; the Department does not assume the duty of inspecting them. |
| City / utility | Service Connections, meters and valves installed by the Department are the City's property and are maintained at the Department's expense unless the Rules provide otherwise. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Oct 9, 2026.
The Department's control and responsibility ends at its shut-off valve or meter, and the Department will in no case be liable for loss or damage on the Premises served
All Service Connections, meters and valves, and housings installed by the Department or conveyed to the Department, however provided for, shall be the sole property of the City under the control of the Department, and will be maintained at the Department's expense except as otherwise provided in these Rules.
A water Service Connection consists of the pipe or tubing, fittings, valves, and related facilities necessary to conduct water from the distribution main to the meter or to the shutoff valve on an unmetered Service Connection
The Department does not assume the duty of inspecting the Customer's lines, pipes, appliances or apparatus, or any part thereof, nor assume any liability therefore.
City rules rest on state law. Read California's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for water service line in Los Angeles, CA?
Responsibility is shared. The Customer's lines and pipes connect to the Service Connection; the Department does not assume the duty of inspecting them.
What is this based on for Los Angeles, CA?
This verdict is sourced to Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Rule No. 16 (Responsibility for Loss or Damage) and 4 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Rule No. 16 (Responsibility for Loss or Damage)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-09
- Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Rule No. 16 (Ownership)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-09
- Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Definitionsstatute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-09
- Rules Governing Water and Electric Service, Inspection of Customer's Facilitiesstatute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-09
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Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source? Tell us. Corrections that check out are applied, with the change shown in history. That is our standing policy.