In short
- One Ottawa firm puts a household sewer line at $3,500 to $20,000, or about $60 to $200 per foot.
- Canada-wide, HomeStars lists a sewer main line repair at $1,310–$5,250 and a new sewer main at $1,850–$6,000.
- The City owns the lateral from the property line to the street; the homeowner owns it from the property line to the house.
- Repair, relining and replacement on the private side are billed by the contractor to the homeowner, and a building permit may be required.
- Connecting sump pumps, foundation drains or downspouts to the sanitary sewer is prohibited under the City's Sewer Connection By-law.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Household sewer line, repair or replacement | $3,500–$20,000 | One Ottawa firm’s page; about $60–$200 per foot |
| Sewer main line repair | $1,310–$5,250 | Canada-wide HomeStars guide |
| Sewer main installation | $1,850–$6,000 | Canada-wide HomeStars guide |
| Drain line repair | $330–$1,350 | Canada-wide HomeStars guide |
| Sewer camera inspection | $400–$660 | Canada-wide HomeStars guide; comes before the repair decision |
Sources. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa, trenchless sewer line repair, seen 29.10.2026 (one firm’s figures). Mr. Rooter, signs you need main sewer line repair, 14.02.2025, seen 29.10.2026. Mr. Rooter, sewer line replacement, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Guide to Plumbing Costs in Canada, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa: Responsibility for sewer laterals, Responsibility for the repair costs, Causes of basement flooding, Homeowners: what you do at home matters, seen 29.10.2026. Skilled Trades Ontario, Plumber, seen 29.10.2026.
Signs the line itself has failed
Several fixtures acting up together points to the main line. One Ottawa firm lists slow drains, recurring clogs, gurgling toilets, foul odour, sewage surfacing on the lawn and wet patches. A repair decision starts with a camera: see camera inspection for what the video shows.
The City of Ottawa’s list of lateral blockages runs from grease, paper, kitchen waste and lost objects, through roots from private or City trees, to collapse, misalignment and a clogged backwater valve. Cleaning fixes the first group. A collapse or misalignment needs repair.
The repair methods
- Pipe lining. An epoxy-coated tube is inflated inside the old pipe and cured. The firm says it is the simplest option when damage is minor, with installation taking a few hours and curing up to 24 hours.
- Pipe bursting. A cone-shaped head breaks the old pipe while a new one is pulled in behind it. It suits lines too damaged to line, and costs more and takes longer.
- Open excavation. Used when the damage is too severe for trenchless work. It means digging up the lawn, driveway or floor.
One Ottawa firm says relining starts with one or two small access holes, and bursting with two. Tell the company which lawn, patio or floor must stay intact.
What drives the price
One Ottawa firm says a household sewer line costs $3,500 to $20,000, about $60 to $200 per foot. Length, depth, pipe material and method all change it. The Canada-wide guide gives $1,310–$5,250 for sewer main line repair and $1,850–$6,000 for a new sewer main, and the company sets your price after it sees the camera video.
A quote should list restoration, permit fees and the camera separately, or say they are included.
Who owns which part of the pipe
Ottawa draws the line at the property line. From there to the street, the lateral is the City’s responsibility; from there to your foundation, it is yours. A repair that straddles the line may be shared.
As a rule a lateral blockage costs the homeowner, and the contractor bills you directly for repair, relining or replacement. Two cases flip it: roots from a City-owned tree, or damage on City property. Then the City carries the cost, and if you paid first, its Claims Unit refunds you up to the rate the City pays its own contractor. The camera video with a measured distance is the evidence.
Rules for the work
A building permit may be required under the Building Code Act. The Sewer Connection By-law bans connecting sump pumps, foundation drains or downspouts to the sanitary sewer, and homeowners are accountable for keeping their private line compliant. The crew needs a register-listed plumber on it, since the trade is compulsory in Ontario; the licence checking guide explains how to look a name up.
After the repair
Keep grease and wipes out of the drain; the drain cleaning page shows the City’s rules. Where the street sewer surcharges in heavy rain, a backwater valve protects the basement, and the subsidy guide covers the program. For active flooding see basement flooding.
Who you are dealing with
Relining, bursting or digging is chosen and priced by one independent Ottawa plumbing company, the one your request reaches through Ottawa Plumbing Desk. The method, the price and the warranty are that company’s, and all three belong in writing before the first hole is cut.
Questions to ask the company
- Which method do you propose for my pipe, and why does the camera support it?
- Does the quote include the permit, the restoration of the lawn or floor, and the camera before and after?
- Which days will water or drainage be affected?
- Where does the repair start and end, measured from the clean-out, and does it cross the property line?
- What is the warranty on the lining or the new pipe, and does it come in writing?
Have this ready for the call
- The camera video and any report from an earlier inspection
- The clean-out location and a clear metre around it
- Locations of trees, driveways, patios and a gas line or other buried service near the route
- The house age and any past sewer work, relining or backwater valve paperwork
Questions people ask
How do I know the sewer pipe is the problem and not a drain?
A sewer line problem shows at several fixtures at once, as one Ottawa firm describes it: slow drains, recurring clogs, gurgling toilets, odour, and sometimes sewage surfacing on the lawn. A single slow sink is usually a branch drain. A camera settles which, and shows how far down the fault sits.
How long does a pipe lining take?
One Ottawa firm says installation takes a few hours and curing up to 24 hours, and rates a well-installed lining for a 50-year life at most. Pipe bursting is for lines too damaged to line and costs more and takes longer.
Do I need a permit for sewer line work?
The City says that under the Building Code Act a building permit may be required for lateral repair. Your contractor should say in writing whether one applies to your job and who files it. Ask before work starts, and keep the permit number with your records.
My weeping tile drains into the sanitary line. Is that allowed?
The City’s Sewer Connection By-law prohibits connecting sump pumps, foundation drains or downspouts to the sanitary sewer. Some older homes were built with foundation drains tied to the sanitary or combined sewer. A plumber can say what your house has; the repair quote should state it.
