What does the Sewerage and Water Board say?
That owner duties follow its plumbing code, with a permit for work on its sewers. The Board's plumbing page names the S&WB Plumbing Code and requires a registered master plumber for work under its control.
It does not spell out lateral ownership on that page, so ask the Board about your address before paying for repairs. For a clog, sewer line jetting is one option to discuss with a pro, and a camera inspection can show what is plainly visible in the pipe. Call to get information about the service and set up a visit.
Why does New Orleans ground make pipes harder?
It is soft and wet. The city sits below sea level on subsiding alluvial soil, with a high water table that moves buried pipe.
Shifting ground offsets clay joints and invites roots from oaks and crape myrtles, handled by tree root removal. A camera records offsets and cracks that are invisible from a floor drain.
Who maintains which part of the line in New Orleans?
The S&WB's plumbing page defers to its code, so confirm your boundary with the Board.
| Piece of the system | Responsible party | Practical meaning for a backup |
|---|---|---|
| Public sewer mains | Sewerage and Water Board | The Board handles problems in its mains |
| Private lateral | Owner, per the plumbing code | The owner arranges a master plumber and permit for work on the Board's sewers |
| Pipes inside the house | Owner | Slow fixtures often start here |
How do shotgun and Creole cottage layouts matter?
They run plumbing in a single straight line. A shotgun house has one chain of rooms, so a single lateral serves a long run of fixtures.
A clog near the back can back up through the whole chain. Cleanouts often sit in side yards or alleys, which a pro can locate before work.
Which New Orleans properties book jetting?
French Quarter, Marigny and Magazine Street restaurants, plus guest houses and short-term rentals.
Commercial grease line jetting clears kitchen lines, and drain jetting handles branch lines in doubles and apartments.
What should New Orleans owners know about permits?
The Board's plumbing page requires a registered master plumber to file the permit for work on sewers under its control, so ask before any digging.
Cleaning a clog with jetting is different from repairing a broken line, and only the second usually raises permit questions. A camera recording shows whether the line is simply blocked or actually damaged, which decides which path you are on.
Hydro jetting services in New Orleans
All seven services are available across New Orleans, from a Bywater shotgun to a Magazine Street restaurant.
- Sewer line jetting along the lateral from cleanout toward the street
- Sewer camera inspection through early-1900s clay in shifting ground
- Tree root removal after oak roots find an offset joint
- Drain jetting for slow kitchens and baths in doubles
- Commercial grease line jetting for French Quarter and Magazine Street kitchens
- Sewer backup help for floor drains that back up in heavy rain
- Storm drain jetting for courtyard, alley and lot drains
Neighborhoods and nearby cities
Calls come from across New Orleans, including the French Quarter, Marigny, Bywater, Uptown, Mid-City, Lakeview, Gentilly and the Garden District.
See the Louisiana page for the state overview. Help is also available in Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Harahan, Chalmette, Slidell and Baton Rouge.