How to Get Your EBMUD Compliance Certificate in Oakland, Step by Step

The certificate proves your private sewer lateral doesn't leak. You earn it by passing a pressure test while an EBMUD inspector watches. Here's the whole process for an Oakland property, in order, plus the spots where people tend to get held up.

Quick facts. Certificate fee: $407. Valid 20 years after a full replacement, 7 years otherwise. The City of Oakland says it requires a Sewer Lateral (SL) permit for PSL inspections. EBMUD inspections run Monday to Friday in three windows: 8 to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 2 to 5 p.m.

Before you start: what the lateral is and who owns it

A private sewer lateral (PSL) is the pipe that carries wastewater from your building to the public sewer main, which is usually under the street. It has two parts. The upper lateral runs from the building cleanout to the cleanout near the curb. The lower lateral runs from there to the main.

In Oakland the property owner is responsible for the entire lateral, upper and lower. (Alameda and Albany are different: owners there only handle the upper part.) EBMUD notes that most East Bay homes were built before 1950, and many still have their original clay pipe. Over time, clay pipe cracks, shifts at the joints, and lets roots in.

Step 1. Check your property's status

Use the property search on EBMUD's private sewer laterals page to look up your address or parcel number. It shows whether a certificate is already on file and when it expires. The PSL website also shows scheduled inspections and certificate status to the public. That helps real estate agents and other professionals working on sales.

If you own a condo or townhouse, check your HOA's Statement of Responsibility first. Depending on your CC&Rs, the HOA may be responsible for some or all of the laterals.

Step 2. Hire a contractor to check the pipe

Plumbing contractors usually do this work. The first visit is most often a camera inspection (CCTV) of the line. It lets you and the contractor see roots, cracks, broken sections, or offset joints. EBMUD recommends being there for it.

The contractor should then tell you one of three things: the pipe can be tested as-is, it needs a repair, or it needs a full replacement. EBMUD recommends getting written estimates from at least three contractors. It also publishes a courtesy list of contractors who have said they will follow program procedures. The list isn't an endorsement, and you can hire someone who isn't on it. Check any license with the CSLB.

Remember: the camera video doesn't count as proof. EBMUD staff won't review it. Only a passed verification test gets you the certificate.

Safety note: PG&E gas lines installed by boring sometimes pass right through sewer laterals (a "cross bore"). A camera inspection should look for this. If you suspect a cross bore, call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. If you smell gas, get everyone out and call 911 and PG&E.

Step 3. Get the Oakland Sewer Lateral permit

The City of Oakland says it requires a Sewer Lateral (SL) permit for PSL inspections. The same permit covers installing a sewer lateral on private property or in the street. Only a licensed contractor can apply. Your contractor can apply online through the city's Accela Citizen Access portal, by email to DOTOnlinePermits@oaklandca.gov, or in person at the Transportation Permit Counter on the 2nd floor of 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. OakDOT says you can get the SL permit the same day, over the counter.

Request city inspections at least 48 hours ahead (PWA_Inspections@oaklandca.gov or 510-238-3651). The city inspector looks at the pipe material and connections and asks for compaction test results. If your lateral is near a creek, the permit counter will tell you whether you also need a Creek Protection Permit. If there will be digging, the contractor must call 811 (USA North) at least two working days ahead.

What if no work is needed? EBMUD's general guidance says that if the pipe can be tested as-is, you can go straight to scheduling the test. In Oakland, plan on an SL permit anyway, since the city's permit page says one is required for PSL inspections. If you're unsure, ask your contractor or the DOT Permit Counter (510-238-3199).

Step 4. Repair or replace the lateral

The contractor does the work to meet EBMUD's ordinance and the city's standards. The two most common methods are open trench and pipe bursting (trenchless). The contractor also needs to find and fix any illicit connections. These include downspouts, yard or area drains, uncovered outdoor sinks, or anything else that sends rainwater into the sewer. EBMUD inspectors look for these during the test. If one is still there, that means another appointment and another fee.

Step 5. Schedule the EBMUD verification test and pay the fee

The contractor (or you) picks a date and time on the EBMUD PSL site and pays the $407 Compliance Certificate fee online. EBMUD suggests booking at the start of the job, a few days before the contractor expects the test setup to be ready. Appointment windows are Monday to Friday, 8 to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 2 to 5 p.m., excluding District holidays.

Be ready at the start of the window. EBMUD says inspectors can't wait if the contractor isn't set up. A no-show, an unready setup, a failed test, or a change after 7 a.m. on the day each costs a $140 rescheduling fee. Unlock gates and put pets away so the inspector can walk the whole parcel.

Step 6. Pass the test and print the certificate

The contractor sets up an air or water pressure test and the EBMUD inspector watches. If it passes and no illicit connections turn up, the certificate is available online to download and print. If it fails, the pipe needs more work and the test has to be rescheduled.

Then use it for whatever triggered it: give a copy to the buyer before title transfers, give it to the city before final permit sign-off on a remodel, or keep it for your records.

How long the certificate lasts

This matters when you compare bids. A repair may cost less now, but the certificate won't last as long.

Special cases

• Condos, townhouses, and HOAs. HOAs had to certify the laterals they maintain by July 12, 2021. If you are selling a unit, confirm your HOA submitted a complete Statement of Responsibility. If you are responsible for your own lateral under the CC&Rs, you need a certificate like any other owner.
• More than 1,000 feet of laterals. Large sites such as campuses and business parks follow a separate plan-based process. See EBMUD's guidelines.
• Exemptions. You can get a short-term exemption certificate if no lateral connects to the public sewer, all laterals are pressurized, or the transfer isn't a title transfer under the ordinance.
• Got an enforcement notice? It means a trigger happened (a sale, a finalized permit over $100,000, or a meter change) and EBMUD has no certificate on file. Follow the same steps. If you ignore it, you could face a $590 violation follow-up fee and $150 continuing non-compliance fees. You can appeal an EBMUD decision within 30 calendar days.

A change coming to EBMUD's system

EBMUD says it is moving PSL scheduling, payments, and certificates to a new software platform called Accela, expected in early 2027. The steps above should stay the same, though the screens may look different. Check EBMUD's page for updates.

Questions EBMUD answers directly

EBMUD's PSL program: (866) 403-2683, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or psl@ebmud.com. Oakland permit questions: DOT Permit Counter, 510-238-3199.

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