Sewer line repair in Richmond Heights
More than four in ten Richmond Heights homes were built before 1940. Since June 2025 the city's program can be used once per property in ten years, so it is worth spending on a repair that lasts.
The houses
The Census Bureau puts 43% of the city's housing before 1940 and 66% before 1960. The median build year is 1947.
The city's program
The program reimburses up to $2,500. Houses, townhomes and small multifamily buildings (six units at most) qualify. It covers the lateral from MSD's main to within 5 feet of the house, where the house includes decks, porches and attached structures. Nothing under the home or any other structure is covered.
The owner's contractor does the work, including putting the public right-of-way back. The city pays afterward, once it has approved the finished work and has a line-item invoice, a paid receipt and a lien waiver.
Since June 1, 2025, each property can use the program once in ten years. One spot repair now can leave the rest of an old line on its own for a decade.
The rules describe excavation and repair or replacement. They don't mention lining. Because the money comes after the work, ask Public Works in writing, before the work, whether a lining invoice will be reimbursed.
Who to call
- A backup from the public sewer: MSD, 314-768-6260.
- The lateral program: Richmond Heights Public Works, 314-645-2277.
A sewer line in Richmond Heights?
The company that answers this number can put a camera in the line and quote both lining and digging.
314-274-1839