Homes and laterals
South Whittier, south of the city limits, is largely made up of postwar single-family neighborhoods. Many of these homes are slab-on-grade tract houses from the 1950s and 1960s, with original laterals of clay or cast iron unless they have since been replaced.
The sewer issues are the same as across the city line: roots at clay joints, scaled cast iron under the slab and sags near the street. What differs is the paperwork and which agency to contact.
Who to contact
| Question | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Permits for lateral repair or replacement | Los Angeles County; confirm the right department for your address |
| Problem in the public main | Los Angeles County; confirm who maintains sewers on your street |
| Contractor license check | cslb.ca.gov |
| Gas smell | Leave the building, then call 911 or SoCalGas from outside |
| Water service | The provider named on your water bill |
Before hiring for South Whittier work
- Confirm your property is in unincorporated county territory
- Ask the contractor if they have pulled county permits before
- Get a camera inspection and keep the footage
- Ask about lateral responsibility near the street with the county
- Verify the contractor's CSLB license
Is your address in the city or the county?
- IfYour property tax bill or county records show an unincorporated areaThenStart with Los Angeles County for permits.
- IfYour address is within Whittier city limitsThenStart with the City of Whittier.
- IfYou are not sureThenAsk the county or the city before any permit is pulled.
Questions for the plumber
- Which agency will you pull the permit from for my address?
- Is the defect on my side of the connection to the main?
- Will the inspection be done by the county?
Common questions
Is South Whittier part of the City of Whittier?
No. It is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, though it uses Whittier mailing addresses.
Does that change the repair itself?
The methods are the same. Permits, inspections and public sewer questions may go through different agencies.
Where do I confirm?
Check with Los Angeles County for your address.
General information for Whittier, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.