City of Rye
1051 Boston Post Road
Rye, New York 10580
Tel: (914) 967-7372
E-mail: building@ryeny.gov
http://www.ryeny.gov

CITY OF RYE
Building Department

November 17, 2021

S E C O N D N O T I C E

New City Law Requiring Inspection of all
Private Sewer Laterals Prior to Sale of Property

Last May, the Rye City Council adopted Local Law 4-2021, which requires property owners obtain a Discharge Compliance Certificate (“DCC”) from the City Building Department prior to the transfer of title of any real property in the City. Enforcement of this law will begin on January 1, 2022.

The purpose of the law is to insure that the private sewer line (i.e. “sewer lateral”) extending from a building to a public sewer line is operating correctly and is free of conditions such as cracks or breaks that may allow infiltration of stormwater or groundwater into the pipe and that the lateral does not have any unauthorized connections such as sump-pump discharges, roof leaders or yard drains. Infiltration and unauthorized inflows contribute to overwhelming public sewer systems so that they do not operate properly and potentially release untreated sewage into waterbodies.

Under the new law, property owners will be required to submit to the Building Department a certification from a licensed plumber that the lateral has been inspected. A video recording of the lateral will also be required, which will allow the Building Department to verify the plumber’s certification and determine if any corrective measures to the lateral are necessary. A DCC will only be required when there is a “renewal event,” which is defined as a transfer of real property or certain building or plumbing improvements.

In anticipation of the enforcement of this law the City Building Department has posted the DCC application form and submission requirements online at www.ryeny.gov. Please visit the Building Department page on the City’s website, click on “Permits and Forms” and download the “Sewer Lateral Dischage Compliance Certificate” application. This is a new program for us so please be patient, but we are targeting a 2-4 week turnaround to issue certificates upon submission of a complete application. If you are involved in a property sale that you anticipate occurring after January 1, 2022 we encourage you to retain a plumber now to conduct the required inspection and make a submission to the City Building Department.

If you have any questions, please call or email the City Building Department.