Should I get a sewer scope before buying an older East Tucson 85710 home?

Who owns the sewer line under an 85710 home?

Pima County's wastewater department says the private sewer pipe connecting a house to the public sewer is owned by the property owner, up to and including the point where it connects to the public pipe. The owner is responsible for maintaining it and protecting it from roots and grease.

County code (Pima County Code 13.20.350) adds that the owner's responsibility includes the portion of the line that crosses the public right-of-way. The county may repair a damaged section of a single-family lateral only in narrow cases: the damaged part lies entirely in the public right-of-way, funds are available, the owner did not cause the damage, the owner shows the problem is there (for example with video), and the owner grants access. Anything on your side of the property line is on you.

That ownership rule is why a scope matters before you buy, not after.

Is a standard home inspection enough?

Usually not for the sewer line. ADRE's Buyer Advisory asks buyers to check plumbing for functionality, and running water and flushing toilets during a general inspection does that for what is visible inside the house. It does not show the buried pipe running to the street. A sewer scope sends a camera through that line so you can see its condition.

Ask your inspector up front whether a scope is included or offered as an add-on, or hire a plumber who does camera work. Get the video file, not just a summary, so you and any contractor can look at the same footage.

How do I confirm the home is actually on public sewer?

Do not assume. ADRE's Buyer Advisory says that even if the listing or the seller's disclosure says the home is connected to the city sewer, a plumber, home inspector, or other professional should verify it, and some counties and cities can check as well.

Pima County publishes sewer connection records through its Sewer Connections page, and its notes say those records are believed accurate but are compiled from several agencies over the years. Treat the record as a starting point and the inspection as confirmation. If the home turns out to be on a septic or other on-site system instead, Arizona requires that system to be inspected by a qualified inspector before transfer, which changes your timeline.

What should I ask before and during the showing?

Add these to our questions worth asking at every showing list for any older 85710 home:

None of these answers replaces the camera. They help you decide how hard to push for one.

• Has the sewer line ever backed up, been snaked, or been replaced? When, and by whom?
• Are there large trees near the path from the house to the street? Roots are a common reason lines get scoped.
• Is there an accessible cleanout, so a camera can get in without pulling a toilet?
• Do any drains run slow, gurgle, or smell during the walkthrough?
• Has any part of the yard, driveway, or front walk been dug up and patched?

What if the scope finds a problem?

You have the same four options as any inspection item: ask the seller to repair it, ask for a credit, renegotiate price, or cancel within your inspection period. A line that needs replacement can be a real budget item, so get a written quote from a licensed plumber before you respond, and keep the decision inside your contingency window. ADRE warns that waiving or missing contingency deadlines can put earnest money at risk.

Then roll whatever you accept into your true first-year cost. A fair price with a known sewer repair can still be a good buy. An unknown sewer line is the part that hurts.

Want help planning inspections on a specific 85710 home?

Send the address and what worries you most: age of the plumbing, trees out front, a past backup, or a tight contingency calendar. We will build the scope and any follow-up quotes into your Buyer Game Plan so the inspection period does real work. Start at 85710.net/buyer-game-plan or mlslistings.app/contact. Long Realty Company and Lopez & Lopez, REALTORS®, (520) 462-6023.