How old is the sewer pipe under your town?
In 45 of 113 St. Louis-area towns, most homes were built before 1960. Of 29 local sewer lateral programs, one names lining as a repair it pays for.
Why the build year matters
A sewer lateral carries a building's waste out to the public main. It belongs to the property owner, connection and all. A lateral that has never been replaced is as old as the building, so the year a house went up is a fair first guess at the age of the pipe under its yard.
The table below gives the share of homes built before 1940 and before 1960 in every town of at least 1,000 people across St. Louis city and St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin counties, highest share before 1960 first.
| Town | County | Before 1940 | Before 1960 | Median year built | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bel-Nor | St. Louis County | 38% | 90% | 1945 | $218,000 |
| Flordell Hills | St. Louis County | 31% | 89% | 1945 | $51,800 |
| Northwoods | St. Louis County | 10% | 85% | 1953 | $76,000 |
| Pasadena Hills | St. Louis County | 44% | 84% | 1943 | $252,800 |
| St. John | St. Louis County | 23% | 80% | 1951 | $106,300 |
| Glendale | St. Louis County | 24% | 79% | 1951 | $494,000 |
| Cool Valley | St. Louis County | 13% | 79% | 1955 | $102,800 |
| Velda City | St. Louis County | 28% | 78% | 1946 | $49,500 |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 58% | 75% | 1938 | $197,500 |
| Hanley Hills | St. Louis County | 5% | 72% | 1954 | $73,300 |
| University City | St. Louis County | 38% | 72% | 1949 | $306,700 |
| Grantwood Village | St. Louis County | 12% | 71% | 1956 | $535,300 |
| Breckenridge Hills | St. Louis County | 23% | 71% | 1952 | $96,100 |
| Vinita Park | St. Louis County | 36% | 70% | 1953 | $99,300 |
| Webster Groves | St. Louis County | 35% | 68% | 1952 | $387,600 |
| Overland | St. Louis County | 21% | 68% | 1955 | $131,900 |
| Richmond Heights | St. Louis County | 43% | 66% | 1947 | $358,700 |
| Glasgow Village (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 8% | 66% | 1957 | $69,000 |
| Charlack | St. Louis County | 53% | 65% | 1938 | $119,000 |
| Woodson Terrace | St. Louis County | 5% | 65% | 1957 | $104,000 |
| Brentwood | St. Louis County | 14% | 65% | 1956 | $299,700 |
| Bel-Ridge | St. Louis County | 26% | 64% | 1954 | $90,700 |
| Ladue | St. Louis County | 21% | 64% | 1955 | $1,056,300 |
| Calverton Park | St. Louis County | 6% | 63% | 1957 | $128,400 |
| Pagedale | St. Louis County | 17% | 63% | 1955 | $75,200 |
| Berkeley | St. Louis County | 8% | 63% | 1957 | $82,300 |
| Lemay (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 24% | 63% | 1955 | $152,200 |
| Jennings | St. Louis County | 20% | 63% | 1955 | $68,800 |
| Maplewood | St. Louis County | 42% | 62% | 1952 | $237,000 |
| Bellefontaine Neighbors | St. Louis County | 1% | 62% | 1958 | $99,700 |
| Oakland | St. Louis County | 21% | 60% | 1956 | $410,700 |
| Ferguson | St. Louis County | 16% | 60% | 1957 | $109,900 |
| Rock Hill | St. Louis County | 10% | 59% | 1957 | $278,700 |
| St. Ann | St. Louis County | 8% | 59% | 1957 | $126,600 |
| Clayton | St. Louis County | 35% | 57% | 1954 | $830,000 |
| Wellston | St. Louis County | 35% | 57% | 1955 | Not available |
| Warson Woods | St. Louis County | 8% | 57% | 1958 | $612,800 |
| Castle Point (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 5% | 55% | 1959 | $62,600 |
| Dellwood | St. Louis County | 0% | 55% | 1959 | $83,700 |
| Affton (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 9% | 55% | 1958 | $212,400 |
| Normandy | St. Louis County | 13% | 54% | 1959 | $87,300 |
| Moline Acres | St. Louis County | 2% | 52% | 1959 | $90,000 |
| Crestwood | St. Louis County | 4% | 51% | 1960 | $319,600 |
| Pine Lawn | St. Louis County | 30% | 51% | 1959 | $66,800 |
| Olivette | St. Louis County | 7% | 51% | 1960 | $460,800 |
| Kirkwood | St. Louis County | 17% | 47% | 1962 | $451,400 |
| St. George (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 4% | 46% | 1961 | $161,100 |
| Riverview | St. Louis County | 15% | 46% | 1962 | $72,700 |
| Shrewsbury | St. Louis County | 16% | 43% | 1967 | $269,800 |
| De Soto | Jefferson County | 15% | 40% | 1966 | $160,700 |
| Lakeshire | St. Louis County | 12% | 39% | 1965 | $258,700 |
| Crystal City | Jefferson County | 9% | 38% | 1969 | $185,800 |
| Winchester | St. Louis County | 0% | 38% | 1962 | $216,500 |
| Florissant | St. Louis County | 2% | 38% | 1963 | $148,800 |
| St. Clair | Franklin County | 17% | 37% | 1974 | $157,700 |
| New Haven | Franklin County | 25% | 36% | 1972 | $192,400 |
| Spanish Lake (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 6% | 31% | 1969 | $135,600 |
| Festus | Jefferson County | 9% | 31% | 1983 | $223,600 |
| Washington | Franklin County | 17% | 30% | 1978 | $231,800 |
| Green Park | St. Louis County | 1% | 30% | 1966 | $238,800 |
| Sappington (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 2% | 30% | 1966 | $297,600 |
| Frontenac | St. Louis County | 2% | 27% | 1969 | $979,800 |
| Concord (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 2% | 26% | 1968 | $303,600 |
| Sullivan | Franklin County | 5% | 26% | 1976 | $163,200 |
| Gerald | Franklin County | 15% | 24% | 1977 | $150,800 |
| High Ridge (unincorporated) | Jefferson County | 2% | 24% | 1974 | $172,200 |
| Sunset Hills | St. Louis County | 3% | 24% | 1979 | $523,800 |
| Black Jack | St. Louis County | 8% | 24% | 1971 | $193,000 |
| Marlborough | St. Louis County | 4% | 23% | 1967 | $191,600 |
| Mehlville (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 1% | 22% | 1969 | $218,400 |
| Des Peres | St. Louis County | 0% | 20% | 1976 | $609,200 |
| Cedar Hill (unincorporated) | Jefferson County | 7% | 20% | 1976 | $181,700 |
| Murphy (unincorporated) | Jefferson County | 1% | 20% | 1977 | $184,700 |
| Hazelwood | St. Louis County | 1% | 19% | 1970 | $167,400 |
| Gray Summit (unincorporated) | Franklin County | 3% | 17% | 1988 | $170,500 |
| Union | Franklin County | 8% | 17% | 1996 | $205,200 |
| St. Charles | St. Charles County | 7% | 17% | 1986 | $298,700 |
| Arnold | Jefferson County | 2% | 15% | 1977 | $220,000 |
| Hillsboro | Jefferson County | 1% | 14% | 1996 | $221,200 |
| Valley Park | St. Louis County | 6% | 12% | 1990 | $251,000 |
| Bridgeton | St. Louis County | 2% | 12% | 1977 | $237,700 |
| Imperial (unincorporated) | Jefferson County | 4% | 12% | 1990 | $228,700 |
| Herculaneum | Jefferson County | 4% | 12% | 2002 | $234,300 |
| Byrnes Mill | Jefferson County | 4% | 11% | 1997 | $306,200 |
| Pacific | Franklin County; St. Louis County | 5% | 10% | 1985 | $249,300 |
| Town and Country | St. Louis County | 3% | 10% | 1983 | $928,500 |
| Ellisville | St. Louis County | 0% | 10% | 1983 | $366,600 |
| Ballwin | St. Louis County | 0% | 10% | 1976 | $377,100 |
| Maryland Heights | St. Louis County | 1% | 10% | 1975 | $227,000 |
| Pevely | Jefferson County | 1% | 9% | 2000 | $219,600 |
| Creve Coeur | St. Louis County | 1% | 8% | 1980 | $614,000 |
| Oakville (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 2% | 8% | 1982 | $318,600 |
| Eureka | St. Louis County; Jefferson County | 3% | 7% | 1999 | $379,200 |
| Villa Ridge (unincorporated) | Franklin County | 3% | 7% | 1982 | $166,600 |
| Old Jamestown (unincorporated) | St. Louis County | 2% | 6% | 1985 | $236,100 |
| Manchester | St. Louis County | 1% | 6% | 1977 | $323,100 |
| Wentzville | St. Charles County | 1% | 6% | 2008 | $331,300 |
| Foristell | St. Charles County | 5% | 6% | 2004 | $431,700 |
| Fenton | St. Louis County | 1% | 5% | 1989 | $374,500 |
| Wildwood | St. Louis County | 2% | 5% | 1992 | $495,800 |
| St. Paul | St. Charles County | 2% | 5% | 2005 | $443,600 |
| Barnhart (unincorporated) | Jefferson County | 0% | 5% | 1979 | $229,200 |
| Chesterfield | St. Louis County | 1% | 3% | 1982 | $472,500 |
| O'Fallon | St. Charles County | 1% | 3% | 2000 | $326,200 |
| St. Peters | St. Charles County | 1% | 3% | 1988 | $269,900 |
| Summer Set (unincorporated) | Jefferson County | 0% | 3% | 2001 | $238,400 |
| Raintree Plantation (unincorporated) | Jefferson County | 2% | 2% | 2001 | $315,900 |
| Weldon Spring | St. Charles County | 2% | 2% | 1995 | $544,300 |
| Dardenne Prairie | St. Charles County | 0% | 2% | 2004 | $432,000 |
| Cottleville | St. Charles County | 1% | 1% | 2012 | $435,400 |
| LaBarque Creek (unincorporated) | Jefferson County | 1% | 1% | 1990 | $455,600 |
| Clarkson Valley | St. Louis County | 0% | 1% | 1982 | $867,000 |
| Lake St. Louis | St. Charles County | 0% | 0% | 2000 | $405,900 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, tables B25034, B25035 and B25077, read October 14, 2026. These are survey estimates with margins of error, wide ones for small towns. For a town in two counties, both are shown. On a phone, the county and home value columns are in the download.
Will the city pay to line it?
Many cities in the area run a sewer lateral program that helps pay when a lateral fails, and St. Louis County runs one for its unincorporated areas. The question here is narrower: what does each program's own wording say about how the repair is done?
- Names lining: 1. Ballwin's code counts a liner that restores the pipe without removing it as a repair.
- Describes digging: 14. The rules describe the work they pay for as excavation, repair or replacement. None of them says lining is excluded.
- Method not described: 14.
Describing digging is not the same as refusing lining. Most of these rules simply don't address it. The only way to know is to ask the city, in writing, before the work starts. Where the city or its contractor does the work, the city decides the method.
Every program that states its limits stops short of the house: no pipe beneath a building qualifies.
| Program | What the rules say | Who does the work | Pipe under the house | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballwin | Names lining City code, sec. 21-8, counts a liner or similar technology that restores the lateral without removing it as a repair. |
The city's contractor | No | City code, sec. 21-8 City program page |
| Brentwood | Describes digging The program policy (Resolution 1575, December 2025) limits paid work to camera inspection, excavation, repair or replacement of the defective part, and backfill. |
You get three quotes | No | Program policy (PDF) City program page |
| Bridgeton | Describes digging City code, ch. 121, counts excavation, repair or replacement, backfill, and rerouting a lateral around structures. |
You, with three bids over $1,500 | No | City code, ch. 121 City program page |
| Chesterfield | Method not described | Not stated | Not stated | City program page |
| Clayton | Method not described | You hire the contractor | No | City program page |
| Crestwood | Method not described | The city's contractor | No | City program page |
| Creve Coeur | Method not described | You, with three bids after the city approves | No | City program page City code, ch. 520 |
| Des Peres | Describes digging The city's steps page has the contractor leave the excavated earth piled over the line to settle. |
The city's contractor | Not stated | Steps and procedures City program page |
| Duckett Creek Sanitary District | Method not described | The district's contractor | No | District program page |
| Ellisville | Describes digging The city FAQ limits paid work to excavation, repair or replacement of the defective part, backfill and restoring paving and yard. |
You, with three bids from approved contractors | No | City FAQ City program page |
| Ferguson | Method not described The resident packet (PDF) could only be partly read. |
The city gets bids | Not stated | City program page Resident packet (PDF) |
| Florissant | Describes digging City crews excavate, repair, backfill and seed. |
City crews | No; main to within 5 feet of the foundation | City program page |
| Hazelwood | Describes digging The city pays 90% of the lowest bid less the excavation permit fee. |
You, with three written bids | Not stated | City program page City code, sec. 500.025 |
| Kirkwood | Describes digging The covered list starts with excavation, pipe repair and backfill. Roots, minor cracks and separated joints with no sign of leaking are not covered. |
You, with three bids from approved contractors | No; nothing within 1 foot of the foundation | City program page |
| Lake Saint Louis | Method not described | You, with three bids from the city's list | No | City program page |
| Manchester | Method not described | Not stated | No | City program page |
| Maplewood | Describes digging City crews excavate and replace the broken pipe, normally over two days. Work under porches is not covered. |
City crews | No; main to 4 feet outside the building | City program page |
| Maryland Heights | Method not described | Not stated | Not stated | City program page |
| O'Fallon | Method not described | Not stated | No | City program page |
| Olivette | Describes digging City code, ch. 535, art. IV, covers the cost of excavation, backfill and repair or replacement of the defective part. |
Not stated | Not stated | City code, ch. 535 |
| Overland | Describes digging City code, sec. 230.100, and the application limit paid work to excavating, repair, backfill, seed and straw. |
Not stated | No | City code, sec. 230.100 Program application (PDF) |
| Richmond Heights | Describes digging The program pays for excavation and repair or replacement between the home and the MSD main, and not under the home or any structure. |
You hire the contractor after the city approves | No | City program page |
| St. Ann | Describes digging City code, ch. 535, limits paid work to excavation, repair or replacement, backfill, seed and straw. |
The city gets bids | No | City code, ch. 535 |
| St. Charles | Method not described | You, with three bids from the city's list | No | City program page City FAQ |
| St. Louis (city) | Method not described Covers only the part under the public right-of-way. |
Not stated | No | City program page |
| St. Louis County | Method not described Covers unincorporated St. Louis County and the cities that contract with it. |
The county gets bids | Not stated | County program page |
| St. Peters | Method not described | The city gets bids | No | City program page City FAQ |
| University City | Describes digging The program page and its Q&A sheet cover excavation, repair or replacement, backfill, paving, seed and straw. The city may reroute a lateral around sheds or garages. |
The city gets bids | No | City program page Program Q&A (PDF) |
| Webster Groves | Describes digging Your contractor is responsible for excavation, repair or replacement of the defective part, backfill, seed and straw. |
You, with three itemized bids | No | City program page |
Each program's page, code or PDF read October 14, 2026. Program rules get amended. Check with the city before acting on any row.
Before you sign for a lining job
- Get the camera video and keep a copy. Several programs ask for it, and it shows whether the pipe is still round enough to line.
- Read your city's row above, then ask the city in writing whether its program will pay toward lining.
- If the city wants bids, make one of them a lining bid, itemized the same way as the digging bids.
- Plan on paying for any pipe under the house yourself, whichever method you choose.
Using this data
Both tables are free to use under the CC BY 4.0 license. Please link to this page.
Rechecked each January. Corrections to chris@stlouissewerrepair.com.