What Orangevale's homes mean for your drain and sewer cleaning
Orangevale's median home dates to 1976, right as plumbing codes were changing. Plastic ABS and PVC pipe entered the Uniform Plumbing Code in the early 1970s, yet the City of Tempe found bituminous fiber (Orangeburg) sewer pipe was still allowed there into the 1980s (City of Tempe). With 60% of homes built before 1980, your lateral could be clay, cast iron, Orangeburg or plastic. A camera inspection tells you which.
About Orangevale
Orangevale began as the Orange Vale Colony on Rancho San Juan land with orange and olive groves, and remnant olive trees can still be found along Chestnut, Orangevale, Main and Walnut avenues.
| Population | 35,958 (Census ACS 2020–2024) |
|---|---|
| Median year homes were built | 1976 (about 50 years old) |
| Homes built before 1980 | 60% |
| Homes built in 2000 or later | 12% |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76% |
| County | Sacramento County (unincorporated) |
| Sewer agency | SacSewer |
| Building permits | Sacramento County Community Development Department |
| Water supplier | Orange Vale Water Company, San Juan Water District, Citrus Heights Water District |
| ZIP codes | 95662 |
Local rules, utilities and conditions in Orangevale
Homes on SacSewer's collection system get a free first look. SacSewer owns the lower lateral, the pipe from its cleanout near the street or easement to the main, and you own the upper lateral from the house to that cleanout. Call (916) 875-6730 first for a slow drain or backup; SacSewer's goal is to arrive within two hours, and it repairs problems in its portion at no cost. SacSewer installs its own cleanouts where they're missing, often with a relief valve that lets sewage exit outside instead of in the house. Its Upper Lateral Loan Program lends up to $15,000 for private lateral repairs.
Repairing or replacing a sewer lateral is construction work that needs a permit from Sacramento County Community Development Department. Sewer repair and replacement are routine permits in this region: the City of Sacramento treats them as minor permits, and Sacramento County issues residential sewer line repair permits online. Digging in a sidewalk or street usually needs an encroachment permit too. Make sure whoever pulls the permit holds an active CSLB license; plumbing contractors carry the C-36 classification.
Orange Vale Water Company supplies water in Orangevale, and in some cities the same department also runs the sewer. During a backup, every gallon you use has to go somewhere, so stop running water until the line is clear; the City of Lincoln asks residents to stop all water use when a sewer overflows (City of Lincoln). Your water service line is often private too: Placerville, for example, says anything between the meter and the house is the homeowner's responsibility.
Orangevale is on the flat valley floor, where sewer pipes are laid at gentle slopes. Flat runs leave little room for error: if a section settles, it forms a sag, or "belly," that holds water and debris (Pinellas County). Big shade trees are the other factor here. Roots seek the moisture in sewer lines and work into cracks and joints, so a camera inspection is worth it when clogs repeat.
Wildfire notes for Orangevale
About 2.5% of the Orangevale CDP falls in a Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zone on CAL FIRE/OSFM's March 2025 recommended map for local areas.
In foothill fire zones, defensible-space work often means pulling out trees and grinding stumps near the house. Before digging or grinding near your sewer lateral, find where it runs from the cleanout and call 811 at least two working days ahead, which USA North 811 says is a legal requirement in California. 811 only notifies its member utilities, and its handbook notes that responsibility generally shifts to the owner behind the curb, sidewalk or cleanout, so your private sewer line likely won't be marked. If your home relies on a sewage pump, it can't run without power, so go easy on water during outages and evacuations.
Neighborhoods in Orangevale
Calls are connected with providers who serve all of Orangevale, including:
- Downtown Orangevale (Greenback Lane and Main Avenue)
- Historic Orangevale
- Orangevale Park area
Drain cleaning plumber services in Orangevale
Need a drain cleaning plumber in Orangevale?
One call connects you with an independent local drain cleaning plumber. Calling is free; you agree on the price and the work directly with the provider.
Orangevale questions
Who do I call for a sewer backup in Orangevale?
How much does drain cleaning cost in Orangevale?
Do I need a permit to replace a sewer line in Orangevale?
Nearby cities
Clogged drain in Orangevale? Call (916) 712-7030. This free line connects you with an independent local drain cleaning plumber, and you agree on the price and the work directly with them. If sewage is backing up, call SacSewer first.
Sources
- American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates (tables B01003, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035) — U.S. Census Bureau
- Customer vs SacSewer Responsibility — SacSewer (Sacramento Area Sewer District)
- Customer vs. SPMUD Responsibilities — South Placer Municipal Utility District
- Orangeburg Pipe — City of Tempe Building Safety
- Report a Sewer Problem — SacSewer (Sacramento Area Sewer District)
- Cleanout Installation and Repair — SacSewer (Sacramento Area Sewer District)
- Upper Lateral Loan Program — SacSewer (Sacramento Area Sewer District)
- Minor Permits (includes sewer repair and replacement) — City of Sacramento Community Development
- Building Permits and Inspection: Frequently Asked Questions — Sacramento County Community Development
- C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification — Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- What to Do if Your Sewer Backs Up — City of Lincoln Public Works
- Public Works Division FAQs — City of Placerville
- Private Sewer Lateral Program: Frequently Asked Questions — Pinellas County Utilities
- Every Dig. Every Time. (call 811 before digging) — USA North 811
- Excavation Handbook, California 2025 — USA North 811
- How Much Does Drain Cleaning Cost? (2026) — HomeGuide
- Check a License or HIS Registration — Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- CAL FIRE/OSFM - Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- CAL FIRE/OSFM - FHSZ in LRA, recommended 2025 (hosted feature service)
- Citrus Heights Water District - About Us
- Fair Oaks Water District - Our History
- Orange Vale Water Company
- Sacramento County 311 - What is SacSewer?
- Sacramento County - Building Permits & Inspection Division
- Sacramento County - Greenback Lane SPA (Downtown Orangevale)
- SacSewer - About Us (service area)
- San Juan Water District - About
- California State Water Board - Drinking Water System Area Boundaries (SABL)
- USGS National Map Elevation Point Query Service
- Wikipedia - Orangevale, California
- SacSewer