Sewer Cleanouts

Locating your sewer cleanout can be helpful when dealing with a sewer line blockage.

How to Locate?

The cleanout is a capped pipe, usually, but not always, located near the property line that rises from your sewer line to about 4-inches above ground level.

As a property owner, you are responsible for your cleanout.

If the cleanout is buried, a registered plumber should be able to locate and raise it for you. 

If it is hidden, you may be able to find it by visiting the Engineering Records Website or by calling the DPW File room at (410) 222-7049.

The DPW File Room is located at:

2662 Riva Road, 2nd Floor
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

The required height (4 inches from the top of the cleanout cap to ground level) and configuration of the cleanout is a requirement of County Code. The County understands the reasons why an owner may want the cleanout cap cut flush at grade with the surrounding soil but doing so can have consequences and potential impacts to the customer. The County’s concerns include: (1) elevated caps allow for easier ability by County or plumber staff to locate the cleanout quickly in responding to a basement backup and where time is of the essence to clear a blockage; (2) infiltration, inflow of surface/storm water and sediment intrusion into the collection system is mitigated with an elevated cap;  storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff and subsurface drainage are all determined to be prohibited discharge into the County Sewer collection system; (3) the cleanouts are gasketed to prevent fluid from entering the sewer and prevent sewer gas from escaping the collection system. The gasket may become dislodged with adjustment, if one is not familiar with the device.