Cost to Install a Sewer Line in Dallas [2025 Data]
Most people pay $2,013 to install a sewer line in Dallas, Texas, but depending on materials and labor costs in your area, you may end up paying between $652 and $3,553.
Dallas has clay, sandy, and loamy soils that can make digging difficult and increase sewer line installation costs.
Some older neighborhoods in Dallas have aging sewer systems that require full replacement rather than repairs.
Permitting and inspection rules in Dallas vary by city zone, and neighborhoods with historic buildings have additional guidelines.
High seasonal heat and heavy storms in the Dallas area can shift soil and make it unstable, so use durable materials like PVC and HDPE.
No one wants to think about what’s buried under their yard—but when sewer line trouble strikes, you can’t ignore it. The cost to install a sewer line in Dallas, Texas, averages $2,013, but it can fall anywhere between $652 and $3,553. Prices depend on the materials you choose, the condition of the soil, and permitting rules. Here are the details you need to budget for this necessary home improvement.
Sewer Line Installation Cost Factors
Sewer line installation costs in Dallas, Texas, vary widely depending on the area and neighborhood. Whether your sewer line pro is updating aged plumbing, digging through heavy clay, shifting sandy soil, or dealing with sidewalks and tree roots, your project’s overall cost will reflect the unique challenges of your yard. Let’s look at the factors that most impact cost.
Sewer Line Cost per Linear Foot
The average cost to install a sewer line ranges from $50 to $250 per linear foot. Sewer line pipes are about 5 inches in diameter and run underneath your yard from your house to the main sewer drain.
| Length (Feet) | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 25 | $1,250–$6,250 |
| 50 | $2,500–$12,500 |
| 75 | $3,750–$18,750 |
| 100 | $5,000–$25,000 |
Note that these numbers apply to conventional dig-and-replace sewer line services. Trenchless methods may cost more, but they can save on cleanup and landscaping. Talk with a sewer line repair company in Dallas, Texas, about the costs you can expect for your specific job and location.
Materials
To install a sewer line, you’ll need to purchase the pipes that connect the main sewer drain to your home. New pipes cost about $3 to $20 per linear foot. Factor in the type of piping material to gain a closer estimate as to how much you’ll pay per linear foot by referencing the following chart:
| Type of Pipe | Pros | Cons | Average Cost (Per Linear Foot) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC | Lightweight, inexpensive, resists corrosion | Brittle in freezing temperatures | $2.50–$11 |
| ABS | Stronger than PVC, resists warping | More expensive, not to code in some areas | $5–12 |
| Cast iron | Durable, quieter than other options | Heavy, expensive, prone to rusting | $12–$20 |
| HDPE | Flexible, resists cracking | Requires special installation equipment | $3–$ |
Dallas and the surrounding region of Texas experience high summer heat and heavy storms. These conditions can accelerate soil shifting and lead to cracks and warping in underground pipes. To prevent this, be sure your contractor chooses durable sewer pipes, like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe or pressure-rated PVC, that will withstand the local weather conditions.
Demolition and Prep
Sewer upgrades aren’t all spades and pipes—before your contractor can put a new sewer pipe in the ground, they have to get the space ready. In many places, that includes trenching, removing underground rocks, removing trees or tree roots, and getting under driveways and sidewalks.
New construction may face fewer of these obstacles, but prepare for additional demolition and preparation work, especially in older neighborhoods and heavily landscaped yards. Here’s what to know:
Trenching: Expect to spend about $1,200 per 100 linear feet to dig the trench for your new sewer line. If your area has heavy clay soil, it can slow down the work and increase costs. Homeowners with sandy or loamy soil may pay less.
Boulder removal cost: Removing underground rocks and limestone slabs can cost $650–$1,200 per boulder.
Tree removal cost: If your contractor needs to remove mature trees because they’re over your sewer line or their roots are interfering with pipes, estimate spending $200–$2,000 per tree to remove the hazard.
Pavement removal cost: Breaking up driveway or patio slabs runs about $8–$15 per square foot before you dig, and replacing them will add more to the cost.
Sewer Line Installation Pro Costs
Let skilled sewer line pros take the wheel on this one. Sewer line repairs or replacement isn’t for DIYers. In fact, trying to do it yourself can lead to fines and bigger issues down the line. Here’s what to budget for permits and labor for sewer line replacement costs:
Permits and Regulations
Like other municipalities, Dallas requires all sewer work to be permitted. Along with permits come fees, inspections, and other considerations. Here are some to budget for:
Permit cost: Permits for sewer line work in Dallas, Texas, can range from $400–$1,600. Most contractors apply for the permit on their customers’ behalf and pass the cost along to their clients. The permit fee varies with the scope of the work, your home’s location, and other individual factors.
Inspections: New sewer lines in Dallas must have a camera inspection and a final plumbing inspection once the work is complete. Additionally, you must hire a licensed contractor, and the work must meet all current plumbing codes and regulations.
HOA compliance: Homes in developments with homeowners associations (HOAs) may need to have HOA approval for sewer line work. Ask your HOA about necessary paperwork, inspections, or other requirements before you hire a contractor.
Added fees: The city of Dallas sets city connection and subsidy fees, and they can add $1,000 or more. The size of your home, complexity of the job, and neighborhood will determine the total fees you pay.
Ask your contractor if they include permit fees in their estimates and invoicing or if you’ll need to pay them separately.
Labor
In Dallas, expect to pay between $150 and $500 per hour for labor for sewer line services. Exact costs depend on the company you hire and the complexity of the installation. These factors can increase labor costs:
Length and depth: The longer and deeper the sewer line, the more expensive the labor will be.
Soil conditions: Some areas of Dallas have heavy clay soil or unstable soil conditions that can make digging harder and take more time.
Trenchless sewer lines: These lines cost more to install, due to the higher degree of complexity and specialized tools needed for the job. The soil conditions in Dallas can also make the lines harder to trench out. That said, this method can save money in other ways by not disturbing pavement and landscaping above the lines.
Skill and experience: The more skilled and experienced your contractor and their crews, the more costly the labor will be. Remember, though, that while experienced contractors charge more per hour, they often work faster, so the overall bill may be lower.
Does Sewer Line Installation Increase Home Value?
Not all home improvement projects raise home values, but sewer line replacement is a project that can give you a return in Dallas for these top reasons:
Safety: Historic homes in parts of Dallas have old sewer lines made of clay or cast iron. Replacing a sewer line with new materials will bring the plumbing up to code and can prevent leaks and tree root intrusion.
Efficiency: New sewer lines flow faster and can handle more water. While that’s good for every home, it’s especially helpful in hot housing markets like Dallas, Texas. Homeowners who want to add bathrooms, have higher occupancy in their properties, or add accessory dwelling units (ADUs) will appreciate faster-flowing pipes.
Peace of mind: No one wants to replace their sewer line in a pinch, and homebuyers don’t like the risk of facing a major repair like a sewer line replacement. Dallas’ real estate market is a busy one, so replacing a faulty or aging sewer line can boost the listing price of your home and help it sell faster in the right areas.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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