DuPage County, IL Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- DuPage County Code Sec. 36-344
- Owner's zone
- Curb stop valve to building
- County's zone
- Water main to curb stop center
- Grace period before County repairs
- 5 working days after notice
- Non-compliance consequence
- Water service shutoff
- Cost recovery
- County bills owner for labor/materials/equipment
Summary
In unincorporated DuPage County, the property owner, not the County, is on the hook for water leaks past the curb stop. Code Sec. 36-344 requires the owner to fix leaking pipes or fixtures promptly once the County gives notice, or lose water service until it's done.
The owner of a connected building or premises shall be responsible for maintenance of the water service line from the center of the curb stop valve to and throughout the connected property. Such maintenance shall include, but not be limited to keeping the water piping and fixtures on the owner's property in good repair and free from water leaks. In the event leakage or faulty plumbing results in the waste of water, the owner shall make necessary repairs promptly upon notice from the County. If the owner fails to make required repairs within the time specified in the notice, the water supply shall be discontinued until such repairs are made and the County is notified.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
DuPage County's water code splits maintenance responsibility for a service line at the curb stop (buffalo box) valve. Sec. 36-344(A) puts the County in charge of everything from the water main to the center of the curb stop valve. Sec. ' If a leak or faulty plumbing is wasting water, the code does not give the owner indefinite time to act: repairs must be made 'promptly upon notice from the County,' and if the owner misses the deadline stated in that notice, the Department of Public Works shuts off the water supply until the repair is finished and the County has been notified.
Sec. 36-344(C) backs this with a self-help remedy: if the owner still hasn't fixed the line five working days after proper notification, the County can send its own crews to repair it and then bill the owner for the full cost, including labor, materials, and equipment. This sits alongside Sec. 36-347(H), which separately reserves the County's right to enact measures to account for 'leakage in system,' underscoring that leak control is treated as a system-wide priority, not just a customer courtesy. Related repair-permit rules in Sec.
36-345 require an owner or contractor to pull a County permit and pay an inspection fee before altering or repairing a service line, with 24-hour advance notice to the Department of Public Works so a County inspector can witness the work before backfilling.
Violations & Fines
Failure to repair a leaking service line or fixture within the time set in the County's written notice results in discontinuance of water service to the property until repairs are completed and the County is notified. If the owner still hasn't acted five working days after notice, DuPage County Public Works may repair the line itself and recover all costs, including labor, materials, and equipment, from the owner. Unauthorized repairs made without the required Sec. 36-345 permit and inspection can also trigger separate code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays to fix a leaking water line in unincorporated DuPage County?
What happens if I ignore the County's leak repair notice?
Do I need a permit to fix my own leaking service line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DuPage County
Compare DuPage County to another location·View the Illinois water use rules overview
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