State guide
Virginia
Virginia’s drinking water program is the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water, which runs the Lead Elimination Assistance Program. State homeowner guidance explicitly describes a public side and a private side of the service line, while local Virginia utilities commonly place the ownership break at the water meter or, in some systems, the curb stop or property line.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who usually owns the water service line
- Virginia’s state guidance splits responsibility between the public side and private side, and large utility pages commonly place homeowner responsibility beginning at the water meter, curb stop, or property line depending on the system.
- State drinking water program
- Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water
- State lead service line page
- Official page →
- Permits for repair or replacement
- Virginia’s statewide building code allows permit requirements for work involving the water supply and distribution system, and utilities such as Fairfax Water require service applications or approvals for service connections.
- Assistance programs
- Virginia’s LEAP and drinking-water funding pages say VDH funding can support complete removal of public and/or private lead service line portions through local waterworks and partnership programs.
Official resources in Virginia
State drinking water program home page for Virginia public waterworks and consumer information.
Virginia’s official homeowner page on lead service lines, responsibilities, and utility contact steps.
State lead service line replacement program page for localities, waterworks, and partnership applications.
State funding page showing that public and private lead service line removal can be funded through VDH programs.
Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code section showing permit authority for work involving water supply and distribution systems.
Key facts for Virginia
- VDH’s homeowner LEAP page says the locality is responsible for the public side and the homeowner is responsible for the private side.
- VDH’s funding page says lead-service-line funds can cover complete removal of public and/or private portions up to the shutoff valve, excluding premise plumbing.
- Virginia Beach says the public side runs from the water main through the water meter, and the private side runs from the meter to the building.
- Newport News Waterworks says the property owner is responsible for the private line from the water meter to inside the home.
- Fairfax Water says its service connection can extend to the outlet side of the meter setting or, for some configurations, to the outlet side of the curb stop.
- Virginia’s building code says permit application may be required for work involving a water supply and distribution system.
Utility water service line rules in Virginia
| Utility | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water | Richmond | Not published* | State drinking water program overseeing lead-and-copper implementation and LEAP. |
| Lead Elimination Assistance Program (LEAP) | Richmond | Not published* | State program page for lead service line education, funding, and partnership applications. |
| Newport News Waterworks | Newport News | 757-926-1000 | Regional utility page with service-line ownership information and water quality resources. |
| Newport News Waterworks Leak Adjustment Policy | Newport News | Not published* | Explains bill relief for customer-side leaks after repair documentation is provided. |
| Fairfax Water Customer Service Fairfax | Fairfax | 703.698.5800 | Official utility contact page for customer service, emergencies, and plumbing responsibility questions. |
| Fairfax Water Rules and Regulations Fairfax | Fairfax | Not published* | Official rules page defining Fairfax Water’s service connection boundaries around the meter or curb stop. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Ask your water provider exactly where ownership changes on your property, because Virginia utilities use different break points such as meter, curb stop, or property line.
- Before replacing a suspected lead line, contact your utility to ask whether LEAP funding or a local partnership program can cover the private side.
- If the repair changes your home’s water supply piping, check with the local building official about permit requirements in addition to any utility approval.
Not seeing your utility or county?
We list a utility only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Virginia, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Virginia's population center, for comparison only):
- Lead Free DC Customer Response Team, District of Columbia · about 84 miles
- DOEE Lead Pipe Replacement Program Information, District of Columbia · about 84 miles
- DC Department of Buildings, District of Columbia · about 84 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Virginia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- Who is responsible for the water line to your house?
- The curb stop, meter and property line, explained
- Water line leak in your yard: what to do
- Water service line replacement costs
Water line responsibility check →