Glossary

Service line coverage

An add-on that pays to repair or replace the buried water, sewer, gas or electric lines running from your house to the street or the utility's connection.

Also called: underground utility line coverage, service line endorsement, water and sewer line coverage

Service line coverage is an endorsement that pays to repair or replace the underground lines carrying utilities between your house and the street or meter. Usually that means water and sewer, and in some versions gas, electric, telephone or cable. In most places the homeowner owns the stretch on private property, and the city or utility owns the rest.

Without the endorsement, a failed buried line is a poor fit for a standard policy. Roots, corrosion, age and shifting soil are classic wear and tear causes, and an exclusion often applies. The add-on fills the gap, normally as a sublimit in the five-figure range, and many versions also pay to dig up and restore the lawn, driveway or patio.

Say a cracked clay sewer lateral costs $14,000 to replace, including trenching and a new walkway (hypothetical). With a $10,000 limit, you would pay at least $4,000 yourself, plus any deductible. Ask the agent where coverage stops (property line, meter or main), whether the limit includes restoration of landscaping, and whether the line must be on your lot. Compare it with any city or utility repair plan before paying for both. The guide service line coverage for water, sewer and power lines goes deeper.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Endorsement A written change attached to a policy that adds, removes or alters coverage, limits or conditions, and controls over the base form wherever the two conflict. Wear and tear The slow breakdown of materials from age, weather and ordinary use, which homeowners policies exclude because insurance pays for sudden loss, not upkeep. Sublimit A cap on payment for one type of loss or coverage that is lower than the main policy limit, such as a set dollar amount for mold or sewer backup. Exclusion A policy provision that removes coverage for a stated cause, type of loss, property or circumstance that the coverage would otherwise reach. Equipment breakdown coverage An optional add-on that pays to fix home systems and appliances that fail suddenly from a mechanical or electrical fault, which standard policies exclude.

Related guides

AAA home insurance: the clubs behind it AAA home policies come from regional auto clubs, not one national insurer. Learn which club insures you, what membership means, and what to check on the policy. Homeowners endorsements worth considering Which homeowners endorsements close real gaps in a standard HO-3, which are cheap narrow extras, and how to rank them for your own house. Includes a checklist. Homeowners insurance vs a home warranty: what each one pays for Insurance pays for sudden damage like fire, wind and theft. A home warranty is a service contract for appliances and systems that wear out. Septic systems, wells and underground pipes Policies cover septic tanks, wells and buried lines for fire or a falling tree, not for age, clogs, sewage backup or contamination. What to check. Service line coverage for water, sewer and power lines Service line coverage pays to dig up and repair buried water, sewer and power lines you own, which a standard HO-3 doesn't. Who owns what, plus limits and gaps. Water backup and sewer backup coverage Standard homeowners policies exclude sewer and drain backup. A water backup endorsement adds it back, usually with a low limit. What it covers and what to buy.

Related insurers

AAA - The Auto Club Group Dearborn-based AAA club whose insurers sell AAA-branded home insurance to members in 13 states; Michigan's No. 3 home insurer in 2025. Acuity Insurance Sheboygan, Wisconsin mutual founded in 1925 and rated A+ by AM Best and S&P that sells home insurance through independent agents, mostly in the Midwest. The Andover Companies Andover, Massachusetts insurer founded in 1828, sold only through independent agents in eight states; a mutual holding company since January 2026. Arbella Insurance Quincy, Massachusetts mutual founded in 1988 that sells home, condo and auto insurance through independent agents in Massachusetts and Connecticut; AM Best A. Bear River Mutual Utah's oldest mutual property insurer, founded in Garland in 1909, selling home, condo, renters and dwelling policies only in Utah through independent agents. Erie Insurance Policyholder-owned reciprocal founded in 1925 that sells home insurance through independent agents in 12 states and DC; the 10th-largest U.S. home insurer.