In the Los Angeles area, a standard sewer camera inspection through an accessible cleanout usually costs $150 to $450, and most single-family homes land around $200 to $350. A home-buyer "sewer scope" often runs $260 to $500. Homes with no usable cleanout, where the camera goes in through a roof vent or a pulled toilet, can reach $350 to $800. Below is what drives the price in Burbank, Glendale and the Valley, and what a good inspection video should show you.
Typical 2026 prices for a sewer camera inspection
| Job | Published LA-area price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard scope through an accessible cleanout | $150–$450 (commonly $200–$350) | Expertise Plumbing (LA), Twin Home Experts, A+ Electric & Plumbing |
| Home-buyer (pre-purchase) sewer scope | $260–$500 | Sewer Scope Pros SFV ($260), Inspect-A-Property ($325 standalone), A+ ($300–$500) |
| No usable cleanout (roof vent or pulled toilet) | $350–$800 | Twin Home Experts ($350–$550), A+ ($450–$800) |
| Scope with locating and depth marks | $400–$650 | A+ Electric & Plumbing |
| Each extra sewer line on the property | about $100 more | Sewer Scope Pros SFV |
| Cleaning plus video of the lateral (Burbank) | typically $300–$700 | City of Burbank SLURP FAQ |
Cost guides line up with those numbers. Plumbing Connection LA lists $150 to $400 and says emergency service can add about 1.5 times the base price. Angi's Los Angeles guide runs higher: about $380 to $610 for a standard 50- to 100-foot home line and $120 to $230 an hour when an inspector bills by time. Its headline "average" is far higher than any of these and appears to fold in specialty and complex jobs, so the per-length table is the more useful part for a normal house.
Why one quote says $150 and another says $650
Access
The cheapest inspection starts at an outdoor cleanout, the capped pipe near the front or side of the house. No cleanout means going in through a roof vent or pulling a toilet, which takes longer and costs more. Not sure you have one? Here's how to find your sewer cleanout. If there isn't one, a cleanout installation makes every future camera run and cleaning easier.
Length and number of lines
Most homes have 50 to 100 feet of lateral, but deep lots, hillside streets in the Verdugos and the Glendale foothills, and back-alley connections run longer. Some houses have two or three lines leaving the building, and each one is a separate run.
Locating and depth marks
A camera head carries a small transmitter. A handheld locator picks up that signal from above ground, so the tech can mark exactly where a problem sits and how deep it is, like the 3-foot reading in the photo above. That costs a little more, and it's what a repair contractor needs to price a fix without guessing.
Report, timing and bundling
A written report and a video file you keep can add to the price, and night or weekend calls usually cost more. On the other hand, many companies discount or include the camera when it goes along with a drain cleaning or hydro jetting visit. For what those jobs cost, see our drain cleaning cost guide.
What you should get on the video
The footage is the product. A cheap inspection with a fuzzy, unlabeled clip isn't a bargain. Ask for these before you book:
- Your address at the start of the recording. Burbank's and LA's rebate programs both require it.
- One continuous run from the entry point to the city main, not a few seconds near the cleanout.
- A running distance counter on screen, so every defect has a footage number.
- Notes on pipe material and where it changes, for example clay to cast iron or old pipe to a newer PVC repair.
- Each finding called out: roots, cracks, offset joints, bellies holding water, scale, or a collapse.
- Locator marks and depths on the ground for anything that needs repair.
- A written summary and a copy of the video you keep, so you can get a second opinion.
Not sure you need one yet? Read signs you need a sewer camera inspection. Our guide to what a sewer camera shows explains what each finding looks like on screen. Clay, cast iron and Orangeburg covers why pipe material matters so much in older Valley homes.
Clean first, or camera first?
A camera can only travel as far as the blockage. If the line is backed up, the usual order is a quick look to see what's going on, then clear the line, then record the clean pipe. Heavy roots and grease hide cracks and offsets, so post-cleaning footage is the honest picture. On old clay or cast iron, the first look also helps decide whether high-pressure jetting is safe. Our hydro jetting vs. snaking guide covers that choice. If roots keep coming back every 6 to 12 months, read tree roots in your sewer line.
City rebates in Burbank and Los Angeles
Burbank: the city's Sewer Lateral User Rebate Program (SLURP) gives single-family homes and duplexes a $150 credit on sewer service charges after a plumber cleans the lateral and video-records it all the way to the public main. The video has to be taken after cleaning and show the address. You submit the receipt, the video and the SLURP form, and Burbank also offers a $500 rebate on qualifying lateral replacements.
City of Los Angeles: LA Sanitation's Sewer Lateral CCTV Rebate reimburses up to $300 for a video inspection while the year's funds last. The work has to be done by a licensed and bonded sewer contractor within six months before you apply. You'll need the itemized invoice, the video with your address at the beginning, the inspection report and a recent DWP bill. Check the city's rules before you book. In Glendale and other cities, ask the city's public works department.
Buying a home? Scope it in escrow
LA Sanitation says property owners are responsible for the entire private sewer lateral, including the part under the sidewalk and street. A general home inspection usually doesn't put a camera in that pipe. A few hundred dollars during your inspection contingency is cheap compared with lateral repairs that one LA contractor lists at $5,000 to $25,000. Start with our sewer inspection before buying a home checklist and the signs your sewer line is failing.
Red flags
- No recording, or you can't keep it. Footage you can't share can't get a second opinion.
- Pressure to sign the same day after scary footage. Real problems are still there tomorrow.
- A trenchless or replacement bid with no footage at all. See trenchless vs. digging before you compare bids.
- A camera run that stops short of the city connection with no explanation.
Need a sewer camera inspection in Burbank, Glendale or the Valley? Rooter Pros gives free estimates on camera inspections. You watch the footage with us, keep the recording and get the findings in writing. We tell you the price before we start. Licensed C-36 plumber, CSLB #917630.
Call (818) 669-9019Prices are typical published ranges for the Los Angeles area as of October 2026 and change over time. Your price depends on your home. Sources are linked in each table.