01A burst pipe or sewer backup in Alpharetta: whose problem it is and which rules apply
When a pipe bursts in a finished basement or a toilet starts backing up at night, you need two answers fast: who is responsible for the problem, and who can fix it. In Alpharetta, Roswell and Milton the answer starts with Fulton County's rules. The County owns the water line from the main to the meter, and you own everything from the meter to the house. The sewer lateral from the house to the property line is yours too. Work on your side must be done by a Georgia-licensed plumber, and in Alpharetta it needs a City permit, even after a night or weekend emergency.
Everything we say about water service, rates, permits and licenses comes from a government source linked at the bottom of each page. We do not publish plumber prices, because there is no primary source for them. What we do publish are the numbers that are written down, such as Fulton County's 2026 water and sewer rates, and our leak cost calculator turns those into a monthly figure for a leak you can measure. When you need a licensed plumber, the Free Quote Request form lets independent local plumbers contact you.
02Who supplies your water
Fulton County Public Works says its North Fulton Water Distribution System covers most of Fulton County north of the Chattahoochee River, including all of Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Milton and a majority of Roswell. The City of Roswell serves a portion of the southwest part of that city through its own Roswell Water Utility. Fulton County's billing division describes its service area as the City of Alpharetta and the unincorporated sections of Alpharetta, Roswell, Duluth, Milton, Suwanee, Johns Creek and Woodstock.
If you are not sure which utility you have, Fulton County says to check your water bill or use its Water Service Lookup tool. Roswell residents can read our guide to the two Roswell providers. The answer matters in an emergency, because the phone number you call for a main break depends on it.
03Who owns the pipe that broke
Fulton County's lead and copper page draws the line clearly: the County owns the water service line from the main in the street to the water meter, and the property owner owns the line from the meter to where it enters the building and connects with the internal plumbing. The County's service lateral flyer says that if the water lateral between the home and the meter leaks or breaks because of aging or seasonal changes, repairs are the owner's responsibility; if the break is between the meter and the main, they are the County's.
Sewer works differently. The same flyer says the owner is responsible for the sewer lateral between the home and the property line, even when a blockage sits in a public right-of-way or sewer easement. Our sewer backup guide covers the narrow conditions under which Public Works will help clear a blockage in the right-of-way.
Need a licensed plumber to look at it?
Free Quote Request04The emergencies people call about most
Most urgent calls fall into a handful of groups: a burst or frozen pipe, a hidden leak that shows up as a high water bill, a failed water heater, a sewer backup or clogged main drain, or an irrigation system that needs a backflow test. Each guide explains what you can safely do first, which agency handles the public side, and what a licensed plumber handles on your side of the meter.
For a water emergency on Fulton County's north system, the County lists 770-640-3040 for drinking water concerns north of the Chattahoochee River and 404-612-3061 for north Fulton sanitary sewer concerns, including after hours. Those are public agency numbers, not ours. Our emergency steps page puts them in order.
05How to check a plumber before you hire
Georgia licenses plumbers through the Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers under the Secretary of State. The Division's FAQ says a Class I Master Plumber is limited to single-family dwellings, one-level dwellings designed for not more than two families and commercial structures up to 10,000 square feet, while a Class II Master Plumber has no restrictions. It also says only licensed Master Plumbers may have a plumbing business, not journeymen. Our license check guide explains how to use that information.
The City of Alpharetta's residential permitting procedures add that Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 43-14, requires anyone contracting or performing plumbing for hire to be licensed by the State Construction Industry Licensing Board, and that the City will not issue trade permits to unlicensed persons, with an exception for homeowners doing their own work on their own home. See plumbing permits in Alpharetta for when a permit is needed.
06Bills, leaks and credits
Fulton County bills residential water on a three-tier conservation structure from April through October, based on each home's winter average use from November through March. A leak that runs during the summer months can push usage into the higher tiers, which is why our high bill guide and calculator walk through the tier math with the County's 2026 rates.
Once a qualifying leak is repaired, Fulton County accepts a Leak Adjustment Request with a copy of the plumber's repair bill, or a receipt for materials if you fixed it yourself. The County says a credit is not guaranteed and usually reduces rather than eliminates the bill. Our leak adjustment guide covers the paperwork.
07Roswell and Milton
Roswell is the one city in our area with two water providers, so start with plumbing help in Roswell if you live there. Fulton County serves all of Milton, and any irrigation system on County water falls under the County's backflow program; see plumbing help in Milton and Milton irrigation, backflow and watering rules.