Toronto Lead Service Replacement Program: How the Free City-Side Replacement Works

# Toronto Lead Service Replacement Program: How the Free City-Side Replacement Works

The City of Toronto operates a Lead Service Replacement Program that replaces the city-side portion of a lead water service line at no charge to the homeowner. This article explains how the program works in 2026, who qualifies, how to apply, and how to coordinate it with the owner-side replacement.

For the full project context, see our pillar guide at [Lead and Galvanized Water Service Replacement Toronto: The Complete 2026 Guide](/blog/lead-water-service-replacement-toronto-2026-complete-guide).

Honest Positioning: Coordination, Not the Permit Holder

RenoHouse coordinates the homeowner side of these projects. The licensed plumber on the project holds the Toronto Water permit and signs off on the technical work. The City of Toronto manages the city-side portion directly. We help homeowners navigate the application paperwork and align the city-side replacement schedule with the owner-side trench or pipe-bursting work.

What the Program Covers

The service line has two halves:

• City-side portion: from the water main under the road to the property line at the curb stop.
• Owner-side portion: from the property line to the building, ending at the water meter.

The City of Toronto's program covers only the city-side portion. The City excavates from the road, replaces the lead segment with new copper or HDPE, and restores the road and boulevard at no cost to the homeowner.

The owner-side portion remains the property owner's responsibility. This is the portion RenoHouse and our plumbing partners replace.

Two Pathways to a Free City-Side Replacement

There are two ways the City replaces a lead city-side line:

Pathway 1: Coordinated Replacement (homeowner-initiated)

When a homeowner plans to replace the owner-side portion, they can request the City to replace the city-side portion at the same time. The City schedules the city-side excavation to align with the homeowner's contractor schedule, ideally on the same day or within a few days.

Pathway 2: Capital Replacement (City-initiated)

When the City schedules road reconstruction or watermain renewal on a block, all confirmed lead city-side service lines on that block are replaced as part of the capital project. Homeowners on those blocks receive notice in advance and can decide whether to coordinate their owner-side replacement at the same time.

The Capital Replacement pathway is the most cost-effective for homeowners — the city-side work is already happening, and the marginal cost of adding the owner-side replacement during the same disturbance window is significantly lower than a stand-alone project.

Eligibility

To qualify for the free city-side replacement under the Coordinated Replacement pathway, the line must be confirmed lead. Confirmation can come from:

• A Toronto Water service record indicating the city-side material is lead.
• A field verification by Toronto Water staff or a licensed plumber during a planned excavation.
• The owner-side portion being lead is generally a strong indicator that the city-side is also lead, because both halves were typically installed at the same time with the same material.

Properties built after 1955 rarely have lead service lines because the material was banned for residential service in that year.

How to Apply

The Coordinated Replacement application has the following components:

• 1. Toronto Water service inquiry: contact 311 or use the Toronto Water customer portal to request the recorded service material for your address.
• 2. Plumber consultation: a licensed plumber visits the property, confirms the owner-side material, and provides a quote for owner-side replacement.
• 3. City application: the homeowner submits an application to Toronto Water for coordinated city-side replacement, including the plumber's proposed work date.
• 4. City scheduling: Toronto Water typically responds within 4 to 8 weeks with a scheduled date for the city-side work.
• 5. Coordination: the plumber and the City crew schedule their work together — usually with the City excavating on the boulevard side and the plumber excavating on the property side on the same day.

The plumber's licensed status and the Toronto Water permit are required components of the application.

Permit and Inspection on the City-Side Work

The City's portion does not require a homeowner-paid permit because it is City work. Toronto Water inspects its own crew's work directly. The homeowner is not invoiced for any portion of the city-side replacement.

The owner-side portion does require a Toronto Water service connection permit, held by the licensed plumber. Permit fees in 2026 fall in the $300 to $600 range and are part of the owner-side project cost.

Why Partial Replacement Is Not Recommended

A natural question: if the owner-side is the only homeowner cost, can a homeowner replace only the owner-side and leave the city-side lead in place?

Technically yes. Practically, no. Health Canada and Toronto Water both note that partial replacement can temporarily increase lead release at the tap. The mechanism: disturbing the existing lead pipe at the connection point dislodges scale that has built up internally, and lead release into the water can spike for weeks to months after a partial replacement.

The recommended approach is full-line replacement coordinated between the homeowner's plumber and the City crew. Because the city-side portion is free under the program, there is no economic reason to skip it.

Timing: How Long the Process Takes

Realistic timeline for a homeowner who starts from zero:

• Week 1: visual identification, plumber consultation, quote.
• Weeks 2-3: City service inquiry response, owner-side replacement quote finalized.
• Weeks 3-6: City application submitted, City scheduling response.
• Weeks 6-10: scheduled work date.
• Day of work: 1 day for excavation, 1 day for inspection, 1-3 days for restoration.

Total: 8 to 12 weeks from initial inquiry to project completion. Faster timelines are possible during the City's lower-volume months (typically late fall and winter for the application phase).

Restoration on the City Side

The City restores the boulevard, sidewalk, and any portion of the road disturbed by its excavation. Restoration includes:

• Boulevard sod replacement.
• Sidewalk concrete replacement where cut.
• Asphalt patch on the road surface.

The City's restoration is usually completed within 2 to 4 weeks of the excavation, depending on the season and the City crew schedule. The homeowner is not invoiced for any of this restoration.

What This Means for Owner-Side Cost

Because the city-side replacement is free, the homeowner's project budget covers only the owner-side portion plus restoration on the homeowner's property. Typical 2026 owner-side ranges:

• Trenchless pipe-bursting: $5,000 to $9,000.
• Open-cut excavation: $7,000 to $12,000.

For the detailed cost breakdown, see [Lead Water Service Replacement Cost Toronto: 2026 Breakdown](/blog/lead-water-service-cost-toronto-replacement). For the method comparison, see [Pipe-Bursting Trenchless vs Open-Cut for Toronto Service Lines](/blog/pipe-bursting-trenchless-vs-open-cut-toronto).

Bundling with Other Plumbing Upgrades

While the front yard is open for the service line replacement, the [backwater valve and sump pump bundle](/services/plumbing/backwater-valve-sump-pump-bundle) is a natural pairing. Both projects share excavation and restoration costs, and the City of Toronto basement flooding protection subsidy can offset the backwater valve work.

Next Steps

If you suspect a lead service line, the first practical step is the Toronto Water service inquiry through 311 or the customer portal. From there, a coordinated quote from a licensed plumber and the City application close out the path to a free city-side replacement.

To start the project, visit our service page at [/services/plumbing/lead-galvanized-water-service-replacement](/services/plumbing/lead-galvanized-water-service-replacement).