Frozen water line: who pays to thaw it?
Updated November 2026
Who pays when the buried water line to your house freezes: the curb stop rule, city thaw fees from free to $150, run-water bill credits and what to do first.
In a hard winter, frost can reach the buried water line between the street and your house. When it freezes, the first question is whose side of the line it froze on, because that decides who pays.
The curb stop rule
Most water service lines have a shutoff valve called the curb stop, usually near the property line. Many cities own and thaw the line from the main to the curb stop, while the owner pays for the section from the curb stop to the house. Golden Valley and Grand Rapids, MN work this way. Others, like Hopkins, put the whole line on the owner.
What cities charge to thaw
| Place | Owner side | City side |
|---|---|---|
| Rutland, VT | $75 flat in business hours | Free |
| Hampshire, IL | $150 flat; 50/50 if unknown | Free |
| Farmer City, IL | $150 flat in regular hours | Free |
| Boswell, IN | $50 plus outside help | |
| Madison, WI | First thaw free if the pipe can be thawed electrically | |
See every city we track.
What to do when the water stops
- Check other taps and ask a neighbor. If the street is out too, it is the main, not your line.
- Call the water utility before you hire anyone. Ask where the freeze is and what they charge.
- If you hire a contractor, tell the utility first. Some only share costs when they were notified.
- Once water is back, run a thin stream of cold water if the utility asks, and ask whether you get a bill credit.
- Check your homeowners policy for burst pipe damage inside the house.
Running water to prevent freezing
During deep frost, some utilities ask customers to keep one faucet running at a pencil-thin stream and credit the extra water. Credits are often limited to customers the utility contacted, so ask before you assume the water is free.
Frequently asked questions
Is the city responsible for a frozen water line?
Usually only for its own part. Most cities own the line from the main to the curb stop near the street, and the owner is responsible from the curb stop to the house. A few, like Hopkins and Lake Park in Minnesota, make the owner responsible for the whole line.
How much does it cost to thaw a frozen water line?
Cities that thaw lines charge from nothing to about $150 during business hours, for example $75 in Rutland, VT and $150 in Hampshire and Farmer City, IL. Private contractors often charge several hundred dollars.
Do I get a credit for running water to keep pipes from freezing?
Only if your utility offers one, and often only if it asked you to run water. Madison, WI credits only customers it notified, and Mount Vernon, OH credits up to 900 cubic feet per billing unit.
Should I thaw the line myself?
Call the utility first. Many locate the freeze before you hire anyone, and some only share the cost of a contractor if they were told first. Electric thawing can damage pipes and wiring if done wrong.
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