Who is responsible for turning on the water to a home?

You may notice that no one will want to claim this responsibility. This is mostly due to the liabilty issues that can arise from turning the water on to a home that has been vacant for a substantial length of time. The city for instance, will only turn on the water to their side of the meter pit. Who is supposed to turn it on to the home? Some will try and tell you it is the Home Inspectors responsibility (to get out of the liability).

The standards of practice are pretty clear when it comes to turning on the water to a home. For instance here in Indiana the standard is found in the licensing SOP 878 IAC 1-2-1 G 2 C

"Licensees are not required to operate safety valves or shut off valves"

The InterNACHI Standards of practice also states in 2.6 II T.

"The inspector is not required to test, operate, open or close safety controls, manual stop valves and/or temperature or pressure relief valves."

The real truth is, it is the sellers responsiblity, or if the home is a bank owned property, it is the property management company or the listing agents responsibility to turn on the water to the home.