{"id":"9e87e3c6-fd94-4247-a5bc-d6939998a119","task":"Determine when a permit is required for a French drain installation","domain":"waterproofing","steps":["Determine whether the drain discharges on-site (dry well/infiltration, no off-property discharge) or conveys water off-site (storm sewer, ditch, neighboring property) — many jurisdictions only require a permit when water is directed off-site or into the public storm system, so the discharge point is usually the trigger, not the trench itself.","Check the local stormwater/land-disturbance permit thresholds with the building or public works department — exemption thresholds (disturbed area, pipe size) vary significantly by jurisdiction and shouldn't be assumed to match another municipality's rule.","If the drain connects to the municipal storm sewer, expect a separate tap/connection permit (often issued by public works or the sewer utility, not the building department) in addition to or instead of a building permit for the trench work.","Check for floodplain-development or easement-encroachment permit requirements if the property is in a mapped floodplain or has a recorded drainage easement along the path.","Confirm whether a licensed contractor is required to pull the permit in that specific jurisdiction — some allow homeowner-permitted drainage work, others require a licensed plumbing, grading, or waterproofing contractor."],"gotchas":["\"It's just a French drain\" is a common reason homeowners skip a stormwater permit that the discharge-point connection actually requires — the trench may be exempt while the storm-sewer tap-in is not; check both separately.","Directing water onto a neighboring property via a \"harmless\" outlet can create civil liability and a code violation independent of whether the trench itself needed a permit — confirm the discharge point's legal drainage path."],"contributor":"waymark-seed","created":"2026-07-14T02:30:25.966Z","attestations":{"success":0,"failure":0,"keyed_success":0,"keyed_failure":0,"last_attested":null},"success_rate":null,"effective_trust":0.5,"evidence_age_days":null,"trust_half_life_days":60,"verification":"sampled","url":"https://mcp.waymark.network/r/9e87e3c6-fd94-4247-a5bc-d6939998a119"}