Waterproofing permits

We will not tell you what your permit rules are, because they are set by your city or county and they differ street by street in some metro areas. What we can tell you is exactly how to find out in one phone call.

Call your municipal or county building department. Describe the specific scope: 'a contractor wants to excavate to the footing on two sides of my house and install a membrane and footing drain,' or 'an interior perimeter drain and a sump pump discharging to the yard.' Ask three things: does this require a permit, does it require inspection, and does the contractor need a specific license or registration in this jurisdiction.

Ask separately about discharge. Some municipalities regulate where sump pump water may be discharged, and some prohibit connecting it to the sanitary sewer. This is a common source of after-the-fact violations. Ask the building department, and get the answer before the discharge line is buried.

Before any digging, call 811. The national 'call before you dig' number routes to your state's one-call center, which arranges for underground utilities to be located and marked. This is a safety and liability issue, not a formality. Confirm with your contractor that a locate has been requested and marks are on the ground before excavation starts.

Decide in writing who pulls the permit. A contractor pulling the permit generally takes on responsibility for compliance and inspection. A homeowner pulling their own permit may shift responsibility onto themselves. If a contractor pushes you to pull the permit yourself, ask why — sometimes the answer is that they cannot.

How to choose

One call, three questions

Building department: permit required? Inspection required? Contractor license or registration required in this jurisdiction?

Ask about discharge rules by name

Sump discharge location and sewer connection are regulated in many places and missed by most homeowners.

Confirm 811 locates before digging

Get confirmation that utility locates were requested and marks are visible. No marks, no digging.

Put permit responsibility in the contract

Name who applies, who pays the fee, and who is present for inspections.

Keep the sign-off

A final inspection card or closed permit record is what you show a buyer years later. Unpermitted work can complicate a sale.