Yard Drainage
in Houston, TX

How much does yard drainage cost in Houston?

No two lots drain the same way, so we price a yard drainage system by its parts. That lets you see each cost and phase the work. The main drivers are:

• How much fall the lot already has.
• The number of inlets and downspouts.
• Pipe length to the outlet.
• Outlet type: a curb core, a ditch tie-in or a pump.
• Regrade volume, permits, an HOA drawing, and sod or rock.

Who should I call for yard drainage problems?

It depends on the problem. A landscaper handles plantings and sod. A plumber pulls the permit and ties drains into a line. A foundation company handles a foundation that is moving. A site-work contractor ties the whole system together: the grading, the swales, the inlets and the outlet. We coordinate the master-plumber permit for tie-ins. If the foundation itself is moving, bring in a foundation repair crew first.

What is the best way to fix standing water in a flat yard? Will gravel or a dry well soak it up?

In Houston clay, almost nothing soaks it up for long. A gravel pit or dry well turns into an underground bucket that fills and stays full, because the clay around it drains so slowly. The fix is to move the water to an outlet. Where the lot has fall, we regrade and cut a swale. A low spot gets a catch basin and pipe, and a yard lower than the street gets a pump. For water moving underground along the foundation, a French drain is the right tool.

My neighbor's yard drains into mine. What can I do?

Texas law lets water keep its natural path. Change that path so it floods a neighbor, and you can be liable under Texas Water Code 11.086. Talk to the neighbor first, and see an attorney if there is real damage. On your side, we can catch the water with a swale or inlets along the fence line and carry it to your own outlet. We do not build a berm that just pushes it onto someone else. On open-ditch streets, a ditch that holds water more than 48 hours after rain is a call to 311.

Do I need HOA approval or a City permit to regrade my yard?

Often yes to one or both. Many Houston HOAs require architectural review before exterior changes, and we can provide a drawing for the submittal. The City wants a grading permit when fill tops 50 cubic yards, reaches 3 feet deep, or blocks a drainage path. No fill may go in the street right-of-way. Piping an inlet into the system takes a City plumbing permit from a registered master plumber, and downspout tie-ins can also go through a registered drain layer. Suburbs and the county set their own rules, so we check first. See grading for bigger earthwork.

Can standing water hurt my foundation or bring mosquitoes?

Standing water at the foundation keeps the clay swinging between wet and dry, which is hard on a house. Good drainage keeps soil moisture more even and lets roof water out at least 5 feet from the walls. It does not repair movement that has already happened, so see foundation repair for that. Water also breeds mosquitoes, which go from egg to adult in about 7 to 10 days. Harris County Public Health asks residents to clear standing water around the home.