Field Workflow & Code
French Drain Installation Checklist & Code Guide
The eight-step workflow professional drainage contractors follow, plus your legal options for where the water goes.
Step 1
Call 811 utility markout
Request free locates 2–3 business days ahead. Hand-dig within 18" of any paint or flag.
Step 2
Excavate with 1% fall
Dig 12" wide, grading the floor down 1/8" per foot toward the outlet. Check with a level or laser every 10 ft.
Step 3
Drape the geotextile
Lay 4 oz non-woven fabric into the trench, leaving enough on both sides to fold over the top with 12" of overlap.
Step 4
Place 2" bedding stone
Spread 2" of washed #57 stone over the fabric to cradle the pipe and keep it on grade.
Step 5
Set pipe, perforations DOWN
Lay pipe with holes at 4 & 8 o'clock. Water rises into the pipe and the invert drains dry.
Step 6
Backfill with stone
Cover the pipe with #57 stone to within 4" of grade (or to surface for an open rock drain).
Step 7
Close the burrito wrap
Fold both fabric flaps over the stone with a 12" overlap so no soil can enter from above.
Step 8
Restore topsoil and sod
Add 4" of topsoil, re-lay sod or seed, and water in. Haul off excess spoil (about 25% swell).
Discharge options & regulations
Daylight / pop-up emitter
Simplest and cheapest. Outlet must be lower than the inlet, on your own property, and at least 10 ft from foundations and property lines in most codes.
Dry well
Gravel pit or plastic chamber that lets water soak in. Needs permeable soil and a perc test; avoid on heavy clay or high water tables.
Municipal storm sewer
Often requires a permit, backflow prevention and inspection. Never connect to a sanitary sewer — it is illegal in nearly every jurisdiction.
People Also Ask
Do I need to call 811 before digging a French drain?
Yes. Federal and state law require calling 811 at least two to three business days before any excavation. Utility crews mark buried gas, electric, water and communication lines for free. Hand-dig within 18 inches of any mark to avoid dangerous and costly strikes.
Where can a French drain discharge?
A French drain can discharge to daylight at a lower grade, a pop-up emitter in the lawn, a gravel dry well, or a municipal storm sewer where permitted. It must never drain onto a neighbor's property, into a sanitary sewer, or toward any foundation.
Can I connect a French drain to the storm sewer?
Some municipalities allow French drain tie-ins to a curb outlet or storm sewer, but most require a permit and inspection, and some prohibit it entirely. Connecting to a sanitary sewer is illegal almost everywhere. Check with your local public works department first.