The flood hazard area line in the permit exemption
Section 553.79(1)(g) has local governments exempt work valued under $7,500 on a single-family owner's property from the building permit, but not work on a property partly or entirely in a flood hazard area. The exclusion covers the whole property, even when only a corner of the lot is in the zone.
The same paragraph also leaves out electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical and gas work. If the drain ties into a plumbing line, tell the building office that when you ask.
Drainage work in Florida: our estimate and the wages behind it
A drainage project is modeled at $1,925 to $15,000 per project, from national published ranges (2 counted) scaled by Florida's construction laborer wage ratio (0.87). The range stands on national figures alone, with no Florida company price counted, and it isn't a quote.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $1,925 to $15,000 per project | Built from 2 national published ranges, adjusted by the Florida construction laborer wage ratio (0.86). One Florida foundation company publishes a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Florida company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Estimated range per linear foot, not a quote | $9 to $36 per linear foot, exterior French drain | Built from 2 national published ranges, adjusted by the Florida construction laborer wage ratio (0.86). One Florida foundation company publishes a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Florida company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Construction laborer pay, Florida mean | $21.42 an hour | BLS May 2025 mean hourly wage in Florida for the occupation nearest to drainage crews; pay, not a price. |
| Construction laborer pay, US mean | $25.02 an hour | The national figure for the same occupation and month, which the Florida wage is divided by. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (2 sources), adjusted by Florida's construction laborer wage ratio to the US (0.86, BLS May 2025). Not a quote. One Florida foundation company publishes a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. We have no counted Florida company price for this job, so the range is our national estimate alone. Full method. Prices as of Oct 24, 2026.
Broken drain pipes in the Geological Survey's list
The Florida Geological Survey lists collapsed or broken sewer and drain pipes among the things that can mimic sinkhole activity. The Survey says the Department of Environmental Protection does not inspect possible sinkholes, and for an assessment it points to a home inspector or foundation specialist.
DBPR's list prints Plumbing and Underground Utility and Excavation among its categories, with none named for yard drainage. Read the class on the company's license record.
Drainage trouble that shouldn't wait
- Water pools against the house wall and runs toward a door or vent.
- A new depression has opened where a pipe runs through the yard; keep people back from the edge.
- Water is entering through the slab edge during rain.
- A shallow puddle that drains within a day after storms.
Before you dig
- Watch where water goes during a rain and note the low spot.
- Ask the building office whether the lot is in a flood hazard area.
- Ask each company for the scope in writing, including where the water will be sent.
Permits for drainage work in Florida
Whether the $7,500 exemption is open to you depends first on the flood hazard area line. Call your building office with the address and the scope, and ask whether grading or a buried drain needs a permit.
DBPR has no foundation repair license category, so ask which state contractor license the company holds, look the number up on myfloridalicense.com and get its certificate of insurance before you sign anything.
Questions people ask
Does yard drainage work need a permit in Florida?
The $7,500 exemption doesn't apply anywhere in a flood hazard area, so your lot's status comes first. The exemption also excludes plumbing and structural work, so describe the whole scope to the building office.
Could a broken drain pipe explain damage that looks like a sinkhole?
The Geological Survey lists broken drain and sewer pipes among things that can mimic sinkhole activity. The Survey says the Department of Environmental Protection doesn't inspect possible sinkholes, and it points to a home inspector or foundation specialist.
How much does drainage work cost in Florida?
Our model puts a project at $1,925 to $15,000 per project, an estimate, not a quote. The range is wide because national figures cover very different scopes.
- Florida Statutes s. 553.79(1)(g) Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida DEP Florida Geological Survey: Sinkholes Read Oct 24, 2026.
- DBPR: Construction Industry (CILB) license types Read Oct 24, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Construction Laborers (SOC 47-2061), Florida, mean hourly wage Read Oct 24, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Construction Laborers (SOC 47-2061), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- FoundationMatch: how we estimate costs, Florida (editorial policy) Read Oct 24, 2026.