French Drains & Drainage Systems in Bremerton, WA

Drainage & French drains in Bremerton: what to know

Runoff from higher ground is caught in a trench set along the contour, then carried in clean stone to an outlet below. The trench falls steadily toward that outlet, and the outlet is confirmed before digging begins. Roof lines run in solid pipe, kept apart from the perforated system so debris from the roof stays out of the stone.

Division 2.1 of the city’s standards sets a grading permit line at more than 50 cubic yards of excavation and/or fill, and it quotes the state construction stormwater trigger at one or more acres disturbed. A drain that stays under the 50-cubic-yard line is checked against the exemption limits in the same section, and we confirm that reading with city staff. The city’s stormwater page names Ecology’s manual but gives no edition, effective date, or threshold.

Permits and rules in Bremerton

We check each outlet against the right-of-way line and the 50-cubic-yard line before the layout is final. Lines that reach the street are screened first, and any crossing of the right-of-way is listed for a permit under BMC 11.02.060(A). The scope stays open on any outlet the city has not answered in writing, and no tie-in starts until that reply is on file.

Rules change and vary by parcel, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Survey the uphill source before picking an outlet
Set the trench to fall steadily toward the outlet
Route roof water through solid pipe that stays out of the stone
Screen any street crossing for a right-of-way permit

For the full process, see our Drainage Systems & French Drains page.

Questions from Bremerton homeowners

What outlets are open to a Bremerton drain line?

Ground that can take the water, a storm connection that city staff have confirmed in writing, or a level area set away from neighboring lots are common choices. A discharge across a street or sidewalk is a right-of-way item under BMC 11.02.060(A). We survey each option and write the choice into the scope.

When does a Bremerton yard drain reach a permit line?

It depends on the trench depth, the amount of excavation, and whether a right-of-way is crossed. Division 2.1 lists an exemption for excavations less than 2 feet deep, subject to conditions in the same subsection that we confirm with city staff, and a crossing of the right-of-way needs a permit under BMC 11.02.060(A).

Can a drain fix a Bremerton yard that stays soaked?

It can, when runoff from higher ground keeps a yard soaked. We trace where the water enters, choose a line that can carry it off, and do not offer a line without a workable outlet.