Basement Waterproofing in Fox Island, WA

Basement waterproofing in Fox Island: what to know

The county’s permit list includes altering a stormwater drainage system or drainage course, and its fill or grade page sets the grading lines at more than 50 cubic yards outside critical areas and more than one cubic yard inside them. We treat interior sump work and gutter changes as building work, and we confirm that point with the county when an outlet leaves the lot. A footing drain that reroutes surface water changes the drainage course, so that question is settled before the first shovel.

The county points to Title 17A for site development and stormwater drainage, and to Title 18E for critical areas. Those titles were cited but not read in full for this pass, so the outlet and any trench near a critical area are checked against them before the excavation begins.

Permits and rules in Fox Island

Before the first shovel, we check the water’s source, the cut and fill against the grading lines, and whether the outlet alters a drainage course. Excavation waits for Development Engineering’s written answer when the outlet reaches the road edge or a critical area, and the crew is booked only after 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

Trace the water to its source before choosing a repair
Check the cut against the 50-cubic-yard grading line
Keep the footing drain outlet on the lot, away from the road
Confirm any change to a drainage course in writing before digging

For the full process, see our Basement Waterproofing page.

Our basement waterproofing work, serving Fox Island

Examples of our work. We build basement waterproofing in Fox Island and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Fox Island homeowners

Why does my Fox Island basement seep only after heavy rain?

Seepage that follows storms usually points to surface water or a footing drain that cannot keep up. We look at the grade, the gutters, and the drain outlet before we decide on a fix.

Does digging a footing drain on Fox Island need a county permit?

It depends on the cut volume, whether the work alters a drainage course, and whether a critical area is involved. We confirm each point with Development Engineering before the first shovel.

Can a Fox Island basement drain connect to the road ditch or a storm system?

Only with county approval. The county’s permit list names altering a stormwater drainage system, so we ask before any connection is made and keep the outlet on the lot when that is possible.