Tallahassee Drainage Guide: Soils, 811 & Rules (2026)

Updated October 24, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Rainfall	About 58.8 inches a year at Tallahassee International Airport (1991 to 2020 normals)	NOAA normals via Wikipedia
Terrain	Southern end of the Red Hills; city elevation from near sea level to just over 200 feet	Wikipedia
Upland soils	Orangeburg series: loamy sand surface over sandy clay loam subsoil	WFSU; USDA NRCS
South of the Cody Scarp	Woodville Karst Plain: thin sands and clays over limestone, common sinkholes	WFSU; Wikipedia
Drainage wells	Prohibited under the local aquifer protection program	City of Tallahassee
Before digging	Sunshine 811 at least 2 full business days ahead; locate info valid 30 calendar days	Sunshine 811; Ch. 556, F.S.
Homeowner exemption	Only for digging on your own single-family lot up to 10 inches deep	s. 556.108, F.S.
Minor work exemption	Casual, minor work under $2,500 total, not part of a larger job or advertised as contracting	s. 489.103(9), F.S.

How much rain does Tallahassee get?

A lot. The 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Tallahassee International Airport average about 58.8 inches of precipitation a year. Heavy, fast storms are what overwhelm yard drainage: the ground can only absorb so much at once, and the rest runs off or ponds. Low-lying areas, including the Franklin Boulevard area beside downtown and the Killearn Lakes subdivision north of the city, are known to flood during extremely heavy rain.

Why do soils differ across Leon County?

An ancient coastline, the Cody Scarp, divides the county. North of it are the Red Hills uplands, where Tallahassee sits, built on Hawthorn Group sediments of sand, silt and clay over limestone. The local Orangeburg soil series is described by USDA as well drained and moderately permeable, with a loamy sand surface and sandy clay loam subsoil. In a downpour, water soaks through the sandy top and then slows at the clay, which can send it sideways downhill toward a foundation. That's why curtain drains and swales are common fixes on the north side.

South of the scarp is the Woodville Karst Plain, which takes in southeastern Leon County. It's flatter, the Hawthorn layer thins out, and limestone lies at or near the surface under thin sands and clays. Sinkholes are common, especially in the northern and western parts of the plain. Here the challenge is more often a lack of fall to any outlet.

Why do sinkholes matter for drainage?

Because water that enters them can reach the aquifer, and Leon County's drinking water, with little filtering. The City of Tallahassee's aquifer protection program notes that sinkholes can drain unfiltered water from streams, lakes and wetlands directly into the aquifer, and that drainage wells are prohibited. On the karst plain, Munson Slough carries Tallahassee stormwater south into Ames Sink, and dye traces show that water emerges at Wakulla Spring about ten days later. Lake Jackson's own sinkholes, Porter Sink and Lime Sink, have drained the lake more than a dozen times since 1829, most recently in 2021.

Practical takeaways:

Don't pipe downspouts, French drains or sump discharge into a sinkhole or a deep hole.
If a sinkhole opens on your property, the City advises contacting your homeowner's insurer and, if damage is extensive, the county emergency management office. Any backfill should be uncontaminated and less permeable than the surrounding soil.
Keep oil, fuel, fertilizer and yard debris out of drainage paths.

Who handles permits?

Tallahassee is Leon County's only incorporated city. Inside city limits, ask the City of Tallahassee about permits for drainage work and regrading; its stormwater utility manages public drainage there. Everywhere else, including Bradfordville and Woodville, Leon County Development Support and Environmental Management reviews development, issues environmental management permits and checks projects against stormwater standards. Small residential drainage jobs may not need a permit, but larger earthwork or anything that changes drainage onto other property should be checked first.

Do I need to call Sunshine 811?

Almost certainly. Florida's dig law, Chapter 556 of the Florida Statutes, requires notice to Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before excavating, with weekends and holidays not counted. Locate information is valid for 30 calendar days. A single-family homeowner is exempt only when digging on their own land to a depth of 10 inches or less, with due care, so most French drain trenches and buried lines aren't covered by that exemption. If you hire a contractor, the contractor should submit its own request.

Does Florida require a license for drainage work?

Section 489.103(9) of the Florida Statutes exempts work of a casual, minor or inconsequential nature with an aggregate contract price under $2,500. The exemption doesn't apply if the work is part of a larger operation, if a job is split into smaller contracts to evade licensing, or if the person advertises as a contractor. Which license fits a given drainage job depends on its scope, so ask the company what license it holds and verify it on the Florida DBPR license lookup.

Questions to ask before you hire

Where exactly will the water go, and could it affect a neighbor?
Is my property inside city limits or in the county, and does this job need a permit?
Who will submit the Sunshine 811 request, and when?
What license do you hold, and what's the number?
What pipe, fabric and stone will you use, and how can the system be cleaned later?
What's covered by your warranty, and for how long?

Common questions

Can I dig a French drain myself without calling 811?

Only if you stay within 10 inches of depth on your own single-family lot. Most French drains go deeper, so submit a Sunshine 811 request at least two full business days ahead.

Is it legal to drain stormwater into a sinkhole in Tallahassee?

The City of Tallahassee's aquifer protection program says drainage wells are prohibited. Route water to a surface outlet instead and get professional advice on any sinkhole.

Does a handyman need a license for a small drainage job?

Florida exempts casual, minor work under $2,500 total, but not if it's part of a larger job or the person advertises as a contractor. Verify licenses with DBPR.

Leon County yard drainage guide (2026)