Broome County Basement Waterproofing Guide (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
Written contract	Required for home improvement work priced over $500	Erie County Consumer Protection (NY GBL 36-A)
Right to cancel	Until midnight of the third business day after signing, in writing	NY General Business Law 771
Contractor licensing	No statewide license; some localities license contractors	Erie County Consumer Protection
Before digging	Call 811 at least 2 and no more than 10 full working days ahead	NYSEG / Dig Safely New York
Binghamton permits	Any structural alteration needs a building permit	City of Binghamton
Binghamton plumbing	Plumbing, including sewer laterals, by a licensed master plumber	City of Binghamton
Indoor humidity	Below 60%, ideally 30% to 50%	U.S. EPA

Why does water find Broome County basements?

Binghamton sits in a valley at the junction of the Chenango and Susquehanna rivers, surrounded by hills. The U.S. Geological Survey's 2021 study of the Susquehanna valley from eastern Binghamton south to Riverside describes valley aquifers of glacial sand and gravel, some lying beneath till or fine-grained lake deposits, recharged by the river and its tributaries, and uplands mantled in glacial till. In practice, houses on the hills catch water moving sideways through dense till on their uphill walls, and houses on the valley floor can see groundwater rise under the slab when the rivers stay high.

The weather adds to it. Binghamton averages about 42 inches of precipitation and roughly 86 inches of snow a year, so late-winter thaws and spring rains are the season most basements show their problems.

Is it seepage or flooding?

Binghamton's flood walls were built after the floods of 1935 and 1936. In September 2011, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee topped them, and damage across greater Binghamton was estimated at about $1 billion. Conklin and Kirkwood were hit hard in both June 2006 and September 2011. Waterproofing is designed for groundwater and seepage; it is not flood protection. If your home is in a flood zone, flood insurance and your municipality's floodplain rules are separate conversations.

What does New York law say about the contract?

New York doesn't issue a statewide home improvement contractor license. According to Erie County's consumer protection office, licensing is handled locally, in places such as New York City and Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Putnam and Rockland counties, and elsewhere you should check whether your municipality licenses contractors. Statewide, Article 36-A of the General Business Law still applies:

Home improvement work priced over $500 requires a written contract.
The contract must be signed by all parties, in plain English, and you get a signed copy before work begins.
It must list the contractor's name, address, phone and any license number, approximate start and completion dates, a description of the work and materials, and the price.
It must include notices about mechanic's liens, how the contractor handles your payments before completion, and your right to cancel.
If progress payments are used, the contract has to include a schedule tying each payment to work or materials.
You can cancel by written notice until midnight of the third business day after signing.
Before work starts, the contractor must disclose any property or casualty insurance covering the work.

Do I need a permit?

In the City of Binghamton, guidance from the city says any structural alteration requires a building permit, repairs to nonstructural parts don't, electrical work needs an electrical permit even for homeowners, and plumbing work, including water and sewer laterals, has to be done by a licensed master plumber. Changes to a sewer service may also be subject to the city's infiltration and inflow requirements, which matters if a sump pump is piped into the sewer. Johnson City, Endicott, Vestal and the other towns and villages run their own building departments, so ask yours. The contract should say whether a permit is needed and who's getting it.

What about digging outside?

New York requires excavators to contact Dig Safely New York by calling 811 at least two and no more than 10 full working days before digging, so utilities can mark their buried lines. NYSEG notes that homeowners doing their own digging would be prudent to call as well. Exterior waterproofing, footing drains and buried downspout or sump lines all involve digging.

How dry should the basement be?

The U.S. EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent, and drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. It also recommends keeping gutters clean and grading the ground away from the foundation, which are the cheapest fixes to try first.

Questions to ask a waterproofing company

Is there a local license number, and can I see your liability insurance?
Where exactly is the water getting in, and how does your plan deal with that path?
Does this need a permit, and will you pull it?
Where will the drain and pump water go?
If you find structural problems, how do the plan and price change?
What does the warranty cover, for how long, and does it transfer to a buyer?

Common questions

Do basement waterproofing contractors need a New York State license?

No. New York has no statewide home improvement license. Some localities license contractors, so check with your town or village.

How long do I have to cancel a home improvement contract in New York?

Until midnight of the third business day after you sign, by giving the contractor written notice, under General Business Law section 771.

How much notice does Dig Safely New York need before exterior waterproofing?

Call 811 at least two and no more than 10 full working days before digging begins.

Broome County basement waterproofing guide (2026)