Chemung County Basement Waterproofing Guide (2026)

Updated October 25, 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
Elmira permits	Required for work that must meet the Uniform Code, including structural, plumbing and electrical changes	City of Elmira
Who pulls the permit	Typically the person doing the work (the contractor)	City of Elmira
Before digging	Call 811 at least 2 and no more than 10 full working days ahead	NYSEG / Dig Safely New York
Indoor humidity	Below 60%, ideally 30% to 50%	U.S. EPA

Why does water find Chemung County basements?

Elmira is built almost entirely on the floodplain of the Chemung River, which flows east through the city; Newtown Creek comes down from the north and joins it at the city's southeast corner. The U.S. Geological Survey's 2015 report on eastern Chemung County describes the Chemung River valley there as nearly a mile wide with saturated sand and gravel, rates the Newtown Creek valley east of Horseheads as the second most favorable groundwater area, and notes that till confines sand and gravel along parts of Newtown Creek. For homeowners, that means two patterns: houses on the valley floor can see groundwater rise under the slab when the ground stays saturated, and houses on the slopes catch water moving sideways on their uphill walls.

The weather does the rest. Elmira averages about 38 inches of precipitation and roughly 42 inches of snow a year, so late-winter thaws and spring storms are when most basements reveal their problems.

Is it seepage or flooding?

Hurricane Agnes in June 1972 is the flood of record for this part of the Susquehanna basin. In Elmira, damage was estimated at $291 million, more than 15,000 people were forced to leave, and about 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission says flood control reservoirs completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1978 and 1980 supplement a system of levees in the region, but that flood risk remains a deep concern. Waterproofing is built 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. Erie County's consumer protection office explains that licensing happens locally, in places such as New York City and Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Putnam and Rockland counties, and elsewhere you should ask 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, written 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.

Do I need a permit?

In the City of Elmira, the code enforcement office says building permits are required for any work that has to conform to the Uniform Code. Its list includes structural changes, floor plan changes, and plumbing and electrical changes, and the city says it's typically the contractor's responsibility to obtain the permit. If you're unsure, the city asks you to call. The city also recommends asking contractors for copies of their liability, workers' compensation and disability insurance certificates and getting at least three estimates, since the lowest one isn't always the best. Horseheads, Elmira Heights, Southport, Big Flats and the other towns and villages run their own code offices, so ask yours.

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 buried lines. NYSEG notes that homeowners doing their own digging would be prudent to call too. 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 sloping the ground away from the foundation, which are the cheapest fixes to try first.

Questions to ask a waterproofing company

Can I see your liability, workers' compensation and disability insurance certificates?
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 city, 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.

Who gets the building permit for basement work in Elmira?

The City of Elmira says it's typically the responsibility of the person doing the work, which usually means the contractor.

Chemung County basement waterproofing guide (2026)