Stormwater on your property

Stormwater that can't soak into the ground will flow downhill. It will follow natural paths like roads, reserves, and private land until it reaches the nearest watercourse.

If your property is downstream, natural runoff is likely to impact your property. 

Managing your home’s stormwater system to control 'runoff' helps to:

• prevent soil erosion and flooding
• protect waterways and wildlife
• protect shared community spaces.

We are responsible for addressing stormwater issues that affect public safety or infrastructure.

As a property owner, you must take care of the drainage systems inside your property boundary. 

Find out more about how to maintain these systems and when we will intervene. 

Property owners' responsibility for stormwater maintenance

As a property owner, you are responsible for everything within your property boundary. This includes all drainage systems up to the kerb and gutter, plus:

• downpipes
• gutters
• gully/stormwater pits.

Any construction or landscaping on your property must not alter the natural flow path. This can cause issues for your neighbours or surrounding properties.

Keep your stormwater systems clear and well-maintained with these tips:

• Keep your gutters, downpipes and drains clear of debris, leaves and other blockages.
• Inspect and maintain your stormwater drainage system regularly.
• Repair any pipes that are damaged or leaking.
• Make sure your property's drainage system is graded right. It should flow towards the nearest Council drain or waterway.
• Ensure all pipe joins are properly sealed to avoid leakage or root intrusion. 

Works on your property

If your stormwater drainage system needs maintenance, and it connects to Council’s infrastructure, you will need to complete an application to carry out plumbing and drainage works.

If you change your property by building, digging, or filling, ensure it won't affect stormwater flow by following these tips:

• If you change the land's shape, like digging or adding paving, make sure to redirect stormwater. It should go to a lawful point of discharge. This could be a council-managed stormwater system or an approved absorption pit.
• If water seeps from the land during excavation, owners must build seepage drains. These drains will redirect the water to an approved stormwater system.
• When you’re building or landscaping, think about using a sediment control device. For example, a silt fence can help stop erosion and keep sediment from spreading.
• Minimise water-resistant surfaces, like concrete slabs or paving.
• Don’t install roof water pipes within 3m of street trees without Council approval
• Avoid building structures or obstacles on stormwater easements or inter-allotment drainage systems.

Our responsibilities as Council

We are responsible for the maintenance of public stormwater infrastructure, such as:

• roads
• kerb and channel drainage
• inter-allotment drainage systems.

If your property is connected to our stormwater drainage system, we will address issues related to public infrastructure that may affect your property. This might include blockages or failures in council-managed systems.

View our stormwater network on the Byron Shire Council Online Mapping Tool - turn on the Stormwater Mains layer.

Stormwater drainage complaints

We will investigate stormwater drainage complaints if:

• Surface water flows from one property across the common land boundary onto another property. 
• Surface water from one property crosses onto another and causes, or is likely to cause, physical damage to land or buildings.
• Man-made structures like gutters, drains, and poorly managed stormwater systems have redirected or concentrated surface water flow.
• Defective roof drainage from a house or shed damages nearby properties.

If you believe your issue meets the above criteria, Report it to Council

No action will be taken when

• Surface water is natural runoff from the property due to the topography and is not redirected
• Surface water is flowing down existing hard surface areas such as driveways, tennis courts, concrete slab or paved areas
• The location of a dwelling or outbuilding impacts on surface runoff
• Surface water runoff occurs only in periods of exceptionally heavy rain
• The runoff is from new development work that is the subject of a development consent and has been constructed in accordance with that consent
• The drainage problem involves discharges from defective or blocked private inter allotment drainage easement
• The surface water is a result of overflows from stormwater absorption pits where contours of land and lack of access prevent.