French drain installation
A gravel trench and perforated pipe that collect water from a soggy strip of yard and carry it to a legal outlet.
French drain installation guideFree quote service · Tulsa & Green Country
French Drain Installation in Tulsa, OK: Free Quotes from Local Pros
Soggy side yard, a puddle that won't leave the back lawn, or water running at the slab every time a spring storm rolls through? Describe the problem once and independent drainage companies serving Tulsa and Green Country can reply with no-obligation quotes.
- Free to use, no obligation to hire
- Independent local drainage companies quote you directly
- Straight answers on clay soil, permits, OKIE811 and cost
Get free drainage quotes
- Free quotes
- Independent local companies
- No obligation
- Straight answers on permits, 811 and cost
Why Tulsa yards hold water
Heavy spring rain, slow clay and a lot of older lots. The ground here has a hard time getting rid of water on its own.
Rain comes in big doses. NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for Tulsa International Airport show 40.96 inches of precipitation a year, with about 12.3 days a year bringing an inch or more. May is the wettest month at 5.73 inches, and April through June together deliver about 36% of the year's rain. Heavy-rain days keep showing up from July into October too.
The soil is slow. About a fifth of Tulsa County is Dennis silt loam, which USDA rates “somewhat poorly drained,” with a clay subsoil that swells when wet. Roughly 47% of the county is mapped as high or very-high shrink-swell clay. Rain soaks in slowly, so it sits in low spots and along foundations.
Most homes sit on slabs. About 98% of new homes in the region were built slab-on-grade in 2024, and basements are rare. That puts the focus on the ground around the slab edge: grade, downspouts and where roof water lands.
Much of Tulsa is older. The city's median home was built in 1973, and about 65% of homes predate 1980. Older lots tend to have settled grade, mature trees and buried downspout lines that may no longer carry water. The newer suburbs have their own pattern: builder-graded lots with tight side yards and shared swales.
| Soil | Share of county | Drainage class | Shrink-swell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis | 20.6% | Somewhat poorly drained | High |
| Radley | 6.2% | Moderately well drained | Moderate |
| Okemah | 5.8% | Somewhat poorly drained | High |
| Wynona | 4.0% | Somewhat poorly drained | High |
| Parsons | 3.4% | Somewhat poorly drained | High |
| Osage | 3.3% | Poorly drained | Very high |
Share is the soil's portion of the Tulsa County survey area. Soil varies from lot to lot, so a contractor should look at yours. Read more in why Tulsa clay holds water.
Drainage services Tulsa homeowners ask about
Each guide explains what the fix is, when it fits, how local companies usually handle it and what published prices look like.
Yard drainage and standing water
Puddles that sit for days, a mushy low spot, or water that runs across the lawn every storm.
Yard drainage and standing water guide
Downspout and gutter drainage
Underground downspout lines, pop-up emitters and dry wells, with an honest look at how dry wells behave in clay.
Downspout and gutter drainage guide
Foundation and curtain drains
Moving water away from a slab or crawl space edge. Good drainage can help reduce moisture swings in Tulsa's clay soils.
Foundation and curtain drains guide
Grading, regrading and swales
Reshaping the ground so water flows away from the house, often the first fix to price before any trench.
Grading, regrading and swales guide
Channel and trench drains
Grated drains across a driveway, patio or garage apron where water sheets toward the house.
Channel and trench drains guide
Crawl space drainage and sump pumps
Water under older pier-and-beam homes, sump basins and where the discharge line should end.
Crawl space drainage and sump pumps guideFrench drain repair and cleaning
Clogged, silted, root-filled or crushed drains, camera inspection, and when replacement makes more sense.
French drain repair and cleaning guideHow it works
Three steps. No fee, no account, no obligation.
Describe the problem
Tell us where water collects, how long it stays after rain and whether it reaches the house, garage or crawl space. It takes a couple of minutes.
Local companies reply
Independent drainage companies that serve your part of the Tulsa area can contact you to ask questions and set up a site visit.
Compare written quotes
Line up the quotes, ask where each drain will outlet, and hire whoever you trust, or nobody. See the full step-by-step process.
What a French drain costs in Tulsa
HomeBlue's published Tulsa range is $23–$36 per linear foot (May 2024). That works out to about $1,370–$2,140 for a 60-foot drain and $2,290–$3,570 for 100 feet. Fixr's national figure for a typical French drain project is $2,800–$6,500 (Jan 2025).
These are published estimates, not quotes. Depth, distance to the outlet, tree roots, cutting through concrete and putting sod back all change the price.
See the cost guide and calculator| Length | Tulsa range |
|---|---|
| 20 ft | $460–$710 |
| 60 ft | $1,370–$2,140 |
| 100 ft | $2,290–$3,570 |
Source: HomeBlue, May 2024.
Before anyone digs
Call OKIE811. Oklahoma law requires anyone digging for hire to contact OKIE811 at least 48 hours ahead (excluding weekends and holidays). It's free. Sprinkler lines and other private lines aren't marked, so your contractor should plan for them.
Check permits. Inside Tulsa city limits, the city's Watershed Development Permit rules cover excavating, grading and regrading, and any work in the street right-of-way (like running a pipe through the curb) needs a separate right-of-way permit. Ask your contractor whether your project needs a permit, or call City of Tulsa Development Services (311). Suburbs have their own rules.
Know where the water goes. Tulsa requires that drainage be conveyed “without causing damage to adjoining properties,” and water can't be blocked from flowing onto your lot from uphill. A good plan carries water to the street or another approved outlet, never onto a neighbor and never into a sanitary sewer.
Check the plat. Check your HOA covenants and plat for drainage easements before regrading or trenching.
French drains handle yard and roof runoff. They don't protect a home from creek or river flooding. If you're near a creek, request a Floodplain Determination from the City of Tulsa.
On contractors: Oklahoma doesn't issue a state license for general, landscape or drainage contractors. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work does require a Construction Industries Board license. Ask any contractor for proof of liability insurance, and use a licensed plumber for anything tied into your home's plumbing.
Areas served
Independent drainage companies across Tulsa County, plus Sapulpa in Creek County and Coweta in Wagoner County. Collinsville and Catoosa homeowners can request quotes too.
French drain questions from Tulsa homeowners
How much does a French drain cost in Tulsa?
HomeBlue's Tulsa figures (May 2024) run $23 to $36 per linear foot, or about $1,370 to $2,140 for a 60-foot drain. Fixr puts a typical national project at $2,800 to $6,500 (Jan 2025). These are published estimates, not quotes. Depth, outlet distance, roots, concrete cutting and sod repair move the number, so get written quotes for your yard.
Is Tulsa French Drain Pros a drainage contractor?
No. Tulsa French Drain Pros is a free matching service. You describe your drainage problem once, and independent local drainage companies that serve your area can contact you with quotes. We don't dig, design, install or warranty anything, and you are never obligated to hire anyone who contacts you.
Does a French drain work in Tulsa clay?
Yes, when it is built as a collector with a real outlet. Much of Tulsa County sits on slow-draining clay, so a French drain should gather water and carry it by gravity to the street or another approved outlet, not rely on soaking it into the ground. Ask each contractor where the pipe will end and how much fall it will have.
Do I need a permit for a French drain in Tulsa?
It depends on the job. Inside Tulsa city limits, the Watershed Development Permit rules cover excavating, grading and regrading, and work in the street right-of-way needs a separate right-of-way permit. Ask your contractor whether your project needs a permit, or call City of Tulsa Development Services (311). Suburbs have their own rules.
Does a drainage contractor need a license in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma doesn't issue a state license for general, landscape or drainage contractors. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work does require a Construction Industries Board license. Ask any contractor for proof of liability insurance, and use a licensed plumber for anything tied into your home's plumbing.
Will a French drain stop flooding from a creek?
No. French drains handle yard and roof runoff. They don't protect a home from creek or river flooding. If you live near a creek, request a Floodplain Determination from the City of Tulsa before you spend money on yard drainage, so you know which problem you're solving.
More answers on the full FAQ page.
Standing water after every storm? Get free quotes.
Describe the problem once and independent Tulsa-area drainage companies can reply with no-obligation quotes.