Oneida 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
Contractor licensing	No statewide license; local licensing only in NYC and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties	NY Attorney General
Written contract	Required for home improvements over $500	NY Attorney General
Right to cancel	Until midnight of the third business day after signing, in writing	NY Attorney General
Deposits	Held in escrow at a NY bank within five business days, or covered by a bond	NY Attorney General
Utica permits	Building permit for work costing $1,000 or more	City of Utica
Before digging	Contact UDig NY (811); utilities have two working days to respond	UDig NY; National Grid
Indoor humidity	Below 60%, ideally 30% to 50%	U.S. EPA

Why does water find Utica-area basements?

Start with the ground. In its study of the aquifers in the western Utica area, the U.S. Geological Survey describes silt and clay deposited on the bottom of a glacial lake, up to 300 feet thick in places, with very low permeability. It describes the glacial till covering the uplands as relatively impermeable with moderate to high clay content, generally less than 20 feet thick there. On the Mohawk River floodplain, the USGS notes a veneer of recent alluvium over more permeable sand and gravel, and a relatively shallow depth to water in most places. The bedrock has a local name, too: the Utica Shale takes its name from the city, and the USGS geologic names lexicon gives its type area as Starch Factory Creek, east of Utica.

Then add the weather. NOAA normals for the Utica airport show about 88 inches of snow a year (1981–2010), including lake-effect snow from Lakes Erie and Ontario, and roughly 44 inches of total precipitation (1991–2020). A snowpack that melts over a few warm days, on top of clay soil or a high valley water table, is the classic recipe for a wet basement in March and April.

Who can do the work, and what should the contract say?

According to the New York Attorney General, home improvement contractors must be licensed only in New York City and in Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. There's no statewide license and no Oneida County license, so the contract carries most of the weight. Under the state's Home Improvement Contract Law, for any job over $500:

The contract must be in writing, legible and in plain English, and you get a copy before work begins.
It must list the contractor's name, address and phone number; approximate start and completion dates; and a specific description of the work and materials, including brand names and model numbers where they apply, plus the price.
You can cancel, in writing, until midnight of the third business day after signing.
Money you pay before the job is substantially complete must go into an escrow account at a New York bank within five business days, and you must be told where it's held within ten business days. A contractor can post a bond instead.
Progress payments should bear a reasonable relationship to the work done and materials bought.

No license also means no state lookup, so ask for references, proof of insurance and a detailed written scope.

Do I need a permit?

In the City of Utica, all construction costing $1,000 or more requires a building permit, and any new construction or renovation in the Scenic and Historic District needs one regardless of cost. The city's permit requirements include proof of workers' compensation insurance or an exemption certificate. Outside the city, including New Hartford, Whitestown and Rome, ask your own town, village or city building office. The contract should say whether a permit is needed and who will get it.

What about digging outside?

Exterior waterproofing, footing drains and buried discharge lines all involve digging near utility lines. In upstate New York, location requests go to UDig NY by calling 811. UDig NY says member utilities must respond within two business days, not counting the day of the request, and that state Code Rule 753 requires professional excavators to contact it before digging. National Grid describes the same requirement as at least two full working days' notice, excluding weekends and legal holidays. Homeowners digging themselves should call too; the service is free.

Where should sump pump water go?

Away from the house and out of the sanitary sewer. In 2007 Oneida County signed a consent order with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows at its Sauquoit Creek pump station, and the county explained that rain and snowmelt generate more wastewater than the plant can handle. That basin includes the villages of New York Mills, Yorkville, Whitesboro, Oriskany, New Hartford and Clayville and the towns of Whitestown, New Hartford and Paris. Check local rules before connecting any sump line to a drain.

How dry should the basement be?

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

Questions to ask a waterproofing company

Where exactly is the water coming in, and how does your fix address that spot?
Can I see proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance?
Does this need a permit, and will you pull it?
Where will drain and pump water discharge, and how will the line handle freezing?
Where will my deposit be held?
What happens to the plan and price if you find structural problems?
What does the warranty cover, for how long, and does it transfer to a buyer?

Common questions

Do basement waterproofing contractors need a license in Oneida County?

No. New York has no statewide home improvement license, and Oneida County isn't among the counties that license contractors. The state's Home Improvement Contract Law still applies to jobs over $500.

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

Until midnight of the third business day after you sign. The cancellation has to be in writing.

Does exterior waterproofing require calling 811 in New York?

Yes. Professional excavators must contact UDig NY before digging, and utilities have two working days to mark their lines. Homeowners doing their own digging should call as well.

Oneida County, NY basement waterproofing guide (2026)