Yard drainage in West Hattiesburg
Drainage help for the Lamar County neighborhoods just west of Interstate 59.
West Hattiesburg is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in northeastern Lamar County, home to 6,006 people in 2020. Interstate 59 forms its eastern edge, US 98 runs just to the north, and the City of Hattiesburg wraps around it on three sides. Annexation has pulled much of the old CDP into the city, shrinking it from about 7.2 square miles in 2000 to about 2.5 today, so a home that feels like West Hattiesburg may now be inside city limits.
Higher ground, faster runoff
At about 253 feet, this area sits higher than downtown Hattiesburg. On sloped lots, the usual problem is runoff that picks up speed from the lot or road above. Curtain drains, swales that steer water around the house, and channel drains at the bottom of driveways are common fixes, along with erosion control on bare back slopes.
City or county rules?
Check your property record. If the address is inside Hattiesburg, the city's permit rules and the 2018 residential code apply. If it's still unincorporated, Lamar County says it doesn't enforce structural building codes outside city limits, but it does require a flood permit for any structure that needs a utility connection. Either way, Mississippi 811 locates are still required before digging.
Typical jobs here
- Curtain drains on lots below a road or neighbor
- Swales around slab homes on sloped lots
- Long downspout runs to a daylight outlet
- Erosion repair on wooded back slopes
Common questions
Is West Hattiesburg part of the city?
Not all of it. It's an unincorporated census-designated place, but annexation has moved parts of it into Hattiesburg. Your property record shows which side you're on.
Do you also cover Oak Grove?
Yes. Oak Grove and the rest of Lamar County are included. Call with your address.
Services in West Hattiesburg
- French drainsStone-and-pipe trenches that dry out soggy lawns and intercept water moving through the soil.
- Downspout drain linesBuried solid pipe that moves roof water away from the foundation to a safe outlet.
- Regrading and swalesReshape the ground so runoff moves around the house to a safe spot.
- Catch basins and channel drainsGrated drains that grab water at lawn low spots and across driveways and patios.
- Sump pumps and crawl space waterPump out water that collects under raised floors and fix what's feeding it.
Nearby areas
Back yard still squishy two days after the rain quit?
Call and a drainage contractor who works the Pine Belt will come see where the water collects and where it can safely go.