Stormwater drains and legal point of discharge

Learn more about your obligations with stormwater drains and the legal point of discharge from your private property.

When building a private property with a stormwater drain, you are required to obtain a report and consent for a legal point of discharge. In most cases, your builder is responsible for completing this process.

What is a legal point of discharge?

A legal point of discharge is a specific point nominated by us which runs alongside your private property. The stormwater runoff from your property is drained and discharged to one of our managed drainage assets (above surface or underground).

While the underground municipal and kerbside drains are our responsibility, the stormwater outlet (drains, underground pipes even beneath the footpath) from your property to the legal point of discharge is a private asset. You are responsible for maintaining and managing them.

In some cases, you may need to construct a new drain to connect to our underground drains.

At Yarra City Council, we only accept discharges to our nominated legal point of discharge via gravity to protect the integrity of our drainage infrastructure.

When do I need to apply for a legal point of discharge?

You are required to obtain a report and consent for a legal point of discharge for a building permit in Yarra where building works include a stormwater drainage system.

You also need to get a report and consent if the existing stormwater drainage system of your property will be altered or there will be an impact on the effectiveness of the existing stormwater drainage system. This could mean an increase in volume or flow rate of stormwater.

How do I apply?

Please submit your application through one of the links below that best reflects your proposed scope of works on site.  You do not need to log in to submit your application, just follow the prompts.   

Single dwelling properties

This applies to new single dwellings, as well as additions, extensions, or outbuildings.

Other types of properties

Certain types of property have a different process, including:

  • multi unit
  • industrial 
  • commercial 
  • mixed use.

How long will it take? 

Your application will take 10 - 15 business days from the day we receive all required documentation.

Frequently asked questions