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Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing in Manchester, NH
Manchester still runs combined sewers, and its Sewer and Stormwater department has its own sewer backflow program, so a wet basement here can be groundwater, roof water or the sewer itself. Call (978) 800-2819 or use the form. A person reads every request and replies with what happens next.
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- City and state rules on this page
- Mill-era houses to newer capes
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Basements in Manchester
What's the basement problem?
Waterproofing & Drainage
Wet walls, seepage at the floor joint and spring water in the basement, handled with interior drains, exterior work or both.
Sump Pumps
New pits, replacement pumps and battery backups, with the discharge going somewhere your town allows.
Foundation Cracks & Repair
Leaking cracks, bowing or settling walls and failing mortar in old fieldstone, with an engineer brought in when the job is structural.
Crawl Spaces & Finishing
Damp crawl spaces sealed up, and dry basements turned into finished space with the right permits.
Not sure what it needs?
(978) 800-2819Tell us whether the water seeps through the walls or comes up from a floor drain, and we'll help you figure out what kind of job it is.
Permits
Permits and rules for basement work in Manchester
Permits come from the Building Regulations Division of Planning and Community Development at One City Hall Plaza (603-624-6475), open 7:30 to 5. Its forms are mailed or emailed in; we didn't find an online portal (city permit form). The city's own Building Code, Chapter 151, was adopted by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on July 6, 2021 (Manchester Building Code).
- Permits issued by
- Building Regulations Division, One City Hall Plaza, 603-624-6475
- Alterations and repairs
- 1% of estimated cost plus $25 application fee; $30 minimum with inspections (Building Code adopted July 6, 2021)
- Starting without a permit
- 100% surcharge
- Frost depth
- 4 feet for new footings
- Sewer
- Combined sewers; foundation drains and downspouts barred from the sewer
Posted fees. Under the code adopted July 6, 2021, alterations, renovations and repairs to any building are priced at the estimated cost times 0.010, which is $10 per $1,000, plus a non-refundable $25 application fee, with a $30 minimum where inspections are needed. The electrical permit for a new sump circuit is figured the same way, and starting work without a permit adds a 100% surcharge (§151.10.7). There's no separate basement line.
Which jobs need a permit. Manchester's local amendments delete several of the IRC's permit exemptions, so fewer small jobs are exempt here than the model code suggests, and the code sets frost depth at 4 feet and requires new additions to be graded so they don't adversely affect neighbors. It has no local amendments on sump pumps, foundation drains, waterproofing or egress windows. Statewide, permits come from the city under the NH State Building Code (the IRC as adopted by NH) (RSA 155-A:2), and permits may be filed under either the 2021 or the 2024 codes through December 31, 2026 (state code concurrence). Ask the Building Regulations Division before finishing a basement or starting drain or foundation work.
Hiring a contractor. "In New Hampshire, contractors do not need to be licensed," the Attorney General's office says. It advises references, proof of insurance and a written contract with the scope, materials, total price and payment schedule, and calls a deposit over half the price a warning sign (NH AG). On contracts over $5,000 the contractor must give you the RSA 359-G notice about resolving defects before a lawsuit (RSA 359-G). Plumbing and electrical work need licensed trades unless you own and live in a single-family home and do it yourself (Mec 300; RSA 319-C), and outside excavation needs a free Dig Safe ticket at least 72 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays.
Last verified November 2026. Fees, restrictions and deadlines on this page are due for re-checking by January 2027. New England Basement Pros is a referral service. We don't pull permits or do basement work; the contractor files the permit.
Water
Where the water comes from in Manchester
Combined sewers. Parts of Manchester's sewer system still carry stormwater and sewage in the same pipes. EPA's draft discharge permit for the city's wastewater plant, put out for comment from April 10 to June 10, 2024, covers 15 combined sewer overflows, with Bedford, Goffstown and Londonderry as co-permittees (EPA notice). The city's Sewer and Stormwater department runs a CSO 50/50 Sewer Backflow Reimbursement Program, with more on its additional details page. We couldn't read the program's terms, so confirm what it covers with the department before you plan any backflow work.
Where the pump water goes. City Code §52.133 says no one may connect roof downspouts, exterior or interior foundation drains, areaway drains, cooling-water drains, storm drains or any other source of runoff or groundwater to a building sewer that reaches the public sewer (§52.133), and §52.023 keeps subsoil drainage out of the sanitary sewer (§52.023). State rules name sump pumps outright (Env-Wq 704). We didn't find a city rule on where a sump may discharge instead, so ask the city before the line is run; work on a public sewer itself needs a Public Works permit (§52.115).
Roof water is a code issue. The Housing Code, amended through December 20, 2022, requires roof water to be carried off so it doesn't cause wet floors, walls or ceilings or a nuisance to the neighbors, and lists inadequate drainage among conditions that can make a dwelling unfit (Housing Code). Gutters and downspouts are often the first thing to fix.
Flood zones. We didn't find a city hazard mitigation plan or floodplain map on an official page, so look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Near wetlands, the city's Conservation Commission reviews state dredge-and-fill filings and encourages a meeting before you file.
Manchester's homes
How water gets into Manchester basements
We couldn't confirm an official breakdown of when Manchester's homes were built.
In an older house, water can come in several ways at once: through the walls and the floor joint when the ground is saturated, from roof water dumped next to the foundation, and up through a floor drain when the sewer backs up in a storm. Each one has a different fix, and in a combined-sewer city it's worth knowing which one you have before the contractor starts.
Radon
Radon in Manchester basements
We didn't find a city or Hillsborough County radon figure. Statewide, about 37% of 32,747 homes tested from 2007 to 2021 were at or above 4 pCi/L, according to the NH DHHS data brief of August 2023 (radon data brief). The state's Radon Program says testing is the only way to know, gives NH residents free test kits, and recommends testing in the lowest livable area, usually the basement (NH Radon Program). Basement waterproofing is a good time to seal openings and, if needed, add a mitigation system.
FAQ
Manchester basement questions
Can I run my sump pump into the sewer in Manchester?
No. City Code §52.133 bars connecting roof downspouts, interior or exterior foundation drains, areaway drains or any other groundwater or surface runoff to a building sewer that reaches the public sewer, and state rules name sump pumps outright. We didn't find a posted city rule on where sump water should go, so ask the city before the discharge line is run.
Does Manchester help with sewer backups?
The city's Sewer and Stormwater department runs a CSO 50/50 Sewer Backflow Reimbursement Program. We couldn't read its terms, so check eligibility and what it covers on the city's program page or with the department before you plan the work.
How much is a building permit for basement work in Manchester?
Under the city Building Code adopted July 6, 2021, alterations, renovations and repairs are 1% of the estimated cost plus a $25 application fee, with a $30 minimum where inspections are needed. Starting work before the permit is issued adds a 100% surcharge.
What does it cost me to use New England Basement Pros?
Nothing. Asking is free for homeowners; the contractor prices the job, and the price and contract are between you and them.
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