water off your own roof is one thing. Changing natural drainage or interrupting a stream is another. Every bit of this is jurisdiction-specific. So what is fine in one state may need a permit in the next.
flowing rain
source: Pexels
How to Check the Rules Where You Live
Before you build anything bigger than a basic barrel, spend twenty minutes confirming the rules. From my own poking around, the answers are usually easier to find than you would expect. However, they hide in a few different offices.
Check your state water-resources or environmental agency first, since that is where harvesting rules usually live.
Check city or county rules if you are installing a larger collection system.
Confirm whether your area treats rooftop runoff differently from naturally flowing surface water.
Check permitted uses, especially before using collected rainwater indoors or as drinking water.
Check plumbing, health, building, and storage requirements
