Go to top of page

Legal point of discharge

Stormwater falling on any building or development must be collected and directed through underground pipes to a legal point of discharge. This is normally:

  • a drain in the street
  • a drain in an easement
  • a private drain if suitable
  • a Melbourne Water main drain, if permission is obtained.

Individual houses, dual occupancies or small shops may pipe the stormwater to the kerb and channel in the street adjacent to the property if there are no underground drains nearby.

See also

Request a legal point of discharge

Asset protection

Wherever possible, stormwater shall flow under gravity in pipes and not be pumped, unless agreed to by Infrastructure staff beforehand. For minor areas a pumped discharge may be considered but it must connect into our underground drainage system; the details are to be resolved with Infrastructure staff beforehand.

Approved stormwater pipe materials:

  • reinforced concrete, class 2 rubber ring joints
  • cast iron, complying with AS1631
  • class 12 UPVC complying with AS3500.1

Minimum pipe sizes should be:

  • from houses or multi-unit development: 100mm diameter
  • from grating pits or trench grates: 150mm diameter
  • under the road pavement: 300mm diameter

How do I request a legal point of discharge?

You can make your request via our online form.

Request a legal point of discharge

What is the process?

  1. Your application is submitted and payment is made online.
  2. We assess your application in 5 to 10 working days and confirm any details.
  3. The legal point of discharge letter is emailed to the applicant with an attached services plan.

Please note that verbal legal point of discharge advice will not be provided and that all responses will be provided via email.

For more information

For more information contact the Asset Protection Department by calling (03) 9599 4444 in business hours.

You can also read our Subterranean Drainage Guidelines below.

Subterranean Drainage Guidelines 2018 (PDF, 236.33KB)

Subterranean Drainage Guidelines 2018 (DOCX, 119.56KB)