Is Standing Water in the Crawl Space a Code Violation?

If you’re buying or selling a home in Arkansas, standing water in the crawl space might feel like a red flag — and you’d be right.

But is it technically a code violation?

In most cases, yes.

At PierPoint Foundation Solutions, we’ve inspected hundreds of homes where puddles, flooding, or high moisture under the house either stalled a real estate deal or led to major foundation problems. Here’s what the building codes actually say — and what you can do about it.

💧 The Short Answer: Yes, It Violates Code

According to the International Residential Code (IRC) and adopted Arkansas standards:

“Crawl spaces shall be graded and drained to prevent water accumulation.”

— IRC Section R408.6

This means standing water violates code — whether it’s an inch or a foot.

It doesn’t matter if it rained recently, if the house has gutters, or if the buyer doesn’t “plan to use the space.”

If there’s water present, the inspector is required to flag it.

🔍 Why Water Accumulates Under Homes

We regularly trace crawl space flooding back to:

• Improper grading around the home

• No or clogged gutters and downspouts

• High water table or poor soil drainage

• Broken or disconnected HVAC drains

• Plumbing leaks

• Lack of sump pump or drainage system

• Vents letting in water during storms

• No vapor barrier to manage humidity

Even small puddles can become mold traps, structural threats, or termite invitations.

🛑 Consequences of Standing Water (Beyond Code)

Standing water can lead to:

• Sagging or rotting joists

• Wood mold and mildew

• Rusted HVAC or ductwork

• Odors rising into the home

• Failed appraisals or FHA/VA loan rejections

• Mold litigation for sellers

• Collapsed or unstable foundation piers

In Arkansas humidity, water doesn’t dry up — it lingers and damages everything it touches.

🛠️ PierPoint: We Make It Code-Compliant

We don’t just remove the water — we make sure it doesn’t return.

✔️ Crawl space drainage system design (EZ-Flow)

✔️ Sump pump installation with discharge line

✔️ Floor grading to slope water to pump basin

✔️ Mold-resistant 20 mil vapor barrier

✔️ Foundation pier restoration (if affected)

✔️ Optional full encapsulation for sealed performance

✔️ Inspector-ready documentation

We also offer pre-listing inspections to help you avoid surprises during the closing process.

📞 Don’t Wait Until It Floods Again

If there’s water under your home, it’s already a problem. Let’s fix it — the right way.

📍 Serving all of Arkansas

📅 To schedule a crawl space water and code compliance check, contact Dakota Treece:

📞 (501) 284-9330

📘 Message us on Facebook @PierPointFoundationSolutions

🔗 Book Your Crawl Space Water Check

No more guesswork. Just dry, code-compliant crawl spaces.