French drain cost in Chico, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $700 – $2,450
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $41
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +17%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #34
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Chico, CA usually costs $700 to $2,450 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $11.50 to $41 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $240 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.31 an hour in the Chico area, 16% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Chico, CA, standard level
$1,250 to $1,950
About $20.50 to $32.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $830 |
| Labor | $700 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,250 | $1,950 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Chico, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 43% |
| Labor | $400 | $900 | $1,400 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $700 | $1,600 | $2,450 | 100% |
Why Chico prices look the way they do
Labor is 57% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Chico the blended ratio comes out at 1.29.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chico is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $680 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.2: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Chico. The wage table below marks each row.
Chico weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Chico Univ Farm (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Chico are October through June: 9 of 12. Outside them, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Chico gets about 27 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (5.1 inches in February). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 1.4 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 99 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 36 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 38 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 42 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 45 | 1.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 52 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 57 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 59 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 55 | 0.3 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 47 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 40 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 57 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Chico
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Chico the blend is 1.29.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $26.31 an hour, which is 16% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $34.60 an hour. BLS counts 480 of them working in the area, 61.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $38.00 an hour, 32% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.40 and $59.81 an hour. About 230 work in the metro. That is 29.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Chico metro, so we used the California statewide median: $36.63 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.74 and $45.46 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 4.1% to 8.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chico has 78,220 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 241st by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.14 | $26.31 | $34.60 | $22.66 | 1.16 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.40 | $38.00 | $59.81 | $28.78 | 1.32 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $29.74 | $36.63 | $45.46 | $23.56 | 1.55 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Chico
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chico wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+14%) and concrete slab lowest (+8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,900 – $14,700 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,700 | +14% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,600 | +8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,350 – $10,800 | +8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,300 – $126,000 | +12% |
Why two Chico quotes can differ
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
How Chico compares
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Santa Rosa is the priciest of the group at $1,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CAthis page | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | |
| Sacramento, CA70 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
| Redding, CA80 miles | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | level |
| Napa, CA90 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
| Vallejo, CA100 miles | $760 – $2,650 | $1,700 | +7% |
| Santa Rosa, CA105 miles | $760 – $2,650 | $1,700 | +8% |
| California (statewide) | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chico ranks #34 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chico is 5% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $750 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +6% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | +20% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | +17% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chico against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | 79,510 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | −1% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −14% |
| Racine, WI | 76,280 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | level |
Cost by quality level and size in Chico
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chico. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$700 to $1,400
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,250 to $1,950
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,750 to $2,450
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $350 – $700 | $620 – $970 | $880 – $1,250 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $700 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,450 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,800 | $2,450 – $3,900 | $3,500 – $4,950 |
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Multi-page report for Chico, CA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
French drain in Chico: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Chico?
For 60 linear ft, expect $700 to $2,450 in the Chico area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,250 to $1,950. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Chico?
About $11.50 to $41 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Chico or Sacramento?
Sacramento is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,650, which is 5% more than Chico ($1,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chico?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $900 out of $1,600. Materials are 43% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Chico?
$700 to $2,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Chico?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Chico area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chico expensive for French drain compared with the rest of California?
Chico is 5% below the California statewide estimate ($1,650 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Chico?
The BLS median is $26.31 an hour in the Chico area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.14 to $34.60.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Chico?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $700 to $1,400 and premium work $1,750 to $2,450. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Chico?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through June. May and June are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
French drain near Chico
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.