Stormwater Maintenance Service in Central Florida
Culvert Installation in Orlando, FL
Properly sized and installed drainage culverts for driveways, roads, and swales — permitted, inspected, and built to handle Central Florida's heavy rainfall by a licensed underground utility contractor.
65+ years serving Central Florida
Licensed local service team
Fast scheduling and clear communication
Service Overview
Culvert Installation Backed by 65+ Years of Local Experience
A culvert is only as good as its installation. Undersized pipe, poor bedding, incorrect slope, or missing headwalls cause failures that wash out driveways, flood properties, and create costly emergency repairs. Getting it right the first time means knowing the flow requirements, selecting the right pipe material, and installing to county specifications.
Lapin Services installs drainage culverts for driveways, private roads, drainage swales, and new construction access points across Orlando and Central Florida. We handle sizing calculations, material selection, permitting, headwall and end treatment installation, and final inspection coordination — so your culvert performs correctly for decades, not just the first rainy season.
Problems We Solve
Common Culvert Installation Problems We Fix
Here are the issues our team commonly finds and resolves during culvert installation calls across Central Florida.
Undersized Culverts That Can't Handle Flow
A pipe that's too small backs up water during heavy rain events, causing flooding on both sides of the crossing and accelerating erosion of the surrounding embankment.
Driveway Culverts Installed Without Permits
Many counties require permits and inspections for culverts crossing roadside swales. Unpermitted installations can result in required removal, fines, and rework at the property owner's expense.
Failed or Collapsed Pipe Under Driveways
Corrugated metal culverts installed decades ago often rust through and collapse, blocking drainage and creating sinkholes under the driveway surface that worsen with every rain event.
New Construction Access Without Drainage Planning
Installing a driveway or site access road across a drainage swale without a properly sized culvert disrupts sheet flow, causes upstream flooding, and typically fails county site inspection.
Missing Headwalls and End Treatments
Culverts without proper headwalls or end sections are vulnerable to inlet erosion, pipe movement, and structural failure — especially on sites with high-velocity flow during storm events.
When to Call
Signs Your Stormwater System Needs Professional Attention
If you notice any of these warning signs, schedule culvert installation before the problem becomes more disruptive or expensive.
You're Installing a New Driveway Across a Swale
Any driveway or access road that crosses a roadside drainage swale requires a culvert sized and installed to county specifications before construction is complete.
Water Backs Up on One Side of Your Driveway After Rain
Standing water that pools on the uphill side of your driveway crossing is a clear sign the existing culvert is undersized, blocked, or has failed and needs replacement.
Your Driveway Surface Is Sinking or Cracking
Settlement and cracking near a driveway entrance often indicates a collapsed or corroded culvert beneath the surface that is no longer supporting the load above it.
You're Developing a Site That Requires Property Access
New construction projects that need a permitted driveway or road crossing over a drainage feature require a properly engineered culvert as part of the site development package.
You've Received a Notice About Your Driveway Culvert
County notices citing a blocked, failed, or non-compliant culvert require prompt correction — Lapin handles the inspection, permitting, and installation to bring the crossing into compliance.
Our Process
What to Expect From Your Culvert Installation Visit
Lapin keeps the process straightforward from the first call through final documentation, so you know what is happening at every step.
Step 1
Call or Schedule Online
Call Lapin Services or request service online — we're available 24/7 for urgent drainage situations and new installation inquiries.
Step 2
On-Site Inspection and Diagnosis
We assess the site, measure the drainage swale or waterway, calculate required flow capacity, and recommend the right pipe size, material, and end treatment for your conditions.
Step 3
Honest Assessment and Recommendations
We pull required permits from the county and coordinate any necessary engineering review so your installation meets all applicable drainage and right-of-way requirements.
Step 4
Service Completed
Our licensed technicians install the culvert — including proper bedding, backfill, headwalls or flared end sections, and surface restoration — to ensure long-term structural performance.
Step 5
Documentation and Follow-Up
We coordinate final inspections with the county, confirm the crossing passes, and provide complete documentation of the permitted and approved installation.
Why Lapin
Why Central Florida Chooses Lapin for Culvert Installation
Lapin combines licensed expertise, local knowledge, and responsive service for stormwater work throughout Central Florida.
65+ Years of Experience
Founded in 1958, Lapin has been Central Florida's trusted utility specialist for three generations — with the knowledge and credentials to back it up.
4.9★ Rating · 1,000+ Reviews
The best-rated utility contractor in Florida — not by our own measure, but by the property owners and businesses who've trusted us.
Licensed Underground Utilities Contractor
License CUC1223686. Fully certified for underground utility installation, repair, maintenance, and compliance.
End-to-End Service
One company for installation, repair, inspections, and compliance across all underground utility systems. No handoffs, no finger-pointing between subs.
Available 24/7
Utility emergencies don't wait for business hours. Our team is available around the clock so you're never left waiting when it matters most.
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FAQs
Culvert Installation FAQs
What pipe materials do you use for culvert installation?
We install reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and corrugated metal pipe — selecting the right material based on span, load, flow velocity, and county requirements for your specific application.
How is culvert size determined?
Culvert sizing is based on the contributing drainage area, expected rainfall intensity, and the flow capacity required to prevent upstream flooding. We calculate the appropriate pipe diameter to handle your site’s storm runoff conditions.
Do I need a permit to install a driveway culvert in Orlando?
In most cases, yes. Culverts crossing county-maintained roadside swales or right-of-way areas require a permit from Orange County or the applicable municipality. Lapin handles the permitting process so you stay in compliance.
What are headwalls and do I need them?
Headwalls are concrete or masonry structures installed at the inlet and outlet ends of a culvert to retain embankment fill, prevent erosion, and protect the pipe from displacement. They’re required on many installations and strongly recommended on sites with significant flow velocity.
How long does culvert installation take?
Most residential driveway culvert installations are completed in one to two days. Larger road crossings, multi-barrel culverts, or installations requiring significant excavation and headwall construction may take longer depending on site conditions.
Can you replace an existing failed culvert?
Yes. We remove collapsed or corroded culverts, properly prepare the bedding, and install a new pipe with updated sizing and end treatments — including surface restoration over the crossing.
Do you install culverts for commercial and construction projects?
Yes. We install culverts for residential driveways, commercial site access, private roads, and new development projects — coordinating with engineers, GCs, and county inspectors as needed.
Do you service all of Central Florida?
Yes. We serve Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida region including Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Lake counties.
Schedule Service
Schedule Culvert Installation Today
Call Lapin Services today or request service online — and get your culvert installed correctly by Central Florida's most trusted licensed utility contractor.