Several months ago, I posted an inquiry about working with a contractor to do some ditch work adjacent to a town road here in Chautauqua County, NY. The project has changed somewhat and now consists mostly of adding a few crossdrains to, and regrading (maybe with some additional surfacing) my ~350 foot driveway. Also, my contractor suggested trenching in some 4" perf pipe and covering same with washed gravel, geofabric, and fill to provide a more long-term solution to some drainage issues.

My questions deal with homeowner precautions and any requirements that the State or County might have regarding this type of work. Is the typical contract for flat rate or hourly or is there no such thing as "typical"? I've checked with the Town and they have no permitting or other requirement. At the County or State Level, are contractors REQUIRED to be licensed or insured? I'm aware of the "One Call NY" requirement to alert utility companies, but are there any other things I should be aware of?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!