When there is a downpour, which happens at least a dozen times per year, my next-door neighbor's back yard fills up with water. I mean that the entire back yard looks like a pond, and the grass is not visible.

The way the terrain is shaped, the whole thing drains out the front corner on my side, and flows into my (unfinished) basement, where a sump pump removes the water.

I'm interested to see if there's a more direct way to deliver the water to the storm water catchment system, without it all having to go through my basement first.

I have some remediation ideas that I would like to discuss with him, but first, I'd like to collect background information as to what rights and responsibilities he, and I, might have, with respect to each other, and local authorities.

I don't expect anyone reading this question to have an exact answer. What I'm wondering is (a) where to look, and (b) what key words and phrases to look for. Also (c) please provide an example from some specific municipality you might be familiar with. Lastly, (d) if that example isn't immediately understandable, a plain language explanation of what it's saying.