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You need to check directly with your municipal government because regulations on rainwater collection vary a lot depending on the area. Some places require explicit permission, others only if the system exceeds a certain size or if you plan to use it for irrigation or consumption, and some don't regulate it at all. The safest thing is to call your municipal office for urban planning or the environment and describe exactly what you've installed: the tank, filters, whether you're connecting it to the indoor plumbing, all that matters.
In my experience, when I got into making home improvements, I discovered that what seemed like a simple thing required unexpected paperwork in some areas and in others nobody cared. With rainwater, the main issue usually comes down to whether it affects municipal drainage, if you could have public health problems, or if there's regulation about groundwater. Better to play it safe now than get into trouble later.
Ideally you should take photos or plans of what you installed to the municipal office. If they need a permit and you don't have one, you can generally request it retroactively. And while you're at it, ask if there are subsidies or grants for systems like that, because some municipalities offer them.
The most straightforward thing is to check with your local city hall, because regulations vary quite a bit depending on where you live. In some cities you don't need a permit if it's a small system for household use, but in others they require documentation or inspection even for that. Better to call or stop by the records office before someone tells you that you have to dismantle it later - that way you save yourself the trouble.
In most Latin American municipalities, small rainwater harvesting systems for domestic use (like rooftop tanks or basic gutters) don't require a permit, but this varies quite a bit depending on where you live. What's pretty much universal is that you need to check local regulations before assuming you're in the clear, because some places have rules about drainage, sanitary systems, or groundwater use that could apply to your setup without you expecting it.
The most practical thing is to contact your city's municipal public works office or water services directly. Bring photos of the system, explain what kind of tank you installed and what you're using it for (irrigation, toilet, washing machines, direct consumption). If it's something small and just for plants or animals, usually there's no issue, but if you're feeding internal house systems or thinking about selling water, then they could ask you for permits. In some places it also matters whether you live in an urban or rural area.
Don't risk assuming everything's fine: better to spend an afternoon confirming than to end up facing a fine or having to dismantle everything later. Plus, a lot of municipalities give free guidance on this.
Don't assume that just because it's "small" or "domestic" you don't need a permit. I've seen people get into trouble because they assumed that without checking first. The reality is that some municipalities do regulate it even if it's a simple tank, especially if it affects sewers or the municipal drainage system.
What really matters is that you check two things: first, whether your city council requires prior authorization (some have a quick process and others don't require it at all); second, whether there are regulations about how the system needs to be designed so it doesn't interfere with existing infrastructure. Sometimes the permit is a five-minute formality, but other times they ask you to meet certain technical standards.
My recommendation is that you go straight to your municipality's public works or urban planning department with photos or plans of the system you installed. Bring information about where it is, how much capacity it has, and how it's connected. That way you avoid surprises later, and if it needs adjustments, you'll know already. Many city councils are flexible on these issues if you show you did it in good faith.
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