Question
Hi Jeff, I purchased a home about 2 years ago. The house was built in 1989 and sits on an average size lot. The problem is water from the back yard is draining to the house and under the house. When I bought the house half of the back yard ( 60ftL x 20ftW) is covered by plastic with gravel over it the other half is grass. What makes matters worse is the neighbors property is about 2 feet higher than mine unlike the other houses on my street. Also, each house on my block has a incline or bevel between each house so water can drain ,but mine doesn't. The previous owners leveled the grading, planted 2 fruit trees and add a 6'x6'ft concrete slab that doesn't have 15 or 20 degree slop to keep the water from the house; alot of water collects there in the winter,only. the front lawn and where the side yard meet , where the concrete slab is, is divided by a wood fence . The front yard is about 5 inches higer so this helps the water collect on the concrete slab too, but only in heavy rain. And although I don't see water draining from my neigbor's property, I do believe their water is draining under ground to my side because water drains from my lawn when thay water and I don't. Water does drain from the back to the front wyars to the gutter but it collects under the house most of the time.

Answer
You are going to have to install a series of catch basins and drain lines that will take the water out to the street and into the storm system.  Take a look at ADS landscape drainage systems and consult with someone in your area who knows how they work in your soils, climate, conditions.  Probably a landscape contractor or company representative would be best.  Follow the link below to see what the product looks like.

http://www.masternurseries.com/drainage.html