How Redwood City Handles Environmental Rules: A Practical Guide

Redwood City maintains 130 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with environmental rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Redwood City falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Boat Dock Permits

Redwood City Code Section 44.16 bars building any wharf, pier, landing, bulkhead or other permanent structure in the City harbor without written permission from the Board of Port Commissioners. Placing any buoy, marker or obstruction, temporary or permanent, also needs the Port Manager's written approval unless placed by a government agency.

Key details: Structure permission authority: Board of Port Commissioners. Buoy/marker permission authority: Port Manager. Government exception: City, Port, Coast Guard, Army Corps placements. First-violation fine: Up to $100. Escalated repeat fine: Up to $500 per additional violation/year.

Building a wharf, pier, landing, bulkhead or other permanent harbor structure without the Board of Port Commissioners' written permission, or placing an unauthorized buoy, marker or obstruction without the Port Manager's written permission, is punishable under Section 44.27's general penalty schedule: a fine up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second violation of the same provision within a year, and up to $500 for each additional violation within that year, with every day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. Unauthorized structures, buoys, markers or obstructions may also be summarily removed by the City or the Port.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Redwood City actively enforces its boat dock permits requirements.

Flood Zones

Redwood City Code Chapter 41 applies to every area of special flood hazard mapped on the FEMA flood insurance rate maps. No structure or land in those zones may be built, extended or altered without a development permit and full compliance with the chapter, and violations are a misdemeanor under Section 41.9.

Key details: Floodplain Administrator: City Engineer. Governing maps: FIRM dated May 17, 1982, plus amendments. Permit required for: Any construction/development in special flood hazard area. Violation classification: Misdemeanor. Appeal body: City Council.

Constructing, locating, extending, converting or altering any structure or land within a mapped special flood hazard area without a Section 41.16 development permit, or without meeting a permit's conditions and safeguards, is a misdemeanor under Section 41.9. The City Council may pursue any other lawful action needed to stop or correct the violation, in addition to criminal prosecution, and an aggrieved applicant may appeal an adverse Floodplain Administrator determination to the City Council under Section 41.17.

Flood Elevation Requirements

Redwood City Code Section 41.18 requires new or substantially improved residential structures in any special flood hazard zone to have their lowest floor, including any basement, elevated at least one foot above the base flood elevation. Nonresidential buildings may floodproof instead, and breakaway walls below the floor must meet a set load-resistance range.

Key details: Residential freeboard: 1 foot above base flood elevation. Nonresidential option: Dry floodproofing with engineer certification. Breakaway wall load range: 10 to 20 pounds per square foot. Sub-floor opening ratio: 1 sq in per sq ft of enclosed area. Opening height limit: No higher than 1 foot above grade.

Constructing or substantially improving a residential structure in a special flood hazard area with its lowest floor below the required one-foot freeboard above the base flood elevation, or installing enclosure walls that do not meet the ten-to-twenty pound breakaway wall load standard or lack the required engineer's or architect's certification, is a violation of Section 41.18 and, under Section 41.9, constitutes a misdemeanor subject to City Council enforcement action.

Stormwater Management

Redwood City bans discharging anything but stormwater into its municipal storm drains under Municipal Code Chapter 27A. The Director of Community Development and City Manager's designees enforce the rule, and violators face misdemeanor charges, civil penalties, and cleanup costs. A short list of exempted flows, including dechlorinated pool water and lawn irrigation runoff, keeps ordinary yard maintenance legal.

Key details: Governing chapter: Municipal Code Chapter 27A, adopted 1995. Core rule: Non-stormwater discharge to storm drains banned. Enforcing officer: Director of Community Development / City Manager designee. Criminal penalty: Misdemeanor, chargeable as infraction instead. Appeal window: 10 days to coordinator, 15 more to Director.

Violating Chapter 27A is a misdemeanor under Section 27A.25, though the enforcing authority can instead charge it as an infraction or abate it as a public nuisance. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and concealing a violation is itself a violation. Section 27A.26 lets the City pursue civil injunctions, recovery of inspection and cleanup costs, compensatory damages for water-quality harm, and cease-and-desist orders, and authorized officials may cite or arrest violators under Penal Code misdemeanor-citation procedures.

This is one of the stricter rules in Redwood City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Erosion Control

In Redwood City's R-1/RH districts, at least 40 percent of each lot and 60 percent of the required front yard must remain pervious (landscaped, open, or permeable paving) to manage drainage, with a limited paved driveway allowance on narrow lots.

Key details: Lot pervious: ≥40% of lot. Front yard pervious: ≥60% of front yard. Narrow-lot driveway: Max 20 ft paved. Code section: RWC Zoning 5.9.

Paving over more than the allowed share of a lot or front yard, reducing required pervious area, violates Redwood City Zoning Code section 5.9 and is enforced by the Planning Division.

The Bottom Line

Redwood City is tougher than many cities when it comes to environmental rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Redwood City, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Redwood City's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.