Environmental Rules in Chino Hills, CA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Chino Hills, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Chino Hills bans any discharge into its municipal storm drain system that isn't stormwater itself, under CHMC § 13.16.090. Dumping trash, chemicals or wash water into a street, gutter, catch basin or drainage channel where it could become a pollutant is a separate, explicit violation, tied to the City's federal Clean Water Act permit.
Chino Hills Storm Drain Discharge Rules
Significant RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 13.16.090
A. Any discharge that would result in or contribute to a violation of NPDES Permit No. CA8000200, attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter, as Attachment A, and any amendment, revision or reissuance thereof, either separately considered or when combined with other discharges, is prohibited... C. It is prohibited to:1.Discharge nonstormwater directly or indirectly to the city stormwate...
Erosion Control
Chino Hills bans any site condition that causes or is likely to cause accelerated erosion. Municipal Code Section 16.54.030 lets the Building Official cite a property, order corrective measures on a deadline, and require an approved soil erosion and sediment control plan or permit before grading, land clearing, or construction resumes, with power to halt work during storms if erosion controls fail.
Chino Hills Construction Erosion Control Rules
Significant RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 16.54.030
A.No person shall cause or allow the continued existence of a condition on any site that is causing or is likely to cause accelerated erosion as determined by the Building Official.B.Upon citation by the Building Official, the responsible person, shall take all appropriate measures to control erosion on the site specified in the notification within the period of time determined by the Building ...
Flood Zones
Any construction or land change within a Chino Hills special flood hazard area needs a development permit before work starts, under Municipal Code § 15.12.130, and building or altering structures there without following the chapter's floodplain rules is a misdemeanor under § 15.12.080.
Chino Hills Floodplain Development Permit
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 15.12.130
A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Article III, Section 15.12.070. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the Floodplain Administrator and may include, but not be limited to: plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions, a...
Defensible Space
Chino Hills' locally amended Wildland-Urban Interface Code requires owners of buildings in State Responsibility Areas, Very High Fire Hazard Zones, and city-designated WUI areas to manage hazardous vegetation and fuels under Municipal Code § 8.16.045 (WUI Code §§ 604.1-604.2), tying compliance to the property's approved fire protection and fuel modification plans and the fire code official's enforcement process.
Chino Hills Hazardous Vegetation and Fuel Rule
Significant RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 8.16.045 (amending WUI Code §§ 604.1-604.2)
604.1 General. Hazardous vegetation and fuels shall be managed to reduce the severity of potential exterior wildfire exposure to buildings and to reduce the risk of fire spreading to buildings as required by applicable laws and regulations. 604.2 Application. Buildings and structures located in the following areas shall maintain the required hazardous vegetation and fuel management: 1. All unin...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New construction and substantial improvements inside a Chino Hills special flood hazard area must raise the lowest floor, including any basement, at least one foot above the base flood elevation, and a registered engineer or surveyor must certify the finished elevation under § 15.12.170(C)(1).
Chino Hills Flood Elevation Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 15.12.170(C)(1)
New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation. Non-residential structures may meet the standards in subsection C.3 below. Upon completion of the structure the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, shall be certified by a registered civil engineer or surv...
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