Environmental Rules in Gilroy, CA (2026)
4 verified environmental rules for Gilroy, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Gilroy City Code Section 27C.7 bars discharging any pollutant-carrying material other than storm water into the city's storm drain system or into waters of the United States or the state, whether or not that specific material is separately named as prohibited elsewhere in the chapter, with any violation of the chapter's requirements made a misdemeanor under Section 27C.33.
Gilroy Illegal Storm Water Discharge Ban
Significant RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 27C.7, 27C.33
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the storm drain system or waters of the United States or the state any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than storm water, whether or not the discharge of such material or pollutant is specifically proh...
Erosion Control
Gilroy's building code amendments require an Interim Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for grading work under City Code § 6.7(a)(17), adding Appendix J Section J110.3. Work during the October 15 to April 15 wet season needs written Building Official permission every five working days, and violations bring citations under Section 1.7, Section 6.16 and Chapter 6A.
Erosion and Sediment Control Rules in Gilroy
Significant RestrictionsGilroy City Code § 6.7(a)(17) [Appendix J §§ J110.3-J110.6.5]
Add subsections to Section J110, Erosion Control, to read as follows: Section J110.3 Erosion Control. a. The applicant shall submit an Interim Erosion and Sediment Control Plan. This can be incorporated on the Grading Plan and shall include the following information: 1. Maximum surface runoff from the site as calculated using the method approved by the Building Official. ... Section J110.4 Dust...
Flood Zones
Gilroy City Code Section 27E.15 requires a development permit, obtained on city forms, before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, in an area of special flood hazard, and Section 27E.8 makes any construction or alteration without full compliance a misdemeanor.
Gilroy Floodplain Development Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 27E.15, 27E.8
A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in section 27E.7. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the City of Gilroy. ... No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full complian...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In Gilroy's mapped special flood hazard areas, Gilroy City Code Section 27E.17(c)(1) requires the lowest floor of any new or substantially improved residential structure to sit at least one foot above the base flood elevation shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map, giving buildings a one-foot freeboard margin above the FEMA-mapped 1-percent-annual-chance flood level.
Gilroy Base Flood Elevation Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsGilroy City Code §§ 27E.5, 27E.17(c)(1)a
“Base flood elevation (BFE)” means the elevation shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map for Zones AE, AH, A1-30, VE and V1-V30 that indicates the water surface elevation resulting from a flood that has a one percent (1%) or greater chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. ... Residential Construction. All new construction or substantial improvements of residential structures shall ...
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