Environmental Rules in Los Banos, CA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Los Banos, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Los Banos regulates what can enter its storm drains under the Los Banos Urban Storm Water Management and Discharge Control Ordinance, Municipal Code Chapter 6-13. Section 6-13.106 bans discharging anything but storm water into the storm drain system or watercourses when it would violate water quality standards, with narrow listed exceptions like lawn irrigation and clear pool water.
Los Banos Stormwater Discharge Control Rules
Some RestrictionsLos Banos Municipal Code § 6-13.106(a)
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm drain system or water courses 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. The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge to the storm drain system is...
Erosion Control
Los Banos requires a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan before construction begins on any project that disturbs one acre or more of soil, or that disturbs less than an acre but is part of a larger plan totaling an acre or more, under Municipal Code Section 6-13.111. Subdividers must also build erosion control into required site improvements under Section 9-2.602.
Los Banos Construction Erosion & Sediment Control
Some RestrictionsLos Banos Municipal Code §§ 6-13.111(b), 9-2.602(f)
All construction projects which disturb one or more acres of soil or disturb less than one acre but are part of a larger common plan of plan that in total disturbs one or more acres, are required to develop Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) created in accordance with Section A of the State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 99-08-DWQ, a copy of which must be filed with the Pub...
Flood Zones
Los Banos requires a development permit for any construction, grading, or manufactured home placement within areas the FEMA Flood Insurance Study maps as special flood hazard zones. The Building Official serves as Floodplain Administrator, reviewing applications against FIRM maps for Merced County before approving work. Building without a permit, or without meeting the chapter's flood-resistant construction standards, is a misdemeanor under Chapter 9 of Title 4.
Los Banos Floodplain Development Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsLos Banos Municipal Code §§ 4-9.04, 4-9.06, 4-9.11
This chapter shall apply to all areas identified ad flood-prone within the jurisdiction of the City of Los Banos. ... No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations. Violation of the requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards established in ...
Defensible Space
Los Banos requires landscape design plans for projects in fire-prone areas to address fire safety, including a defensible space zone around buildings as required by state Public Resources Code Section 4291. The City's own landscape ordinance folds that state defensible-space mandate into its local design-plan review process.
Los Banos Defensible Space Landscape Requirement
Some RestrictionsLos Banos Municipal Code § 9-6.03.06(a)(1)(F)
A landscape design plan for projects in fire-prone areas shall address fire safety and prevention. A defensible space or zone around a building or structure is required per Public Resources Code Section 4291(a) and (b). Avoid fire-prone plant materials and highly flammable mulches. Refer to the local Fuel Modification Plan guidelines.
Flood Elevation Requirements
Los Banos ties its flood construction rules to the FEMA 'base flood,' the flood with a one percent annual chance of occurring. Section 4-9.14 requires new construction and substantial improvements in flood-prone areas to be anchored against flotation and built with flood-damage-resistant materials, methods and utility placement; the code prints no numeric freeboard above base flood elevation.
Los Banos Flood Construction Standards
Some RestrictionsLos Banos Municipal Code §§ 4-9.03, 4-9.14
"Base flood"means a flood which has a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (also called the "100-year flood"). Base flood is the term used throughout this chapter. ... If a proposed building site is in a flood-prone area, all new construction and substantial improvements, including manufactured homes, shall: (a) Be designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to p...