Environmental Rules in Porterville, CA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Porterville, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Building any storm drainage system in a Porterville street, alley, easement or public property requires a city permit; Chapter 19A funds and administers drainage works that serve the general area, while purely private or single-purpose drains get no city funding.
Porterville Storm Drainage System Permit
Some RestrictionsPorterville Municipal Code §§ 19A-2, 19A-4
19A-2: PERMIT REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM: ... It shall be unlawful for any person to construct a storm drainage system in a public street, alley, easement or property without first receiving a permit to do so and complying with the provisions of this article. ... 19A-4: ... STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEMS: This chapter is intended to provide for planning, engineering, administration and...
Erosion Control
In the City of Porterville, every approved subdivision map must comply with grading and erosion control standards under the California Building Code to prevent sedimentation and off-site property damage. The Engineering and Project Management Director oversees compliance, and steep terrain can shift a subdivider from a mass grading plan to lot-by-lot grading.
Porterville Grading and Erosion Control Rule
Some RestrictionsPorterville Municipal Code § 407.03(J)
J. Grading and Erosion Control. Every map approved pursuant to this Series shall be conditioned on compliance with the requirements for grading and erosion control, including the prevention of sedimentation or damage to off-site property, set forth in of the California Building Code of the most recently adopted edition. Steep terrain and other topographical features may limit the abilities of...
Flood Zones
Porterville regulates construction in flood hazard areas under Article XIV of the Municipal Code, adopting FEMA's Flood Insurance Study and rate maps for Tulare County by reference. No structure or land may be built, extended, converted or altered in a mapped flood zone without full compliance, and violations are a misdemeanor under Section 7-140.3.
Porterville Floodplain Development Rules
Significant RestrictionsPorterville Municipal Code § 7-140.2, § 7-140.3
7-140.2: BASIS FOR ESTABLISHING THE AREAS OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD: ... The areas of special flood hazard identified by the federal emergency management agency (FEMA) in the flood insurance study (FIS) for "The Flood Insurance Rate Map For Tulare County And The Incorporated Areas" dated June 16, 2009, with accompanying flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) and flood boundary and floodway maps (FBFMs...
Defensible Space
Porterville Municipal Code section 501.10(J), inside the Hillside Zone (HZ) Overlay District, requires a permanent fuel modification area and fire prevention plan around any development adjacent to hazardous fire areas, with the fire chief setting the width based on slope, fuel loading and access for fire equipment. Ongoing brush and vegetation clearance in that zone is enforced under the city's adopted California Fire Code, section 12-1.1.
Porterville Hillside Fuel Modification Zone Rule
Some RestrictionsPorterville Municipal Code § 501.10(J)
J. Fuel Modification Zones: 1. A permanent fuel modification area and fire prevention plan shall be required, subject to the determination of the fire chief, around development projects, or portions thereof, that are adjacent or exposed to hazardous fire areas for the purpose of fire protection. ... ... 2. Adequate provisions shall be made for the continual maintenance of such areas, and the fi...
Flood Elevation Requirements
Porterville's floodplain code requires new and substantially improved residential structures to elevate their lowest floor to or above the base flood elevation in the City's AE, AH and A1-30 flood zones, or two feet above the highest adjacent grade in an AO zone with no mapped depth number, under Section 7-142.1.
Porterville Base Flood Elevation Standards
Significant RestrictionsPorterville Municipal Code § 7-142.1
7-142.1: STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTION: ... In all areas of special flood hazards the following standards are required: ... ... C. Elevation And Floodproofing: 1. Residential Construction: All new construction or substantial improvements of residential structures shall have the lowest floor, including basement: a. In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. b. In an AO zo...
Looking for Tulare County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Porterville city rules.
Environmental Rules in Tulare County →