Environmental Rules in Ridgecrest, CA (2026)
4 verified environmental rules for Ridgecrest, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Ridgecrest's landscape ordinance encourages stormwater best management practices in landscape and grading design to cut runoff, and requires all planted landscape areas in qualifying projects to use friable soil that maximizes water retention and infiltration.
Ridgecrest Stormwater Landscape Retention Rule
Light RestrictionsRidgecrest City Code § 5-75
Stormwater management practices minimize runoff and increase infiltration which recharges groundwater and improves water quality. Implementing stormwater best management practices into the landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration are encouraged.(b)Project applicants shall refer to the local agency or regional water qualit...
Erosion Control
Ridgecrest requires a grading permit once 51 or more cubic yards of soil are moved, and an engineered grading plan once the total reaches 200 cubic yards, to control wind erosion.
Ridgecrest Grading Permit Thresholds
Some RestrictionsRidgecrest City Code § 104-3
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, or any agent thereof who is in possession or control of land to disturb the surface or subsurface of land by excavation, leveling, cultivating, grading...without first obtaining a permit from the city engineer. A grading permit is required when an amount of material between 51 cubic yards and 199 cubic yards of material is moved. An engi...
Flood Zones
Ridgecrest requires a development permit before any construction or grading begins within a mapped special flood hazard, erosion, or mudslide area, administered by the director of public works as floodplain administrator.
Ridgecrest Floodplain Development Permit
Some RestrictionsRidgecrest City Code § 103-7
A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazards, areas of flood related erosion hazards or areas of mud slides as established in conformance with this chapter. The director of public works is hereby designated as the floodplain administrator and appointed to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying dev...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New construction and substantially improved structures in Ridgecrest's mapped flood zones must have the lowest floor, including any basement, built at or above the FEMA base flood elevation.
Ridgecrest Base Flood Elevation Rule
Some RestrictionsRidgecrest City Code § 103-9
New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Nonresidential structures may meet the standards set forth in the next subsection. Upon completion of the structure, the elevation of the lowest floor including basement shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor ...
Looking for Kern County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Ridgecrest city rules.
Environmental Rules in Kern County →