Environmental Rules in Santa Rosa, CA (2026)
4 verified environmental rules for Santa Rosa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Santa Rosa bans altering, blocking, or dumping material into any storm water channel, pipe, or drainage easement, natural or manmade, without a written City permit. Municipal Code Section 17-12.010 requires an encroachment permit from the City Engineer or Public Works, or a grading permit from Community Development, before the work starts. Skipping the permit is a misdemeanor, and unresolved violations can become a property lien.
Santa Rosa Storm Drainage Alteration Permit
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 17-12.010
(A) No person shall commit, or cause or permit to be committed, any of the following acts unless a written permit, or permits, authorizing the act has been obtained from the City: (1) Impair, impede or obstruct the natural flow of storm waters or other water running in a defined channel, natural or manmade, or in a pipe, or other component of any storm water drainage system; (2) Deposit any mat...
Erosion Control
Santa Rosa requires every subdivision to be graded and improved with erosion control that prevents sedimentation or damage to off-site property, following the Uniform Building Code's grading chapters plus eight City-specified erosion and sediment principles enforced by the Building Official through construction.
Santa Rosa Subdivision Grading & Erosion Control
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 19-64.010
All subdivisions shall be designed and improved to provide for proper grading and erosion control, including the prevention of sedimentation or damage of off-site property. All subdivisions shall follow Chapters 18 and 33 and Appendix Chapter 33 of the Uniform Building Code, the grading objectives indicated in the subdivision design guide, the following design objectives, and any future grading...
Flood Zones
Any construction, land alteration, or development inside Santa Rosa's FEMA-mapped special flood hazard areas needs a development permit before work begins, under the city's Flood Damage Protection chapter adopted to comply with the National Flood Insurance Program.
Santa Rosa Flood Damage Protection Development Permit
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code §§ 18-52.010, 18-52.030
This chapter is adopted to comply with the National Flood Disaster Protection Act and the National Flood Insurance Program Regulation, and shall apply to all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the city. ... No structure or land shall, after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, be constructed, located, extended, converted or altered without full co...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New construction and substantial improvements in Santa Rosa's flood hazard areas must elevate the lowest floor, including basement, to at least one foot above base flood elevation, one foot of freeboard above FEMA's minimum.
Santa Rosa Freeboard: 1 Foot Above Base Flood Elevation
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 18-52.080(C)(1)
New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above one foot above base flood elevation. Nonresidential structures may meet the standards of subsection (C)(3) of this section. Upon the completion of the structure, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, shall be certified by a registered professional ...
Looking for Sonoma County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Rosa city rules.
Environmental Rules in Sonoma County →