Grading & Drainage: San Jose vs Sunnyvale
How do grading & drainage rules compare between San Jose, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
Sunnyvale has fewer restrictions than San Jose.
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County
San Jose regulates grading and drainage through SJMC Chapter 17.04 (Grading Ordinance) and Title 20 (Zoning). A grading permit is required for excavation or fill exceeding 50 cubic yards, cuts or fills exceeding 5 feet in depth, or any grading on slopes steeper than 20%. All grading must maintain pre-development drainage patterns or provide engineered drainage solutions that prevent adverse impacts to neighboring properties.
View full San Jose rules →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
Grading of 50 cubic yards or more requires a grading permit in Sunnyvale under SMC Title 16. Lot drainage must direct water away from structures and neighbors without causing nuisance.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Jose | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | SJMC Chapter 17.04 | - |
| Permit Threshold | 50+ cubic yards or 5+ ft cut/fill depth | - |
| Slope Threshold | Grading on slopes >20% requires permit | - |
| Retaining Walls | Walls over 4 ft require building permit | - |
| Hillside Policy | Additional review for hillside properties | - |
| Permit threshold | - | 50 cubic yards or 5 ft cut |
| Drainage direction | - | Away from neighbors, to street |
| Geotechnical | - | Required on steep sites |
| LID bioretention | - | May be required |
| Retaining walls | - | Permit over 4 ft tall |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Jose FAQ
Do I need a grading permit to level my backyard?
If the work involves more than 50 cubic yards of soil or cuts/fills deeper than 5 feet, a grading permit is required. Smaller projects may still need erosion controls.
Can I redirect drainage from my property to my neighbor's?
No. Grading and drainage improvements must not concentrate or redirect water onto neighboring properties. Engineered drainage plans may be required.
Sunnyvale FAQ
Do I need a permit for a small backyard regrade?
Not if it is under 50 cubic yards and does not change drainage patterns toward neighbors.
My neighbor's runoff floods my yard - what can I do?
File a complaint with Code Enforcement; diverting drainage onto adjacent property is a violation.
Compare other topics
See how San Jose and Sunnyvale compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool