Environmental Rules in Calaveras County, CA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Calaveras County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Calaveras County bans discharging anything but stormwater into its county-maintained storm drains and the channels feeding them, covering oil, hazardous waste, sediment, pesticides, sanitary wastewater, and wash-water from car washes and pressure-washing operations. The Building Department enforces the rule as the county's MS4 permit administrator, with stop-work orders and civil penalties that climb to $10,000 per repeat offense.
Calaveras County Stormwater Discharge Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsCalaveras County Code § 13.01.040
Except as provided for in paragraph C, below, it shall be unlawful for any person or business to discharge or to allow non-stormwater discharges into county-maintained stormwater drainage systems or into a drainage way which flows into the county-maintained stormwater drainage system. ... Prohibited discharges to county-maintained storm drain systems include, but are not limited to:1.Oil, greas...
Erosion Control
Every grading and earthwork project in unincorporated Calaveras County, permitted or not, must use best management practices to control erosion and sediment under County Code § 15.05.170. The rule tracks the State Water Resources Control Board's construction stormwater general permit and lets the Building Department require a security deposit for post-construction slope cover.
Calaveras County Erosion and Sediment Control Rules
Some RestrictionsCalaveras County Code § 15.05.170
A.Regardless of whether or not a grading permit is required, all grading and earthwork activities within unincorporated Calaveras County shall employ best management practices to minimize erosion and to control sediment discharges to the maximum extent practicable in accordance with the manual and as required by the most recently adopted version of the State Water Resources Control Board's "Gen...
Flood Zones
Anyone building or developing within a FEMA-mapped area of special flood hazard in unincorporated Calaveras County must first obtain a development permit under County Code § 15.06.043. The planning director acts as floodplain administrator, reviewing plans against the 1990 Flood Insurance Study maps as updated by a 2016 supplemental study.
Calaveras County Floodplain Development Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsCalaveras County Code § 15.06.043
A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15.06.032. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the County of Calaveras. The applicant shall provide the following minimum information: A.Plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing:...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New residential construction and substantial improvements in Calaveras County's mapped AE, AH and A1-30 flood zones must have the lowest floor, including any basement, elevated at least two feet above the base flood elevation under County Code § 15.06.051.C.1, two feet of freeboard above FEMA's baseline.
Calaveras County Flood Elevation Freeboard Requirements
Some RestrictionsCalaveras County Code § 15.06.051
C.Elevation and Floodproofing. (See Section 15.06.020 definitions for "new construction," "substantial damage" and "substantial improvement.")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 two feet above the base flood elevation.b.In an AO zone, elevated abo...
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