Environmental Rules in El Dorado County, CA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated El Dorado County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
El Dorado County's Stormwater Quality Ordinance, County Code Chapter 8.79, makes it unlawful to discharge or connect anything but stormwater into the County's storm drains, ditches, and other stormwater facilities. The ordinance applies countywide in unincorporated areas and backs enforcement with administrative fines, misdemeanor penalties, and nuisance abatement.
El Dorado County Stormwater Discharge Prohibition
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 8.79.080
Except as provided in Section 8.79.090, it is unlawful for any person to make or cause to be made any illicit connection to or illicit discharge into a stormwater facility. Notwithstanding the exemptions provided by Section 8.79.090, if the Enforcement Agency determines any otherwise exempt discharge causes or significantly contributes to violations of any water quality standard, or conveys sig...
Erosion Control
El Dorado County requires a grading permit for nearly all land-disturbing work in the unincorporated area under Chapter 110.14, the County's Grading Ordinance. Small residential jobs under set cut, fill and disturbance thresholds are exempt, but any grading that risks erosion or sedimentation is not.
El Dorado County Grading & Erosion Control Permit
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code Section 110.14.130 (Applicability), Chapter 110.14
A grading permit issued by the Director is required for all grading activities in the unincorporated area of the County, including underground excavations associated with human occupancy, and agricultural grading activities that convert undisturbed vegetation to agricultural cropland, unless the proposed activities are exempt from this requirement pursuant to Section 110.14.140.
Flood Zones
El Dorado County bars new residential construction in a mapped flood zone unless the lowest floor sits at or above the base flood elevation, and it bans creating new lots that fall entirely inside a Special Flood Hazard Area, under Chapter 130.32.
El Dorado County Floodplain Development Standards
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Zoning Ordinance (Title 130), Section 130.32.050(A)(3)(a), (C)(1)
a.Residential Construction. All new and modern construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement:(1)In A1-A9, A14 and A24 Zones, at or above the base flood elevation (BFE);...C.Standards for Subdivisions and Other Proposed Development.1.Creation of new lots which lie entirely within the SFHAs as identified on the most current v...
Defensible Space
Under the county's Good Neighbor and Neighborhood Protection Policy, Section 8.09.070(D)(5), if hazardous vegetation on your parcel presents a fire risk to a neighbor's structure within 100 feet of your property line, you, not the neighbor, must clear that fire hazard.
El Dorado County Neighbor Vegetation Hazard Duty
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code § 8.09.070(D)(5)
5.Good Neighbor and Neighborhood Protection Policy. When a structure(s) is less than 100 feet from a property line of the subject improved parcel and hazardous vegetation on an adjacent improved or unimproved parcel presents a fire hazard to the structure(s) on the subject improved parcel, the responsible person of the neighboring improved or unimproved parcel where the fire hazard exists shall...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In Special Flood Hazard Areas, El Dorado County requires new and substantially improved residential structures to have their lowest floor, including any basement, built at or above the base flood elevation shown on FEMA's flood insurance rate maps.
El Dorado County Base Flood Elevation Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Code Section 130.32.050(A)(3)(a), Chapter 130.32
Residential Construction. All new and modern construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement:(1)In A1-A9, A14 and A24 Zones, at or above the base flood elevation (BFE);(2)In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM (unnumbered A zone), at or above the base flood elevation.
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