Chino Hills, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited
- any condition causing accelerated erosion
- Enforcing official
- Building Official
- Plan required before
- non-exempt grading or land clearing
- Runoff design storm
- 10-year storm event
- Winter operations window
- Oct. 15 to Apr. 15
- Stop-work power
- during inclement weather
- Appeal path
- Planning Commission, § 16.54.140
Summary
Chino Hills bans any site condition that causes or is likely to cause accelerated erosion. Municipal Code Section 16.54.030 lets the Building Official cite a property, order corrective measures on a deadline, and require an approved soil erosion and sediment control plan or permit before grading, land clearing, or construction resumes, with power to halt work during storms if erosion controls fail.
A.No person shall cause or allow the continued existence of a condition on any site that is causing or is likely to cause accelerated erosion as determined by the Building Official.B.Upon citation by the Building Official, the responsible person, shall take all appropriate measures to control erosion on the site specified in the notification within the period of time determined by the Building Official.C.The Building Official may require that a property owner whose property has been cited in accordance with subsection B of this section file and obtain approval of a soil erosion and sediment control plan and/or permit in accordance with Section 16.54.050.D.The Building Official may direct that any particular operation, process or construction be stopped during periods of inclement weather if he or she determines that erosion problems are not adequately being controlled.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
020 applies that mandate to all existing and potential human-induced erosion citywide. 030, is a flat prohibition: no person may cause or allow a condition that is causing, or is likely to cause, accelerated erosion, as the Building Official determines. 050 as a condition of continuing work. 060, which are sized to handle a ten-year storm, on-site retention or detention, nonerodible discharge points, filter strips or catch basins, and a buffer zone along any lake or watercourse. 070 caps land clearing to what is needed for building, access, and fire protection, and requires temporary or permanent revegetation.
080's winter operations rule is the sharpest deadline in the chapter: contiguous clearing over one acre or grading over 1,000 cubic yards needs Building Official authorization to proceed between October 15 and April 15, erosion control devices must be installed by October 15 on ongoing projects, and every winter-period permit must carry a stamped notice warning of the added requirements.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 16.54.030(D), the Building Official can order any grading, land clearing, or construction operation stopped outright during inclement weather if erosion controls are not holding. A property owner who ignores a citation and required corrective measures is also exposed to the citywide Chapter 1.36 general penalty, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or six months in county jail, or an infraction fine escalating from $100 to $500 for repeat violations within a year. Decisions may be appealed to the Planning Commission under Section 16.54.140.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggers an erosion control violation in Chino Hills?
Do I need a permit to grade or clear land in Chino Hills?
Are there extra rules for grading in winter?
Can the City stop my construction project for erosion problems?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino Hills
California rules heatmap·Compare Chino Hills to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle erosion control.