Fresno, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- FMC § 6-714 (Ord. 97-16, 1997)
- Applies to
- New development & redevelopment projects
- BMP administrator
- Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District
- Delivery mechanism
- Conditions on land-use entitlements & permits
- Backstop duty
- BMPs required even with no specific rule adopted
- Enforcement
- City Manager, same as any illicit discharge
Summary
Fresno folds erosion and sediment control into its storm water ordinance rather than a separate grading code: new development and redevelopment projects must use Best Management Practices to control runoff volume, rate, and pollutant load, and the city writes those BMPs directly into land-use entitlements and building or construction permits.
(a) Authorization to Adopt and Impose Best Management Practices. The City of Fresno may adopt requirements identifying appropriate Best Management Practices for any activity, operation, or facility which may cause or contribute to pollution or contamination of storm water, the storm drain system, or waters of the U.S. ... (b) New Development and Redevelopment. The District may adopt requirements identifying appropriate Best Management Practices to control the volume, rate, and to reduce or eliminate the potential pollutant load of storm water runoff from new development and redevelopment projects as may be appropriate to minimize the generation, transport and discharge of pollutants. The City of Fresno may incorporate such requirements in any land use entitlement and construction or building-related permit to be issued relative to such development or redevelopment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 54).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 6-714 of the Urban Storm Water Quality Management and Discharge Control Ordinance (Ord. 97-16, 1997) gives the City of Fresno authority to adopt Best Management Practices for any activity, operation, or facility that could pollute storm water or the storm drain system, and requires compliance once such requirements are promulgated by the city or a state or federal agency. Subsection (b) specifically targets construction-phase impacts: the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District ('the District') may adopt BMP requirements to control the volume, rate, and pollutant load of runoff from new development and redevelopment projects, and the City incorporates those requirements as conditions of any land-use entitlement, construction permit, or building permit issued for the project, this is the mechanism that puts erosion and sediment control conditions on a grading or building permit before dirt moves.
Subsection (c) adds a backstop duty: even without a specific BMP requirement on the books, anyone whose activity, operation, or property could let pollutants reach storm water must implement BMPs to the extent technologically and economically achievable. Enforcement tracks the rest of Article 7, the Authorized Enforcement Agent (City Manager) can order elimination of an illicit discharge (Sec. 6-715), require remediation and site restoration (Sec. 6-717), and inspect the site and take samples (Secs. S.
Violations & Fines
A construction site that discharges sediment-laden or polluted runoff without implementing required BMPs is treated as an illicit discharge under Article 7: the Enforcement Agent issues a written notice to eliminate the discharge and remediate any affected property, and non-compliance triggers the city's general misdemeanor penalty (up to $1,000 and/or six months jail per day of violation, FMC Sec. 1-304) or an administrative citation under Sec. 1-308.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fresno require an erosion control plan for grading permits?
What if there's no specific BMP requirement for my project type?
What happens if sediment washes off my construction site into the storm drain?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno 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 Fresno County handle erosion control.