El Dorado County, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- County Code Ch. 110.14
- Exempt volume threshold
- Under 250 cubic yards
- Exempt cut/fill limits
- Cuts under 5 ft, fills under 3 ft
- Max misdemeanor fine
- $1,000, up to 6 months jail
- Appeal deadline
- 10 working days to Board
Summary
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.
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.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
130 makes a Director-issued grading permit mandatory for all grading activities in unincorporated El Dorado County, including underground excavation tied to human occupancy and agricultural grading that converts undisturbed vegetation to cropland. 150). 290 (Hazards) separately prohibits grading that causes or threatens substantial degradation of water quality of any water body, damage to watercourses or drainage facilities, or damage to septic systems and wells, and orders the landowner to immediately stop work and notify the Director if any such hazard appears. 300) can be required to guarantee proper functioning of drainage systems and adequate erosion and sedimentation control, with maintenance security running a full year past completion. 200.
Violations & Fines
Grading without a required permit, or in violation of permit conditions, is a misdemeanor under Section 110.14.420 punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in County jail, or both, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense. The Director can issue a stop-work order under Section 110.14.410(B); ignoring it is itself a misdemeanor, and the County may perform corrective work at the violator's cost, billed as a lien on the property under Government Code § 54988. Working in violation of this chapter also triggers a violation fee equal to twice the regular permit fee under Section 110.14.230(E).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade my El Dorado County property?
Are exemptions available in the Tahoe Basin?
What happens if grading causes erosion onto a neighbor's land?
What is the penalty for grading without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Dorado County
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