Lynwood, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Article 93 of the zoning code requires control of every existing and potential source of human-caused accelerated erosion citywide, covering project planning, erosion control plans, runoff control, land clearing and winter grading under § 25-93-2. Section 25-93-3 makes it unlawful for anyone to cause or allow a condition on a site that is causing or is likely to cause accelerated erosion, as determined by the Director of Public Works; once the Director cites a property, the responsible party must control the erosion within the deadline set and may be ordered to file a soil erosion and sediment control plan and permit under § 25-93-5.

Runoff-control measures required under § 25-93-6 must be designed and maintained to handle a 10-year storm, with on-site retention required where soils percolate faster than two inches per hour unless the Director waives it for groundwater or slope-stability reasons. Land clearing and grading between October 15 and April 15, the city's winter operations period, faces extra restrictions under § 25-93-8: clearing more than one acre or grading more than 1,000 cubic yards during that window needs the Director's advance authorization, and every winter-period development permit must carry a printed notice warning that additional erosion control measures may be required.

Vegetation removal in that window cannot precede grading or construction by more than fifteen days, and erosion controls must stay in place every day work occurs on the site. A property owner who disagrees with a Director's citation, plan requirement or enforcement order can appeal to the Planning Commission under § 25-93-14.