Tulare County, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Article 7 of Chapter 15 states its purpose in § 7-15-1350: to safeguard the public, minimize hazards to property, 'control erosion and protect against sedimentation of watercourses,' and protect public rights-of-way by regulating excavation, grading and earthwork. To carry that out, § 7-15-1360 requires a grading permit before beginning any grading, excavation, fill, or dredging activity, applying Appendix J of the California Building Code together with county-specific exemptions. 5:1 slope, fills under one foot on flat terrain, and small grading projects moving less than 1,250 cubic yards on slopes under 30 percent.

Projects moving 5,000 cubic yards or less are classified 'regular grading' under § 7-15-1365, unless the Resource Management Agency Director determines the site's geology or hydrology could threaten public safety or damage watercourses, in which case engineered grading standards apply instead. Section 7-15-1355 makes Article 7 control over Appendix J wherever the two conflict, and hazardous existing grading is separately treated as a public nuisance under Part IV, Chapter 1 per § 7-15-1430. Grading determinations may be appealed under § 7-15-1050.