Palmdale, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Wet-season trigger
- Grading permits starting Oct 1 to Apr 15
- Governing section
- Palmdale Building Code Appendix J, § J104.9
- Missing plan penalty
- $50-$250 per day by grading volume
- Missing protective devices penalty
- $100-$1,000 per day by grading volume
- Unpaid penalty consequence
- Becomes special assessment after 30 days
- Adopting ordinance
- PMC § 8.04.240
Summary
Palmdale requires a storm water management plan with erosion-control measures for any grading permit covering work between October 1 and April 15, and imposes daily penalties reaching $1,000 for sites that skip the required plan or protective devices. Appendix J of the Palmdale Building Code, adopted by PMC § 8.04.240, sets the standard.
J104.9 Storm Water Management Plan (Erosion Control) No grading permit shall be issued for work to be commenced between October 1 of any year and April 15 of the following calendar year, unless the plans for such work include a storm water management plan with details of protective measures, including desilting basins or other temporary drainage or control measures, or both, as may be necessary to protect adjoining public and private property from damage by erosion, flooding or the deposition of mud, debris or construction-related pollutants which may originate from the site or result from such grading operation.
Full Breakdown
9 of the Palmdale Building Code bars the City Engineer from issuing a grading permit for work starting between October 1 and April 15 unless the plans include a storm water management plan detailing desilting basins or other temporary drainage and control measures needed to keep erosion, flooding, mud, debris and construction pollutants off adjoining public and private property. If grading started before November 1, protective measures must be installed by November 1; if it started on or after November 1, they must be in place before grading begins, and maintained until April 15 unless the City Engineer has already granted final approval.
1 requires an owner whose grading starts in the dry season but will not finish permanent drainage work before November 1 to file revised plans with erosion-control details by October 1. 2 sets a tiered daily penalty schedule for noncompliance: for a missing erosion-control plan, $50 per day for sites under 10,000 cubic yards of grading and $250 per day for 10,000 to 100,000 cubic yards; for missing or unapproved protective devices, $100, $500 or $1,000 per day depending on whether the site is under 10,000, 10,000 to 100,000, or over 100,000 cubic yards.
Unpaid penalties become a special assessment against the property after 30 days, and the City Engineer can record a notice of violation with the county recorder if a cited property is not brought into compliance within 30 days of written notice. 9.
Violations & Fines
Skipping the required erosion-control plan or protective devices during the October 1 to April 15 window triggers a City Engineer default under the grading permit security, letting the City install drainage and erosion-control devices itself or prosecute the owner, or both, under § J104.9.2. Daily penalties run from $50 to $1,000 depending on grading volume and violation type, become a special assessment on the property if unpaid within 30 days, and the City Engineer may record a notice of violation with the county recorder after 30 days of uncorrected noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palmdale
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