Santa Barbara County, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Sec. 14-29(a) requires the erosion and sediment control plan to identify practices to retain sediment onsite, such as sediment basins and silt traps with a maintenance schedule, runoff and slope-stabilization methods including mulching or hydroseeding, vegetative planting rates and schedules, and precautions to stop vehicles tracking soil onto public streets. The plan must also address best management practices for non-storm-water pollutants like discarded building material, sanitary waste, and washout from drywall, grout, plaster, mortar or concrete, which must be collected and removed rather than allowed to run off, per Sec.

14-29(a)(5). A master drainage plan is required for every grading permit, with detailed design standards under Sec. 14-29(c): diverting terraces at least three feet wide and one foot deep atop steep cut slopes, berms at least one foot high atop fill slopes, down drains at least twelve inches in diameter, and all outlet structures into public roads or flood control facilities approved by the county public works department. Sec. 14-27 separately requires any man-made slope over three feet high to be planted to control erosion within thirty days of finishing grading.

Under Sec. 14-29(d), erosion and sediment control measures must be in place before any grading on hillsides or sloping terrain, and non-storm-water discharge controls apply year-round, not just in the rainy season.