Santa Rosa, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

010 requires every subdivision in Santa Rosa to be designed and improved for proper grading and erosion control, including preventing sedimentation or damage to off-site property, and to follow Chapters 18 and 33 and Appendix Chapter 33 of the Uniform Building Code along with the City's subdivision design guide. Grading must maintain or create a natural appearance where reasonable and feasible, and finished lots must provide a building site and yard compatible with the surrounding development pattern. The ordinance then lists eight erosion and sediment control principles that must be built into subdivision design and construction unless the Building Official determines a principle doesn't apply to a particular project: minimizing soil exposure during the rainy season through proper timing of grading and construction; retaining natural vegetation wherever feasible; vegetating and mulching denuded areas before winter rains; diverting runoff away from steep denuded slopes or other critical areas with barriers or ditches; minimizing the length and steepness of slopes through benching, terracing, or diversion structures; preparing drainageways to handle concentrated or increased runoff with riprap or other lining materials; trapping sediment-laden runoff in basins so soil particles settle out before release to receiving waters; and inspecting sites frequently to confirm the control measures are working and correcting problems as they arise.

Subdivision improvement plans must show precise drainage and flood-control details, including cross-sections for creeks, streams, and channels, plus all proposed erosion control measures, before the City will approve them.