Sunnyvale, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- Erosion, sediment and runoff controls required all phases
- Citation
- SMC § 12.60.310(c)
- Ends when
- Site fully stabilized by landscaping/permanent controls
- Reference manuals
- City BMP Guidance Manual, CASQA BMP Handbook
- Inspection power
- Enforcement official may enter site, seek court order
- Failure to maintain
- Separate violation under SMC 12.60.340
Summary
Every construction site in Sunnyvale must run effective erosion, sediment and runoff controls through all phases of work under Municipal Code Section 12.60.310(c), part of the stormwater management chapter. The requirement stays in force from grading through final building and lot finishing until the site is permanently stabilized by landscaping or other erosion control measures.
(c) Construction Site Stormwater Pollution Controls. All construction sites will implement effective erosion control, runon and runoff control, sediment control, active treatment systems (as appropriate), good site management, and non-stormwater management through all phases of construction (including, but not limited to, site grading, building and finishing of lots) until the site is fully stabilized by landscaping or the installation of permanent erosion control measures.
Full Breakdown
60. 300), and the authorized enforcement official, the Directors of Public Works, Community Development or Environmental Services, or their designees, may revise that manual to track new NPDES requirements. 290 lets the city require a revised stormwater management plan showing the erosion and sediment controls that will be used. 320). 340.
Violations & Fines
Failing to run required erosion and sediment controls is a code violation under Section 12.60.340 and a declared public nuisance under Section 12.60.360. The Director can order a warning or notice of violation, demand a revised stormwater management plan under Section 12.60.290, and assess civil penalties under Section 12.60.380 that reach $5,000 per day for illicit discharges caused by a failed erosion control, plus abatement of the site as a nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need erosion control just for grading, or the whole construction job?
What standards do Sunnyvale inspectors use to judge my erosion controls?
What happens if my erosion controls fail during a storm?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sunnyvale
California rules heatmap·Compare Sunnyvale to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle erosion control.