Upland, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Upland Municipal Code Ch. 15.52
- Permit required from
- City engineer, § 15.52.030
- Minor excavation exemption
- Under 18 in. deep, 5 ft from line
- Minor fill exemption
- Under 12 in. deep, natural terrain
- Subdivision condition
- Erosion control required, § 16.16.070(B)
- Uncorrected work penalty
- Infraction after 30-day notice
Summary
Upland regulates grading, excavation, and fill under Chapter 15.52 of the Municipal Code, requiring a permit from the city engineer before any land-disturbing work begins. Subdivision approvals are separately conditioned on compliance with the chapter's grading and erosion control standards, including preventing sedimentation or damage to neighboring property, under § 16.16.070.
§ 16.16.070. Soils reports. ...
B. Grading and Erosion Control. Every map approved pursuant to this title shall be conditioned on compliance with the requirements for grading and erosion control, including the prevention of sedimentation or damage to off-site property, set forth in Chapter 15.52 of the Upland Municipal Code, and in the latest edition of the Uniform Building Code. (Prior code § 9504.080)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 15.52, Grading Restrictions, requires anyone doing grading, excavation, embankment work, or watercourse diversion within the city to first obtain a grading permit from the city engineer (§ 15.52.030), except for two narrow exemptions: an excavation less than 18 inches deep that stays at least five feet from any property line and does not change drainage runoff, or a fill less than 12 inches deep on natural terrain that does not obstruct a drainage course. Grading must conform to Appendix J, Excavations and Grading, of the California Building Code and the chapter's special provisions, adopted to avoid 'potentially damaging, hazardous, and unsightly conditions' from unregulated excavation and diversion of natural watercourses (§ 15.52.010).
The city engineer administers the chapter, requires certified grading plans from a qualified engineering firm, and may require a soils engineering report (§ 15.52.040). Plan checking and permit fees are set by council resolution (§ 15.52.050), and no earth may be imported onto a site beyond two cubic yards per 100 square feet of topsoil without a special import permit (§ 15.52.060).
Separately, § 16.16.070(B) conditions every approved subdivision or parcel map on compliance with the grading and erosion control requirements of Chapter 15.52, including preventing sedimentation or damage to off-site property, tying the erosion-control standard directly to the subdivision approval process.
Violations & Fines
Grading or land-disturbing work performed without the required permit from the city engineer violates Upland Municipal Code § 15.52.030. Work found nonconforming under Chapter 15.52 becomes an infraction if not corrected within 30 days of written notice under § 15.52.090. If grading creates a hazardous condition, the city engineer may abate it directly and place a lien on the property for the cost under § 15.52.100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade or move dirt on my Upland property?
How does Upland control erosion during subdivision construction?
What happens if grading work isn't done to code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upland
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