West Covina, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Chapter 9, Article I of the Municipal Code adopts Appendix J, Grading, of Title 26 of the Los Angeles County Code as amended and in effect on January 1, 2023, substituting the West Covina city engineer wherever the county code refers to the Building Official, and substituting West Covina for County or Los Angeles County depending on context. 1, grading cannot be performed without first obtaining a permit from the city engineer, and a single grading permit can cover both excavation and fill on a site; a grading permit does not itself authorize retaining wall construction, which needs its own permit.

Any engineered grading must be performed by a state-licensed contractor, and the city engineer can require a licensed contractor for grading under 5,000 cubic yards if special conditions or hazards exist on the site. Fees are assessed in three separate stages: a plan review fee due when grading plans and specifications are submitted, a permit fee due when the permit is issued, and a site inspection fee when the building official determines a visual site inspection is needed to establish drainage requirements for protecting the site, existing buildings, or the proposed construction. For excavation and fill happening on the same site, the fee is based on whichever volume, cut or fill, is greater.