Yucaipa, CA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Chapter 2 of Division DC10, Soil and Water Conservation, of the Yucaipa Development Code covers erosion and sediment control. Section 810.0275 applies it to all areas within the Fire Safety (FR) Overlay District, and § 810.0205 describes its reach as areas within or adjacent to mountains and hillsides. Its purpose under § 810.0201 is to prevent accelerated erosion that degrades water quality, damages property, and strips topsoil.

Plan first, then grading. Under § 810.0220, no land clearing or grading starts without an approved Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plan and/or Permit, and the plan is approved before building, grading, or other permits issue where the City Engineer expects erosion. The City Engineer sets the application requirements and can add measures. Agricultural grading, work under a valid timber harvest permit, quarrying under a valid conditional use permit, septic and well work, routine soil tests, and fire protection clearing are exempt under § 810.0245.

Runoff controls under § 810.0225 are sized for a ten-year storm. Where soil permeability is more than two inches per hour, runoff above predevelopment levels is retained on site, and runoff from disturbed areas is detained or filtered by berms, vegetated filter strips, catch basins, or similar means. Near lakes or natural watercourses, a buffer zone must confine visible siltation within 25% of the buffer zone nearest the disturbance.

Season matters. Section 810.0230 requires disturbed surfaces to be protected before final approval and at all times between October 15 and April 15, with protection kept for at least one year or until permanent protection is established, and vegetation removal in that window cannot precede grading or construction by more than 15 days. Under § 810.0235, the City Engineer authorizes contiguous land clearing of more than one acre in a one-year period, or major grading over 100 cubic yards, in that window only on findings, and erosion control measures must be in place at the end of each day's work. Separately, grading code § 15.12.340(C) bars grading work in excess of 200 cubic yards on a single permitted site in the same window unless an erosion control system is approved or waived by the city official. The permittee notifies the City Engineer at least 24 hours before authorized work starts (§ 810.0260).