Fontana grading and drainage follow FMC Title 15 and California Building Code Appendix J. Cut or fill over 50 cubic yards or hillside sites require a Building and Safety grading permit.
Any cut, fill, or grading activity in Fontana above permit thresholds requires plan review and a grading permit from Fontana Building and Safety. Under FMC Title 15, grading triggers include excavation or fill exceeding 50 cubic yards, any grading in a designated hillside or slope-stability overlay, any change to a natural drainage course, and projects adjacent to public right-of-way. Grading plans must include a geotechnical report (soils report) for cuts or fills over 3 feet, finished grade elevations tied to adjacent parcels so drainage does not impact neighbors, BMPs for erosion and sediment control during and after grading, and post-construction drainage calculations demonstrating the site does not increase runoff to neighboring parcels. All finished grading must provide positive drainage away from building foundations (minimum 2 percent slope for 5 feet per California Building Code). Fontana enforces the California Building Code Appendix J (Grading) which sets maximum cut and fill slopes, bench requirements on tall slopes, and compaction standards. Drainage rerouting onto a neighbor's property is a nuisance under California Civil Code 3479 and actionable in civil court. Fontana Public Works also enforces the MS4 stormwater requirements that apply to priority development projects over specified size thresholds.
Unpermitted grading triggers stop-work, double-fee permitting, and potential removal and restoration. Drainage discharges onto a neighbor expose the owner to civil claims. Administrative citations under FMC Title 1 start at $100 and escalate.
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