Showing ordinances that apply to Fruitdale, CA
Fruitdale is an unincorporated community (population 989) in Santa Clara County, California. Because Fruitdale is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Santa Clara County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The grading & drainage rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Santa Clara County grading follows Division C12 and CBC Appendix J. Sites must slope runoff away from foundations at 5 percent for 10 feet. Redirecting drainage onto neighbors is barred.
The county Grading Ordinance in Division C12 requires building sites to slope away from foundations at a minimum of 5 percent fall for the first 10 feet under CBC 1804.4 as amended. All drainage must be conveyed to an approved outlet such as a public storm drain, natural watercourse, or a percolation system meeting soil infiltration rates. Redirecting surface runoff onto adjoining private property is prohibited and actionable under common law nuisance and the California Rule of Reasonable Use codified in Keys v. Romley case law. New subdivisions and major remodels must prepare a site drainage plan stamped by a civil engineer when lot area exceeds 10000 square feet or slopes exceed 10 percent. Hillside lots frequently require subsurface drains, area drains, and energy dissipation at outlets to prevent erosion. French drains and dry wells must be sited at least 10 feet from any structure and 5 feet from property lines. Sump pumps may not discharge to the sanitary sewer per Santa Clara Valley Water District rules and must discharge to a storm outlet or approved infiltration system. Violations are enforced by County Code Enforcement and can include stop work orders, mandatory regrading, and administrative penalties. Civil disputes between neighbors over redirected drainage are heard in Superior Court and frequently result in injunctions requiring grading restoration.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Fruitdale's grading & drainage rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.