Ridgecrest, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governs
- landscape stormwater/runoff design
- Mandatory element
- friable soil for retention
- Rest of section
- encouraged, not required
- Citation
- Ridgecrest City Code § 5-75
Summary
Ridgecrest's landscape ordinance encourages stormwater best management practices in landscape and grading design to cut runoff, and requires all planted landscape areas in qualifying projects to use friable soil that maximizes water retention and infiltration.
Stormwater management practices minimize runoff and increase infiltration which recharges groundwater and improves water quality. Implementing stormwater best management practices into the landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration are encouraged.(b)Project applicants shall refer to the local agency or regional water quality control board for information on any applicable stormwater technical requirements.(c)All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize water retention and infiltration.(d)It is strongly recommended that landscape areas be designed for capture and infiltration capacity that is sufficient to prevent runoff from impervious surfaces (i.e., roof and paved areas) from either:(1)The one-inch, 24-hour rain event; or(2)The 85th percentile, 24-hour rain event, and/or additional capacity as required by any applicable local, regional, state or federal regulation. (Code 1980, § 12-9.18; Ord. No. 16-01, § 1)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-75, part of the same water-efficient landscape ordinance as the recycled-water rule and triggered by the same permit thresholds (Sec. 5-60), mostly encourages design choices: incorporating stormwater best management practices into landscape and grading plans, and designing for capture/infiltration of the one-inch, 24-hour rain event or the 85th-percentile 24-hour event. The one firm requirement is that all planted landscape areas have friable soil to maximize retention and infiltration. Applicants are directed to the local agency or the regional water quality control board for any applicable stormwater technical requirements beyond the ordinance itself.
Violations & Fines
Like the rest of the water-efficient landscape ordinance, compliance runs through the city's landscape documentation package and plan-check process (Sec. 5-62); failing the friable-soil requirement can hold up a landscape permit or certificate of completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stormwater retention mandatory for all Ridgecrest properties?
Who handles broader drainage requirements beyond the landscape ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgecrest
California rules heatmap·Compare Ridgecrest to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle stormwater management.