West Sacramento, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

The following activities are exempt from the requirement to obtain a grading permit, unless such activity may endanger adjacent property; cause increased erosion, sedimentation and rate of water runoff; direct or impair the flow of water within a watercourse; or cause a public nuisance:

A. An excavation below finished grade for swimming pools, basements, footings of buildings, retaining walls or other structures authorized by a valid building permit, or trench excavations for the purpose of installing underground utilities;

B. Cemetery graves;

C. Excavation for wells;

D. Mining, quarrying, excavating, processing, stockpiling of rock, sand, gravel, aggregate or clay as authorized in Title 18, for which a use permit has been granted; provided such operations do not affect the lateral support or increase the stresses in or pressure upon any adjacent or contiguous property;

E. Exploratory excavations under the direction of a soil engineer or engineering geologist;

F. Excavations for installation of underground storage tanks where the capacity of individual tanks does not exceed five thousand gallons each, or when authorized by a valid city permit;

G. Any work performed within a public right-of-way or easement for the construction or maintenance of public facilities performed by or under the supervision of the city or other governmental agency;

H.