San Bernardino Mountain communities under hillside overlays restrict grading volume, slope disturbance, and building height to protect views and reduce wildfire and landslide risk. Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear, Crestline, and Wrightwood enforce strict hillside standards.
Hillside development standards in the Development Code limit cut-and-fill volumes, require contour grading, and protect natural slopes above 30 percent. Tree removal during grading is restricted under the county tree ordinance. Building height is measured from natural grade rather than finished pad to prevent stepped pads disguising tall structures. Geotechnical reports are required for slopes over 15 percent. Stormwater controls during construction prevent erosion into Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, and protected mountain creeks. WUI fire-safe construction standards layer on top, requiring ignition-resistant exteriors.
Unpermitted grading on slopes triggers stop-work orders, restoration requirements with bonded landscaping, double permit fees, and potential CEQA violations and downstream property damage liability.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Rialto, CA
Rialto requires permits for walls taller than 42 inches and building permits for all masonry and retaining walls. Block walls get three city inspections, and...
Rialto, CA
Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited in all Rialto residential zones, and no sharp points may top any fence under six feet. City design standards also r...
Rialto, CA
Rialto caps household pets at four weaned dogs and cats combined, and no more than three of them may be dogs. The limit appears in Rialto Municipal Code Sect...
Rialto, CA
Backyard fires in Rialto are legal only as contained cooking or warming fires burning clean fuels such as propane, natural gas, charcoal, or untreated wood. ...
Rialto, CA
Removing a street or parkway tree requires prior written permission from the public services director, and the city's published criteria allow removal only o...
Rialto, CA
Rialto has no cryptocurrency-mining ordinance and no energy cap. A commercial mining facility is treated as an industrial use in the M-1 or M-2 manufacturing...
See how Rialto's hillside overlay rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.