Grading and erosion control in Alameda County

Each rule below links to the section of the Alameda County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Alameda County's code says

Alameda County code What Alameda County's code adds
When a grading permit is needed	A grading permit is needed for excavation of 150 cubic yards or more. Applies: Smaller excavations are exempt only if under 2 feet deep, or creating no unstable, erodible cut slope over 5 feet high and steeper than 2:1. § 15.36.050 · code text An excavation that removes less than one hundred fifty (150) cubic yards of material and that complies with one of the following conditions:
Grading without a permit	Fill less than 2 feet deep on natural ground sloped less than 5:1 (20% slope) needs no permit. Applies: Fill that will not support a structure and meets the stated drainage, floodplain, stability and erosion conditions. § 15.36.050 · code text Less than two feet in depth and is placed on natural terrain that is sloped less than five units horizontal to one unit vertical (twenty (20) percent slope); Fill less than 3 feet deep, with a stable slope no steeper than 2:1 (50%), and under 150 cubic yards. Applies: Fill that will not support a structure and meets the stated drainage, floodplain, stability and erosion conditions. § 15.36.050 · code text Less than three feet in depth at its deepest point (as measured vertically), creates a stable fill slope no steeper than two units horizontal to one unit vertical (fifty (50) percent slope), and is less than one hundred fifty (150) cubic yards of material; Fill less than 5 feet deep, with a slope no steeper than 2:1 (50%), and under 50 cubic yards. Applies: Fill that will not support a structure and meets the stated drainage, floodplain, stability and erosion conditions. § 15.36.050 · code text Less than five feet in depth at its deepest point (as measured vertically), creates a fill slope no steeper than two units horizontal to one unit vertical (fifty (50) percent slope), and is less than fifty (50) cubic yards of material; Excavation and fill for foundations, basements, pools, retaining walls, stormwater facilities, utility trenches, approved wells, post holes or soil tests. Applies: Building, stormwater or well permits may still be required. § 15.36.050 · code text Excavations and fills in connection with the construction of building foundations, building crawl spaces, building basements, swimming pools, retaining walls, or other structures subject to regulation by the county building ordinance (Chapter 15.08 of this title);

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Frequently asked questions

What are the grading rules in Alameda County?

Alameda County's code: A grading permit is needed for excavation of 150 cubic yards or more. (Smaller excavations are exempt only if under 2 feet deep, or creating no unstable, erodible cut slope over 5 feet high and steeper than 2:1.) (§ 15.36.050); Fill less than 2 feet deep on natural ground sloped less than 5:1 (20% slope) needs no permit. (Fill that will not support a structure and meets the stated drainage, floodplain, stability and erosion conditions.) (§ 15.36.050).

Grading and erosion control in Alameda County

What Alameda County's code says

Who this affects

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