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Building on a hillside in Bradbury

Bradbury's own rules on building on a hillside, with the code text for every value.

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

What Bradbury's code says

Bradbury code What Bradbury's code adds
Soils or geology report
  • An engineering soils or geology report showing the slope is stable, approved by the City Engineer.
    Applies: Single-lot hillside projects with a finished cut or fill slope steeper than 2:1 (50%), up to 67% at most.
    § 9.97.170 · code text
    the grade of a finished slope may exceed 2:1 (50 percent), but may not exceed 12:1 (67 percent) upon approval of an engineering soils or geology report demonstrating stability of such slope to the satisfaction of the City Engineer.
Grading and retaining walls
  • At most 20 feet.
    Applies: Finished cut slope for a home site; also no higher than the proposed structure, whichever is less.
    § 9.97.170 · code text
    The vertical height of any finished cut slope created for the purposed of developing a residential dwelling site shall be limited to the height of the proposed structure or to a maximum of 20 feet, whichever is less.
  • At most 20 feet.
    Applies: Finished cut slope for a permanent accessory building needing a city permit; also no higher than the structure.
    § 9.97.170 · code text
    a finished cut slope may be created to enable development of such structure, subject to the limitation that the vertical height of such cut slope shall not exceed the height of the proposed structure; except that in no instance shall such slope exceed a vertical height of 20 feet.
  • At most 8 feet high.
    Applies: Cut slope for a court, pool, corral or similar use; width at most 60 feet or 12 feet wider than the use, whichever is less.
    § 9.97.170 · code text
    the vertical height of any finished cut slope shall not exceed eight feet and the lateral extension (width) of the finished cut shall not exceed 60 feet overall or 12 feet more than the width of the court, pool or corral, whichever is less.
  • At most 30 feet high.
    Applies: All finished fill slopes.
    § 9.97.170 · code text
    The vertical height of all finished fill slopes shall not exceed 30 feet.
  • No steeper than 2:1 (50%).
    Applies: Finished cut or fill slopes; steeper only with an approved soils or geology report.
    § 9.97.170 · code text
    The slope grade shall not exceed 2:1 (50 percent) at any point; except that the grade of a finished slope may exceed 2:1 (50 percent), but may not exceed 12:1 (67 percent) upon approval of an engineering soils or geology report demonstrating stability of such slope to the satisfaction of the City Engineer.
When hillside rules apply
  • 10.0% to 24.9% average slope: special hillside design that minimizes grading is required.
    Applies: Slope category 1, in areas not landform graded.
    § 9.97.190 · code text
    1. | 10.0% to 24.9% | Special hillside architectural and design techniques that minimize grading are required in this slope category.
  • 25.0% to 34.9% average slope: buildings must follow the natural grade, using split-level foundations, stem walls or stacking.
    Applies: Slope category 2, in areas not landform graded.
    § 9.97.190 · code text
    2. | 25.0% to 34.9% | Structures shall conform to the natural topography and natural grade by using appropriate techniques, including split-level foundation, stem walls and stacking.
  • 35.1% to 49.9% average slope: building only on sites shown safe with minimal impacts; expect large lots, variable setbacks.
    Applies: Slope category 3, in areas not landform graded.
    § 9.97.190 · code text
    3. | 35.1% to 49.9% | Development within this category shall be restricted to those sites where it can be demonstrated that safety will be maximized while environmental and aesthetic impacts will be minimized.
  • 50% and over: residential subdivisions are not expected; lots may be much larger than the zone minimum.
    Applies: Slope category 4, in areas not landform graded.
    § 9.97.190 · code text
    4. | 50% and over | This is an excessive slope condition and it is anticipated that residential subdivisions will not be developed in these areas.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Bradbury?

Bradbury's code: 10.0% to 24.9% average slope: special hillside design that minimizes grading is required. (Slope category 1, in areas not landform graded.) (§ 9.97.190); At most 20 feet. (Finished cut slope for a home site; also no higher than the proposed structure, whichever is less.) (§ 9.97.170).

General information, not legal advice.

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