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Grading and erosion control in Buellton

A permit is needed for cuts or fills over 3 ft deep and/or over 30 cubic yards in 12 months.

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Key points

  • Grading: A permit is needed for cuts or fills over 3 ft deep and/or over 30 cubic yards in 12 months.

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

What Buellton's code says

Buellton code What Buellton's code adds
When a grading permit is needed
  • A permit is needed for cuts or fills over 3 feet deep and/or over 30 cubic yards in 12 months.
    Applies: Excavation or fill; the exemption does not cover fill made with excavated material.
    § 17.01.080 · code text
    An excavation or fill which does not exceed three feet in vertical depth at its deepest point, measured from the natural ground slope, and/or 30 cubic yards of material moved in any 12 month period.
Steepest cut or fill slope
  • No steeper than 2:1 (horizontal to vertical).
    Applies: Exposed fill surfaces; steeper only with a retaining wall or a soils engineer and geologist report the city engineer accepts.
    § 17.01.230 · code text
    No fill shall be made which creates any exposed surface steeper in slope than 2:1 (H:V), except under one or more of the following conditions:
  • Fill slopes as steep as 1½ horizontal to 1 vertical.
    Applies: Fills toeing out on natural slopes steeper than 2:1, only if the city engineer accepts a soils engineer and engineering geologist analysis.
    § 17.01.230 · code text
    The city engineer may permit the placement of fill slopes as steep as one and one-half horizontal to one vertical, if the applicant shows t
Grading without a permit
  • No permit for digging below finished grade for tanks, vaults, basements, pools or footings under a valid building permit.
    Applies: Does not cover fill made from the excavated material.
    § 17.01.080 · code text
    An excavation below finished grade for tanks, vaults, basements, swimming pools, or footings of a building or structure authorized by a valid building permit.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the grading rules in Buellton?

A permit is needed for cuts or fills over 3 ft deep and/or over 30 cubic yards in 12 months.

General information, not legal advice.

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Buellton Municipal Code — full text