Grading and erosion control in Carpinteria: the local rules

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

What Carpinteria's code says

Carpinteria code What Carpinteria's code adds
Grading without a permit	No grading permit for excavation or fill up to 3 feet deep and/or 30 cubic yards moved in 12 months. Applies: Does not cover fill made with material from such an excavation. § 8.36.060 · 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 thirty cubic yards of material moved in any twelve-month period. No permit for digging or fill up to 3 feet deep and/or 30 cubic yards moved in any 12 months. Applies: Fill made with the dug-out material still needs a permit. § 8.36.060 · 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 thirty cubic yards of material moved in any twelve-month period. No grading permit for digging below finished grade for tanks, vaults, basements, pools or footings under a valid building permit. Applies: Fill made with the dug-out material still needs a permit. § 8.36.060 · 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.
Steepest cut or fill slope	Cut faces may be no steeper than 1½ horizontal to 1 vertical. Applies: Unless a civil engineer shows the soil is stable and the city engineer approves, or a retaining wall supports the face. § 8.36.210 · code text No excavation shall be made with a cut face steeper in slope than one and one-half horizontal to one vertical Fill surfaces may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. Applies: Unless it cannot damage nearby property, or a civil engineer certifies the steeper slope and the city engineer approves. § 8.36.210 · code text No fill shall be made which creates any exposed surface steeper in slope than two horizontal to one vertical

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What are the grading rules in Carpinteria?

Carpinteria's code: No grading permit for excavation or fill up to 3 feet deep and/or 30 cubic yards moved in 12 months. (Does not cover fill made with material from such an excavation.) (§ 8.36.060); Cut faces may be no steeper than 1½ horizontal to 1 vertical. (Unless a civil engineer shows the soil is stable and the city engineer approves, or a retaining wall supports the face.) (§ 8.36.210).

Grading and erosion control in Carpinteria

What Carpinteria's code says

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