Building on a hillside in Danville: the local rules

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

What Danville's code says

Danville code What Danville's code adds
Soils or geology report	A preliminary geotechnical and soils report is required. Applies: Applies to a scenic hillside or major ridgeline development plan permit application. A certified engineering geologist or qualified civil engineer prepares it. § 32-69.5 · code text A preliminary geotechnical and soils investigation and report prepared by a certified engineering geologist licensed by the State of California or by a registered civil engineer qualified in soils mechanics by the State of California.
Grading and retaining walls	Moving 25 cubic yards of soil or more needs a hillside grading permit. Applies: Scenic hillside or major ridgeline areas. § 32-69.4 · code text No grading which results in the movement of twenty-five (25) or more cubic yards of soil within lands identified as scenic hillside or major ridgeline area shall be allowed without a hillside grading permit. Moving 100 cubic yards or more needs both a hillside grading permit and a development plan permit. Applies: Scenic hillside or major ridgeline areas; the second permit is a scenic hillside or major ridgeline development plan permit. § 32-69.4 · code text The movement of one hundred (100) or more cubic yards of soil shall not be allowed without the approval of both a hillside grading permit and scenic hillside or major ridgeline development plan permit. Manufactured slopes may be no steeper than 3 horizontal to 1 vertical. Applies: Hillside areas (Slope Zones 2-4). § 19-6.2 · code text Requiring that manufactured slopes be graded no steeper than a slope of three (3’) feet horizontal to one (1’) foot vertical. Slopes under 10 feet high may be graded to 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. Applies: Hillside areas (Slope Zones 2-4), following the approved soils report. § 19-6.2 · code text Slopes less than ten (10’) feet in height may be graded to a slope of two (2’) feet horizontal to one (1’) foot vertical in accordance with recommendations provided in the approved soils report unless approved in writing by the Town Engineer.
Height on hillside lots	At most 28 feet. Applies: Primary home on scenic hillside or major ridgeline lands. § 32-69.7 · code text The maximum height of the primary residence constructed on lands identified as major ridgeline or scenic hillside areas shall be twenty-eight (28) feet. At most 24 feet. Applies: Primary home whose finished grade is within 28 feet, measured vertically, below a major ridgeline centerline. Needs an exception. § 32-69.7 · code text For homes with a finished grade building elevation located within twenty-eight (28) feet (measured vertically) below the centerline of a major ridgeline (requiring approval of an exception as outlined in this section), the maximum height of the primary residence shall be limited to twenty-four (24) feet. At most 15 feet. Applies: Accessory structures on scenic hillside or major ridgeline lands. § 32-69.7 · code text The maximum height of any accessory structure on such lands shall be fifteen (15) feet.

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What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Danville?

Danville's code: Moving 25 cubic yards of soil or more needs a hillside grading permit. (Scenic hillside or major ridgeline areas.) (§ 32-69.4); Moving 100 cubic yards or more needs both a hillside grading permit and a development plan permit. (Scenic hillside or major ridgeline areas; the second permit is a scenic hillside or major ridgeline development plan permit.) (§ 32-69.4).

Building on a hillside in Danville

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