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East Palo Alto · Building on your lot

Grading and erosion control in East Palo Alto

East Palo Alto's own rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text for every value.

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

What East Palo Alto's code says

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
Erosion control plan
  • An erosion and sediment control plan is required.
    Applies: For grading permit projects, unless a county planning division environmental assessment shows the plan is not necessary.
    § 15.48.160 · code text
    An erosion and sediment control plan and subsequent implementation shall be required except where an environmental assessment by the county planning division of the site shows that such a plan is not necessary.
Grading without a permit
  • Excavations for basements and footings of a building, retaining wall or swimming pool under a valid building permit; an excavation less than two feet deep on natural terrain flatter than 5:1 that creates slopes no steeper than 2:1 and removes less than 150 cubic yards; a fill less than two feet deep on terrain flatter than 5:1, not supporting structures, not over 150 cubic yards on the parcel and not blocking a drainage course; gardening for home use
    Applies: Basement and footing excavations: not the fill made from them, an unsupported height over five feet, or a single excavation over 250 yards; no exemption applies in natural drainage channels
    § 15.48.040 · code text
    An excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a building, retaining wall, swimming pool, or other structure authorized by a valid building permit.
Rainy-season limits
  • October 15 to April 15: no permitted land-disturbing work the planning director finds unsafe or likely to cause excessive erosion.
    § 15.48.160 · code text
    The period from October 15th to April 15th has been determined to be the period in which heavy rainfall normally occurs in the county and the city.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the grading rules in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto's code: Excavations for basements and footings of a building, retaining wall or swimming pool under a valid building permit; an excavation less than two feet deep on natural terrain flatter than 5:1 that creates slopes no steeper than 2:1 and removes less than 150 cubic yards; a fill less than two feet deep on terrain flatter than 5:1, not supporting structures, not over 150 cubic yards on the parcel and not blocking a drainage course; gardening for home use (Basement and footing excavations: not the fill made from them, an unsupported height over five feet, or a single excavation over 250 yards; no exemption applies in natural drainage channels) (§ 15.48.040); An erosion and sediment control plan is required. (For grading permit projects, unless a county planning division environmental assessment shows the plan is not necessary.) (§ 15.48.160).

General information, not legal advice.

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East Palo Alto Municipal Code — full text