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Laguna Hills · Building on your lot

Grading and erosion control in Laguna Hills

Laguna Hills'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 Laguna Hills Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Laguna Hills's code says

Laguna Hills code What Laguna Hills's code adds
Grading without a permit
  • Digs up to 50 cubic yards, under 2 feet deep or no cut slope over 5 feet steeper than 2:1.
    Applies: Per site. Fills up to 50 cubic yards per lot are also exempt: under 1 foot deep on ground flatter than 5:1, not blocking drainage.
    § 10-16.060 · code text
    An excavation which does not exceed fifty (50) cubic yards on any one site and which (1) is less than two feet in vertical depth, or (2) which does not create a cut slope greater than five feet in vertical height and steeper than two horizontal to one vertical.
  • Digs for permitted basements and footings; not fill made from them or cuts over 5 feet unsupported.
    Applies: The Director may still require a minimum-fee grading permit or a soil report.
    § 10-16.060 · code text
    An excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a building, mobilehome, retaining wall, or other structure authorized by a valid building permit or construction permit.
Rainy-season limits
  • No grading over 200 cubic yards unless the Director approves or waives an erosion control system.
    Applies: Any single grading site under permit, October 15 to April 15.
    § 10-16.360 · code text
    No grading work in excess of two hundred (200) cubic yards will be allowed between October 15th and April 15th on any single grading site under permit unless an erosion control system has been approved or waived by the Director.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the grading rules in Laguna Hills?

Laguna Hills's code: Digs up to 50 cubic yards, under 2 feet deep or no cut slope over 5 feet steeper than 2:1. (Per site. Fills up to 50 cubic yards per lot are also exempt: under 1 foot deep on ground flatter than 5:1, not blocking drainage.) (§ 10-16.060); No grading over 200 cubic yards unless the Director approves or waives an erosion control system. (Any single grading site under permit, October 15 to April 15.) (§ 10-16.360).

General information, not legal advice.

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Laguna Hills Municipal Code — full text