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San Jacinto · Building on your lot

Building on a hillside in San Jacinto

San Jacinto's own rules on building on a hillside, with the code text for every value.

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

What San Jacinto's code says

San Jacinto code What San Jacinto's code adds
Grading and retaining walls
  • Cut and fill slopes should generally be no more than 30 feet high.
    Applies: Hillside development, unless the Planning Commission approves more.
    § 15.28.050 · code text
    Slopes. Cut and fill slopes shall generally not exceed thirty (30) feet in height, unless otherwise approved by Planning Commission.
  • Retaining walls may be no higher than 6 feet.
    Applies: Hillside development, outside front yards.
    § 15.28.050 · code text
    Retaining walls shall not exceed six feet in height except in front yards areas where they shall not exceed thirty-six (36) inches in height.
  • Retaining walls may be no higher than 36 inches.
    Applies: Front yards, hillside development.
    § 15.28.050 · code text
    Retaining walls shall not exceed six feet in height except in front yards areas where they shall not exceed thirty-six (36) inches in height.
  • Retaining walls may be up to 6 feet high anywhere on the property.
    Applies: Walls needed to build an adjacent driveway, in hillside development.
    § 15.28.050 · code text
    However, retaining walls necessary for the construction of an adjacent driveway may be constructed to a maximum of six feet in height anywhere on the property.
  • Up to 100% of the lot may be graded as a building pad.
    Applies: Hillside development; natural slope 0-15%.
    § 15.28.040 · code text
    0-15% | 100% of lot may be graded pad
  • Up to 60% of the lot may be graded.
    Applies: Hillside development; natural slope 15-30%.
    § 15.28.040 · code text
    15-30% | 60% of lot may be graded
  • Up to 35% of the lot may be graded.
    Applies: Hillside development; natural slope 31-40%.
    § 15.28.040 · code text
    31-40% | 35% of lot may be graded
  • Up to 20% of the lot may be graded.
    Applies: Hillside development; natural slope 40% or greater.
    § 15.28.040 · code text
    40% or greater | 20% of lot may be graded
Height on hillside lots
  • Homes and accessory buildings may be at most 35 feet tall.
    Applies: Hillside development; measured from the median ground level across the buildable area.
    § 15.28.040 · code text
    Dwelling and other accessory structures shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in overall height as measured from the median grade across the buildable area.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in San Jacinto?

San Jacinto's code: Cut and fill slopes should generally be no more than 30 feet high. (Hillside development, unless the Planning Commission approves more.) (§ 15.28.050); Retaining walls may be no higher than 6 feet. (Hillside development, outside front yards.) (§ 15.28.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how San Jacinto's building on a hillside rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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San Jacinto Municipal Code — full text