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Building on a hillside in Santa Rosa

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

What Santa Rosa's code says

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
Soils or geology report
  • A preliminary geotechnical report is required; a final report may also be required.
    Applies: Hillside Development Permit applications.
    § 20-32.060 · code text
    A preliminary geotechnical report that identifies and proposes mitigation measures for any soils or geological problems that may affect site stability or structural integrity. Depending upon the site characteristics and project design, the review authority may also require a final geotechnical report.
Grading and retaining walls
  • No changes to slopes over 25%.
    Applies: Slopes the visual analysis finds significant and visually sensitive.
    § 20-32.020 · code text
    Not alter a slope that is greater than 25 percent and identified by the visual analysis as significant and visually sensitive.
When hillside rules apply
  • 10% or more.
    Applies: Hillside rules apply to subdivisions and other development on the part of a site with this slope.
    § 20-32.020 · code text
    The requirements in this Chapter, and Section 4.5 (Hillside Considerations) of the City's Design Guidelines apply to proposed subdivisions, and all other proposed development or a new land use on that portion of a site with a slope of 10 percent or greater.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Santa Rosa?

Santa Rosa's code: 10% or more. (Hillside rules apply to subdivisions and other development on the part of a site with this slope.) (§ 20-32.020); No changes to slopes over 25%. (Slopes the visual analysis finds significant and visually sensitive.) (§ 20-32.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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Santa Rosa Municipal Code — full text