Building on a hillside in Vacaville: the local rules

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

What Vacaville's code says

Vacaville code What Vacaville's code adds
Grading and retaining walls	No steeper than 2:1, a 50% slope. Applies: Cut slopes in the hillside overlay district, unless an engineering geologist shows a steeper slope will perform well long term. § 14.09.120.060 · code text Cut slopes within the hillside overlay district are limited to 2:1 (50 percent slope) except where an engineering geologist can establish that a steeper slope would perform satisfactorily over the long term. No higher than 6 feet. Applies: Freestanding retaining walls in the hillside overlay district, with a 3-foot recessed offset every 30 feet. § 14.09.120.060 · code text No freestanding retaining wall located shall be higher than six feet and must incorporate a three-foot recessed offset feature every 30 feet, or other methods of articulation.
When hillside rules apply	Ridgeline areas and slopes of 25% or more over a vertical distance of 25 feet or more. § 14.09.120.020 · code text The provisions of this chapter apply to all ridgeline areas within proximity to ridgelines, and areas with slopes at or exceeding 25 percent for a vertical distance of 25 feet or greater. No structures or grading on ridgelines or slopes of 25% or more over 25 vertical feet, with few exceptions. Applies: Exceptions: public-safety access roads, telecommunication facilities and low solar panels. § 14.09.120.030 · code text No structure shall be constructed, and no grading shall occur on ridgelines or slopes at or exceeding 25 percent for a vertical distance of 25 feet or greater except as follows:

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Frequently asked questions

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Vacaville?

Vacaville's code: Ridgeline areas and slopes of 25% or more over a vertical distance of 25 feet or more. (§ 14.09.120.020); No steeper than 2:1, a 50% slope. (Cut slopes in the hillside overlay district, unless an engineering geologist shows a steeper slope will perform well long term.) (§ 14.09.120.060).

Building on a hillside in Vacaville

What Vacaville's code says

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