Solano County Municipal Code Art. I Title, Purpose

31-10 Title

This chapter shall be known as the Solano County Grading, Drainage, Land Leveling and Erosion Control ordinance.

(Ord. No. 1087, §1; Ord. No. 1687, §1)

31-11 Purpose

The purpose of this chapter, in conjunction with Uniform Building Code as adopted, is to provide the means for controlling soil erosion, sedimentation, increased rates of water runoff and related environmental damage by establishing minimum standards and providing regulations for the construction and maintenance of fills, excavations, cuts and clearing of vegetation, revegetation of cleared areas, drainage control, and the protection of exposed soil surfaces in order to protect downstream waterways and wetlands and to promote the safety, public health, convenience and general welfare of the community.

(Ord. No. 1087, §1; Ord. No. 1512, §1; Ord. No. 1687, §1)

31-12 Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

Agriculture is the art or science of cultivating the ground, including harvesting of crops and rearing and management of livestock for food or fiber; tillage, husbandry, farming, horticulture and forestry; the science and art of the production of plants and animals useful to man.

Applicant means a person, partnership, corporation or public agency requesting permission to engage in any activity covered in this chapter.

Best Management Practice (BMP) is a storm water pollution mitigation measure which is required to be employed in order to comply with the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued to the County of Solano.

Biofiltration means filtering pollutants through natural materials and by natural processes.

Civil engineer means a professional engineer registered as a civil engineer by the state of California.

Director means the Director of the Resource Management department of the County of Solano, or his/her authorized representative.

Diversion means a temporary or permanent structure consisting of a channel, ditch or ridge constructed across a sloping land surface to intercept and divert surface runoff.

Engineering Geologist shall mean a person holding a valid certificate of registration as a geologist in the specialty of engineering geology issued by the State of California under the applicable provisions of the Geologist and Geophysicist Act of the Business and Professions Code.

Erosion means detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice or gravity.

Excavation or cut means any act by which soil, rock, earth, sand, gravel or any similar material is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced or relocated, and shall include the resulting conditions.

Fill means a deposit of earth or other material placed by artificial means.

Floodplain means the relatively flat area generally adjoining the channel of a natural stream which has been or may be hereafter covered by floodwater.

Grading means any stripping of vegetation, excavation, cutting, filling or stockpiling, or any combination thereof which alters land.

Land disturbance means any activity which results in the deposit or removal of any material or the alteration of either land or vegetation and which may result in increased potential for soil erosion or sedimentation.

Land leveling means redistributing earth by mechanical means to alter the existing contours and change drainage.

Mulching means the application of plant residue or other suitable materials to the land surface to conserve moisture, hold soil in place, and aid in establishing plant cover.

On-Site Sewage Disposal System (also termed septic system, or sewage disposal system) means any system of piping, treatment devices, appurtenant components, or other facilities that convey, store, treat, or dispose of sewage wastewater onto or into the ground for subsurface treatment and disposal on the same lot from which the waste flow is generated.

Planing means evening the existing grade by filling low areas and cutting high areas.

Runoff means the surface water flow following precipitation.

Sedimentation means the process by which mineral or organic matter is removed from its site of origin, transported, and deposited by water, wind, or gravity.

Sediment basin means a reservoir which retards flows sufficiently to cause or allow deposition of transported sediment.

Site means any lot or parcel of land or a series of lots or parcels of land adjoining or contiguous or joined together under one ownership where grading, excavating or filling is, was or will be performed.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan is a site drawing with details, notes, and related documents that identify the measures taken by the applicant to (1) control erosion and prevent sediment and construction-related pollutants from being carried offsite by stormwater, and (2) prevent nonstormwater discharges from entering the storm drain system.

Storm Water Quality Handbooks, Construction Site Best Management Practices (BMPs) Manual means the latest edition of the manual prepared by Caltrans to provide instructions for the selection and implementation of construction site BMPs. Construction site BMPs are best conventional technology/best available technology (BCT/BAT)-based BMPs that are consistent with the BMPs and control practices required under the Clean Water Act.

Watercourse means any natural or manmade channel for transporting water, including the streambed and the banks, whether continuously flowing or intermittent.

(Ord. No. 1087, §1; Ord. No. 1687, §1)

31-13 Appeals

Appeals from decisions under this chapter shall be made to the board of supervisors in writing within ten days from the date of such decision.

(Ord. No. 1087, §1.)

31-14 Validity and severability

Should any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter be held unconstitutional, such section shall be deleted and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining sections of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1087, §1.)

31-15 Fees

A schedule of fees may be established by resolution of the board of supervisors for all costs incurred in the processing of any grading application. Such fees shall cover the full costs of review, approvals, inspections, certification of compliance, or other determinations or actions necessitated by the permit application. A separate and distinct fee may be set by the board of supervisors by resolution for the cost of appeals filed pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1087, §1.)

31-16 Construction season

The construction season commences on April 15th and ends on October 15th of each calendar year. Work performed under this Chapter shall not occur at a time outside of the construction season without the written approval of the Director.

(Ord. No. 1687, §1)