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Calaveras County · Building on your lot

Grading and erosion control in Calaveras County

Calaveras County's own rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text for every value.

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

What Calaveras County's code says

Calaveras County code What Calaveras County's code adds
When a grading permit is needed
  • A grading permit is needed for 50 cubic yards or more of material.
    Applies: Unless another exemption applies, such as small shallow fills or cuts under 1 acre.
    § 15.05.080 · code text
    The total volume of material is less than fifty cubic yards;
Grading without a permit
  • No permit is needed under 50 cubic yards, or for small shallow fills or cuts under 1 acre.
    Applies: Fills under 1 foot deep on ground flatter than 5 horizontal to 1 vertical; cuts under 2 feet deep, 50 cubic yards or less off-site.
    § 15.05.080 · code text
    The total volume of material is less than fifty cubic yards; or
  • No grading permit for permitted basement or footing digs up to 200 cubic yards, or for listed trenching.
    Applies: Trenching for approved septic systems, utilities, wells or post holes, if final grades match the original contours.
    § 15.05.080 · code text
    Excavations below finished grade for basements or for structural footings that have been authorized by a valid building permit provided that the volume of structural excavation does not exceed two hundred cubic yards.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the grading rules in Calaveras County?

Calaveras County's code: A grading permit is needed for 50 cubic yards or more of material. (Unless another exemption applies, such as small shallow fills or cuts under 1 acre.) (§ 15.05.080); No permit is needed under 50 cubic yards, or for small shallow fills or cuts under 1 acre. (Fills under 1 foot deep on ground flatter than 5 horizontal to 1 vertical; cuts under 2 feet deep, 50 cubic yards or less off-site.) (§ 15.05.080).

General information, not legal advice.

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