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Corte Madera · Building on your lot

Grading and erosion control in Corte Madera

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

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

What Corte Madera's code says

Corte Madera code What Corte Madera's code adds
Erosion control plan
  • Needed for grading-permit projects and for hillside, rainy-season, creekside or other work that could discharge non-stormwater to storm drains.
    Applies: Required before grading starts. Also applies to projects with a building or other permit that could cause significant erosion or non-stormwater discharges.
    § 15.20.285 · code text
    An erosion control permit shall be obtained from the director or his delegated representative prior to the commencement of grading whenever any of the following conditions are present:
Grading without a permit
  • Digs and fills under 50 cubic yards; fills only on slopes under 20%, under 3 feet high, supporting no structure.
    Applies: The director may exempt this work at the director's discretion.
    § 15.20.030 · code text
    (8) Excavations less than fifty cubic yards; (9) Fills of less than fifty cubic yards that are constructed on slopes less than twenty percent and less than three feet in height and do not support a structure.
  • Permitted foundation, basement and pool digs; flat-ground trenches; tanks of 10,000 gallons or less; wells, utility trenches and engineer-supervised borings.
    Applies: The director may exempt this work at the director's discretion. Trenches must be backfilled to grade on ground flatter than 1 vertical to 5 horizontal.
    § 15.20.030 · code text
    The following work may be exempted at the director's discretion:
Rainy-season limits
  • Grading from October 15 to April 15 needs the director's special approval; temporary erosion controls must be kept in place.
    Applies: Applies to any grading during the rainy season.
    § 15.20.285 · code text
    Special authorization must be received from the director prior to any grading activity during the rainy season (October 15th to April 15th).

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the grading rules in Corte Madera?

Corte Madera's code: Digs and fills under 50 cubic yards; fills only on slopes under 20%, under 3 feet high, supporting no structure. (The director may exempt this work at the director's discretion.) (§ 15.20.030); Needed for grading-permit projects and for hillside, rainy-season, creekside or other work that could discharge non-stormwater to storm drains. (Required before grading starts. Also applies to projects with a building or other permit that could cause significant erosion or non-stormwater discharges.) (§ 15.20.285).

General information, not legal advice.

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